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Home My WebLink AboutDowntown Action - 1994-05-05DAC\1994-05-05 KITCI:IENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMM/TTEE MAY 5, 1994 The Kitchener Downtown Action Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Gerry Graham, Karen Taylor-Hardson, Brian Hunsberger, Ken Clark, Nancy Brawley, Michelle Modssetti, Robert Braun, Karen Simonean, Jon Connolly, Sheila Made Biers and Rhonda Russell Others Present: Staff Sgt. Rita Westbrook, Brock Stanley, Grant NLxon, Councillor Mike Wagner, George Borovilos, Valede Gibanl~ Stephan Lauer and Terry Boutilier. 1. OPENING REMARKS Councillor Yantzi welcomed and introduced Staff Sgt. Westbrook and Sheila Made Bters~ He asked them to give the Committee members a bdef explanation of theh' background. Staff Sgt~ Rita Westbrook advised she has been with the Pohce Force for 19 years and works for the Kitchener detachment. She looks forward to assisting this Committee where possible. Sheila Made Biers owns the Court Jester Restaurant in Victoria Parl~ She k replacing Lorna Ferguson until such time Lorna k able to return to the Committee. APPROVAL OF AGENDA On motion by Karen Taylor-Harrison Seconded by Michelle Modssetti That the Kitchener Downtown Action Committee Agenda of May 5, 1994, be accepted. 3. APPROVAL OF M/NUTES Moved by Karen Simoneau That the minutes of the April 11, 1994 Kitchener Downtown Action Committee meeting, be accepted. Carried 4. ADAPTIVE RE-USE COMM/TTEE Councillor Wagner reported both Adaptive Re-Use of Indushqal Buildings (ARC) KITCI:IENER DOYVNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE and the Regional Bicycle Master Plan could have considerable impact on the downtow~ He gave an overview of what Adaptive Re-Use of Industaqal Buildings Committee doe~ This Committee takes a close look at vacant Indust~qal Buildings for redevelopment potential They are looking at plans that will make redevelopment speedier and easier. Staff liaison k in place and the Committee will act as an aid or sounding board to developers who wish to redevelop a vacant indust~qal site. Councillor Wager noted that Valerie Gibaut and George Borovilos are prepa~qng a public relations plan for Adaptive Re-Use. The Committee was asked to spread the word that there probably is money available for redeveloping these vacant industrial buildings and redevelopment benefits this community. At the moment there are disincentives in the plan process and (ARC) is working on putting together incentives and move ahead from there. F~xamples of plants that will be available for re-use are Forsyth and Kaufman~ Councillor Wagner invited questions from the Committee. Question: Councillor Wagner: What uses will be promoted? This is enth'ely open for a total good mixed use redevelopment. Question: Reply:. How many buildings are conducive to residential redevelopment ? This inlbrmation is not available at the moment but it is something that will be done. Question: Reply:. Does the ARC have a registry or do they act as a reactionary body? Up to this time the answer is they have been reactionary but from now on a proactive approach will be take~ Question: Reply:. This Would the Committee consider broadening theh' scope to another potential commercial use building? would be an option along with looking for other commercial uses for empty lot~ KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE 24 Question: Is there a possibility of pulling together available Yes~ Government Grants as part of registry? There is for the benefit of developer~ this Committee's Question; Reply:. Not Are there any Barrier l~'ee Members on the Adaptive Re-Use Committee? at this point but theh' input will be requested when development plans come in at the Design Stage. Nancy Brawley advised the Kitchener Downtown Business Association keeps a data base of empty buildings in the downtown core. The Adaptive Re-Use Committee are welcome to make use of this intbrmatio~ Councillor Wagner said the Kitchener Downtown Business Association would have access to any intbrmation collected on a data base by the Adaptive Re-Use of Induslaqal Buildings Committee. Councillor Wagner requested backup support and endorsement from this Committee when projects come along. 