“I think it’s time for council to take a more active role in what’s going on in our downtown core,” Mayor Scott Aitchison told councillors at the July 26 General Committee meeting, citing vacant lots and buildings in the BIA, Brendale Square and on King William Street.
He noted that the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) was drafted in part to address the issue, but that “it hasn’t really worked…Just sort of hoping that the private sector will do something isn’t enough.” There is a review of the CIP in progress by Town staff but Mayor Aitchison wants council to be more involved.
“I think it’s good for us to strike some kind of working group or committee to make suggestions to us about what we need to do,” said Aitchison. “My thought process was that we could do something similar to the way the strategic plan was done when Mackenzie was mayor. I’ve talked to Hugh a couple of times about it, about the process they followed. It was a remarkably well-planned and well-run process with I think six or eight working groups on a wide variety of topics…That’s what got us the revitalization of the urban core, the (Algonquin) theatre.”
Councillors around the table agreed, with Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano wondering if a discussion has already been had with the property owners in question “to see if there’s something we can do to help them?”
“The answer’s yes,” replied Aitchison. “To some degree that’s part of where this comment comes from… There’s a combination of factors if you’re looking at any of these properties, (but) it’s pretty simple math. If you want to sell a property, you have to have a willing buyer willing to pay the price you’re asking for it. The only reason these properties haven’t sold is because they want too much money for them in a lot of cases, not all of them.”
He acknowledged that “if we have to try to push people around a little bit” it could be a politically unpopular move, and he wants the community to tell council what it wants to see happen.
The resolution was carried for staff to be directed to bring back a report on a downtown revitalization working group structure. Once it is ratified at the August council meeting, CAO Denise Corry will be tasked with coordinating the group.
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When I park at the mall I will often walk 100 or 150 yards just to get to the front door let alone the store I wish to visit. I have never had to find parking downtown further away than that , yet , there does remain a perception that there is no parking downtown.
I would endorse the initiative to revisit the CIP which was a creative and well thought out document to see how more of it can be accomplished. The earlier strategic plan was hugely successful , partly because it involved a great number of interested parties whose involvement helped them buy in to the suggested changes . Those changes have been fundamental in maintaining the viability of our downtown in the age of online shopping , trips to Barrie , Walmart and other competing elements.
Just remember, if I can’t park easily and close to the business I will not be visiting that business. I live out of town and have to come to town by personal vehicle. If a business wishes to do business with me they have to make it so that I can park close to their location, both to save me time and to allow goods to be picked up or dropped off. The malls and box stores are like this so to compete the revitalized downtown has to be this way too. The parking has to be free, like it currently is as well.
We may gradually phase out cars but for the foreseeable future cars are a necessity to rural living and thus we need to accommodate them in our planning.
Only private money should be involved with improving the downtown core. To this end there could be tax breaks for those that meet and comply with the CIP and higher taxes for those that don’t. Properties that sit derelict and overpriced should pay appropriate taxes that would give owners the incentive to improve their properties or lower the prices being asked.
A 5 story modern parking garage with commercial outlets on the ground level in place of the old Empire Hotel would be an ideal start. Then eliminate parking on Main street to improve traffic flow in the core.