HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-03-22
DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY (DAAC) COMMITTEE
March 22, 2018 City of Kitchener
The Downtown Action & Advisory Committee met this date, commencing at 4:05 p.m.
Present: Brian Santos (Chair), Melissa Bowman, Bryan Gracan, Geoffrey Guin, David
Harmes, Councillor Sarah Marsh, Robert Nyman, Andrea Santi
Staff: Hilary Abel, Chloe Howell
Guests: Lauren Burr, Community Services department, City of Kitchener
John Hill, Region of Waterloo
Information Items/Unfinished business
1. Updates
1.1 Downtown Staff Update: H. Abel
Sandy Curzon retired at the end of February. Hiring process underway with the intention to
have the role filled by the end of April 2018.
1.2 Downtown Community Development: H. Abel
Current downtown developments:
Orange construction tarps around the Eaton Lofts while renovations underway.
Perimeter Development Corp. is actively looking for tenants. Renovations expected to
be complete early May 2018.
Lots of activity along King Street West between Water Street and Francis Street.
Between , sidewalk closed for construction of LCBO building. On
the other side of the street, the parking lot between TD Canada Trust and 305 King
will not be available as of Friday March 23, 2018 due to construction of the new office
building.
Charlie West construction underway with the demolition of Kava Bean Bistro and the
Downtown Auto Centre. Various closures expected along Gaukel Street over the next
two years.
2. Arts & Culture Advisory Committee (ACAC) Update
Update to be provided next month.
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DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY (DAAC) COMMITTEE
March 22, 2018 City of Kitchener
Discussion Items
3. Neighbourhood Development Office Update
You can find the report on the Love my Hood website.
Purpose of the report is to act as a tool for staff, residents and neighbourhood groups
in providing , as well as establish a baseline of data collection and
analysis.
Most of the data is from surveys conducted in Fall 2017, and from 600 telephone
surveys led by Environics Research in September 2017.
Contextual data - - compiled from Waterloo Regional Police Service,
Pan idea of the information they can find
in the report.
DAAC members identified themselves as being reasonably or very engaged in their
neighbourhood groups.
The City of Kitchener has a formal link with neighbourhood groups through
Liaisons. These City employees work out of Community Centres and
they actively support neighbourhood groups. Each Neighbourhood association signs
an affiliation with the City of Kitchener.
The report does not delineate neighbourhood boundaries. The Neighborhood
Development Office (NDO) feels that it is not
neighbourhood, because the meaning of neighbourhood is very personal.
There will likely be another eport in 2022 that
will use information from the 2021 Census. They can compare data at that time.
4. DTK 2020 Priority #1
H. Abel introducacant s
Ignite
downtown as a platform for the next generation of urban shops, restaurants, businesses and
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DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY (DAAC) COMMITTEE
March 22, 2018 City of Kitchener
In looking for the best way to activate downtown vacancies, the committee broke into two groups;
the first group discussed strategies for connecting , and the second
group looked at ways to market and promote these connections. After a 20 minute brainstorming
session, each group presented their ideas.
Ideas for connecting owners and activators
Pop up vendors and short term leases offer more flexibility for people to try out the
downtown market.
market is more fully developed; for example, when more condominiums are built and foot
traffic increases in the area.
A short term lease will be perceived as less risky and will possibly allow businesses to
establish a customer base before signing long term leases.
A website that lists all vacant spaces in downtown Kitchener instead of visiting individual
realtor websites.
Open houses/open door events to allow for people to tour through spaces in person.
It is likely that current tax breaks disincentivize owners to find tenants.
Offer options to partition space if people cannot afford a large area, maybe even a time-
share idea for renting space.
Retail is a tough market so we are likely to see more spaces following a model.
lot of inventory and will not need a lot of space.
Provide a city consultant to seek out interested parties and provide key pieces of
information to prospective business owners/entrepreneurs.
Ideas on how to market and promote vacant spaces in the downtown core
Tourism packages might help bring people downtown and carry on the momentum of
festivals; for example, dinner, show and hotel deals.
Talk to downtown commercial bankers to let them know of investment opportunities.
Let people know what amenities we need in the downtown
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DOWNTOWN ACTION & ADVISORY (DAAC) COMMITTEE
March 22, 2018 City of Kitchener
5. Extra item: John Hill from the Region of Waterloo
J. Hill addressed the committee regarding the multi modal hub at King and Victoria. By way of a
survey, the Region of Waterloo
Request was made to distribute the survey link among personal networks
because they need a diversity of opinions and welcome as much public feedback as possible.
Take the survey before April 2, 2018. There are opportunities to give feedback in person;
dates and times are listed on the survey page.
Emphasis that this is a community project, not simply a egion one.
elp enrich the data and make sure the design
integrates the community.
DAAC advised that people appreciate being involved and it will go over well to ask them
for their opinions. Neighbourhood a
Once the transit hub is complete, this will most likely shift the perceived location of
J. Hill will give us more details about the developments at a later meeting.
Action: C. Howell to send out the survey link to all committee members to share with their
contacts.
6. Other discussion items:
DAAC asked how the façade report went with council. S. Marsh shared that council
approved the program and it has been extended until the end of 2020.
Patios aiming to have as many as possible open in time for the May long weekend.
Lots of work starting at Vogelsang. Expect Queen Street to be closed for a little while in
May. There will be public consultations held regarding this project in the future.
A committee has been formed to come up with a solution to streetside garbage collection,
particularly downtown along King Street. There will probably be a change to the Regional
by-law about times when people can take their garbage out and this will make for a more
enjoyable downtown experience, particularly after business hours.
Adjournment: Chair adjourned meeting at 5:25 p.m.
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