5. REGIONAL MASTER BICYCLE PLAN Councillor Wagner reported that the Region has completed a Master Bicycle Plan and they have been displaying this plan throughout the Region at various malls and open house~ At the moment the City of Kitchener has a North:South bicycle la'ail along King Street and an East/West trail through Victoria Parl~ There are plans to purchase the CP raft line and link up Waterloo Park to Victoria Park providing a bicycle trail from Kitchener to Waterloo. The Bicycle Plan is an ambitious one that could cost between three and five million depending on what is done. It is hoped that these trails will get people out of theh' cars, onto theh' feet and using pubhc transit~ The City and the Region Plans will be linked together. The Committee is supportive of these plans and felt trails are much cheaper than rebuilding roacl~ They also suggested emphasis should be placed on what the savings could be in providing trails rather than the cost associated with then~ KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE ~5 Councillor Wagner stated the money to be spent on these trails will be done in a graduated way and that this is a long term, possibly 50 year, plato He also reported that the City of Kitchener has more bicycle trails than other area municipalitie~ He said that the CP rail line is the key to link this trail o Information Items: St. Jerome's Councillor Wagner reported St. Jerome's has been designated under the Ontario Heritage Act by LACAC. The Committee was surprised to hear there is a 980 seat theatre in this building which will be developed for Regional use as amateur and professional theatre. Tours will be offered. An indoor swimming pool k also part of this st~cture and k in very good conditiom Il' it were filled immediately it could be used. Councillor Wagner invited this committee to tour the building after the regular June meeting. It was suggested the press may want to join the tour. Registry Building Councillor Wagner advised the Registry Building on lqYederick Street is also a designated building under the Heritage Act. There has been some interest expressed by the Canadian Curling HaH of Fame, Soft BaH Canada and Swim Canada in purchasing this building for their offices~ The K-W Visitor and Convention Bureau and Economic Development is putting together a promotional package on the site. Adopt Your Environment Program Grant NLxon reported this program is in place and most City Wards have a Co-ordinator. The Downtown Ward Co-ordinator is Jayne Wagner and she can be reached at 749-4909 if anyone is interested in helping with neighbourhood clean-up. STRATEGIC PLAN UP-DATE Stephan Lauer circulated to the Committee two reports which are attached and form part of these minutes, One is "Community Data Status" containing inlbrmation gathered to date from previous Vision Conferences and the other k "Next Steps" a five month work pla~ KITCHENER DOYVNTO~ ACTION COMMITTEE ~6 There are four questions the Committee is faced with: 1. Where we are at? 9. What do we know so fax'? 3. What do we need to know? 4. What are the next steps? Some time was spent discussing the four questions put forth by Stepham He noted that inlbrmation gathered from the Vision Conferences are peoples opinions and may not necessaEqly reflect reality. To arrive at elements of vision for the downtown, the Municipal Land Use Plan will have to be reviewe& More hard inlbrmation is needed and discussion ensued as to how to get hard inlbrmation with the following sup~qestions put forth: 1. include a survey in the downtown tabloid tap into larger retail sales experience, as well as dilTerent market areas (Institutions, Bank~ Offices, Food Stores) caJling this a User Survey. In the next few months priorities and actions identified will have to be built upom To begin with Sub-Committees were set up and membership on these sub-committees will need to be decided upom Property Standards: Jon Connolly, Karen Taylor-Harrison, Ken Clark Social /Safety /L iv ab ili ty: Councillor Mark Yantzi (Chair), Staff Sgt. Rita Westbrook, Karen Simoneau, Karen Taylor- Harrison, Brian Hunsberger Economic Development: Tom Cahill (Chair), Valerie Gibaut, Rep. from Chamber of Commerce Transportation: (includes parking, biking, public transit, cars) Michelle Morissetti (Chair), Rep. from City Transit Division, Councillor Mike Wagner Media: Gerry Graham (Chair), Sheila Marie Briers KITCHENER DOYVNTOWN ACTION COMMITTEE ~7 Nancy Brawley will provide each working sub-committee with a hst of participants at the Vision Conference. Brock Stanley will work within City Hall to have the best person from each department work on working sub-committee~ Gerry Graham reminded the Committee that the Tenant Association should be contacted for input duEqng this process as they are sometimes overlooked in the Neighbourhood Group~ Stephan Lauer asked each working sub-commiflee to meet at least once Committee meeting and prepare a work plan and re-examine issues collected. ADJOURNMENT before next On motion the meeting adjourned at 10:40 Gayle Redgwell Committee Secretary