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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1996-05-09DAC\1996-05-09 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES May 9, 1996 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi and Councillor Karen Redman with the following members present: Robert Braun, Nancy Brawley, Carolyn Parks, Deborah Budd, Denise Strong, Karen Simoneau, Brian Hunsberger, Peggy Walshe, Karen Taylor-Harrison, David Gowland, Lillian Kehl, Martin de Groot, Lorna Van Mossel, Marianne Wasilka and Rita Westbrook. Staff Present: T. Brock Stanley, Sybil Frenette, Catherine Heal and David Corks Guests Present: Murray Diegel, Don Bourgeois, Paul Britton and John Schnarr 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - May 9~ 1996 Moved by Robert Braun. Seconded by Rita Westbrook. That the agenda for May 9, 1996 be approved. Carried 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 11, 1996 Brock Stanley clarified that the second last sentence in the first paragraph in item 8 on page 70 which states that the starting date when restaurants are allowed to operate outdoor patios will be May 24th, 1996 is incorrect. There is no limitation with regard to when outdoor patios can be operated; however, the agreement must be signed by the Mayor and the Clerk and arrangements for the necessary insurance completed. Brian Hunsberger pointed out that he attended the meeting on April 11, 1996 and his attendance was not recorded in the minutes. The minutes were approved with the above corrections. 3. DOWNTOWN ACTION TEAM UPDATE - Sybil Frenette Sybil Frenette was glad to announce that the City successfully salvaged the InterVin 96 event without -74- incurring high costs. The City provided the space and the set-up, and the Walper Hotel provided accommodation and food for the judges. The InterVin team was very pleased with the results of the event and the services provided by the Walper Hotel, particularly the food. The Downtown Action Team has been meeting with various organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and women business groups. The "Hit List" has been developed. Fashion is a weak aspect of the downtown. The team is planning to put additional efforts into recruiting fashion shops, much like what realtors usually do. This is a new initiative for the team. The team has met with bar owners again. Bar owners have co-operated in not posting advertisement in Kitchener. Inter City Night Club is closed. The new use at the location was unknown. There have been more complaints about the behaviour of bar patrons. Councillor Redman asked if bar owners can take on the policing responsibility and control the number of patrons. Rita Westbrook responded that problems arise when the patrons leave the bars. Once the patrons leave the bars, bar operators have no control over their behaviour. Rita added that the extension of alcohol serving time from 1:00 am to 2:00 am causes additional workload to the police force. The evening shift ends at 2:30 am. It is tremendously difficult for the limited number of police officers to police thousands of bar patrons who leave the bars at the same time. Sybil Frenette continued to report that the City, in conjunction with the KDBA, will be conducting a series of pedestrian counts. The result will be used as a selling tool to recruit business. Marianne Wasilka asked what the costs of the InterVin Event to the City were. Sybil replied that the event cost the City approximately $6,000.00 which was deducted from the entertainment budget of the Downtown Action Team. Karen Simoneau suggested that related information such as the availability of fitness clubs, the number of workers and other amenities be used to attract business. Sybil responded that those kinds of information were included in the information package. David Gowland questioned about the status of the Goudies building and the vacant lot beside it. He circulated a few photographs to demonstrate the poor conditions of those properties. He asked if it would be possible to put art display in the windows of the Goudies building. Nancy Brawley explained that the current owner had asked that earlier displays be removed. The City cannot gain access to the inside of the building. The only thing that can be done is to clean the outside of the windows. Nancy added that the receiver of the property decided to charge businesses a fee to put up window displays at the property. That was the reason the displays ended. The City provided a grant to paint the facade but the building was damaged by a fire after it was painted. The City can only intervene when there is a safety issue. Sybil Frenette explained that the -75- outside wall that is exposed now was not built to be a supporting outside wall. Therefore, since the adjacent building has been demolished, the exposed wall has been exposed to the elements and it needs to be structurally reinforced. David Gowland pointed out that the clock on the clock tower at Market Square has been one hour slow since the day light saving time began. Deborah Budd added that there was an increasing number of vacancy at Market Square and asked if any action has been or will be taken about that problem. Sybil Frenette explained that what is happening at Market Square is common when the ownership of a mall changes. She hopes that the new owner will bring in new energy and motivation to improve the situation at Market Square. 4 RENOVATED DOWNTOWN HOME - Paul Britton and John Schnarr Brock gave an introduction on the Renovated Downtown Home project. A committee composed of Brock Stanley, Lillian Kehl, Councillor Karen Redman, and Martin de Groot was formed to discuss the idea of renovating a downtown home and then raffling it off. The committee has met once. Meanwhile, the committee also heard of a similar project pursued by the Canadian Home Builders Association. The committee contacted the association to investigate the possibility of a partnership between DAC and the association since the goals of the two initiatives were similar. Paul Britton, past President and Board member of the K-W Home Builders Association, introduced himself as well as John Schnarr, President of the K-W Home Builders Association. Paul referred to the Renovated Downtown Home project and explained that the association started to consider the project since September 1995. The K-W Home Builders' Association won the National Renovation Demonstration Competition organized by CMHC. Among other things, the objectives of the competition was to promote advanced professionalism in the development industry and to demonstrate effective energy saving methods. The local objectives of the K-W Home Builders' Association are to improve public perception of the building industry, to support the City's initiative to revitalize the downtown and to signify the 50th anniversary of the organization. John Schnarr further explained that the organization renovated a home for a needy family last year and plans to expand the project this year. The site that is being considered is located on Eby Street. Councillor Redman congratulated the organization's success and enquired about the possibility of getting high school students involved. John Schnarr replied that Conestoga College will be considered as a partner but not high schools. Paul Britton added that partnership is emphasized in the project and that a number ofneighbourhood associations and other organizations are involved. -76- Lillian asked the possibility of following the example of the "Dream Home" project conducted by the Rotary Club. Paul Britton recognised the success of the "Dream Home" project because he was involved in it. He commented that that project involved 17-18 people to sign a promissory and a considerable amount of cash flow. That project took two years to unfold and became a long term commitment for the participants. While he agreed that that model was one that was worth considering in the future, he was not of the opinion that it should be applied to the current project. John Schnarr pointed out that in terms of liability, renovated homes are more complex to deal with during the construction period and with regard to the end product. That is because renovated homes are not covered by the Ontario New Home Warranty Program. Renovating old homes also involve much experience, expertise and commitment. Nancy Brawley asked about the use of the end product. John Schnarr replied that it was important to secure an end-user before the project started. At this point in time, John would rather refrain from discussing the use of the property. Interested parties should contact John Schnarr. Paul Britton added that the intention of the project is education. The organizer intends to run a series of open houses at various stages of the development in order to raise the community's awareness of home renovation. When asked about the financing of the development, John Schnarr replied that there will not be a fund raising campaign. The financing of the project will be made feasible through two sources of savings: purchasing an inexpensive property and having services and goods denoted in kind by their members. Brock Stanley asked what role the DAC could play. Paul Britton and John Schnarr both welcome the committee's participation in their Steering Committee. They also indicated that a liaison between the association and the Planning Department would be of substantial assistance. -77- 5. UPDATE ON DOWNTOWN CONTEST - Peggy Walshe Peggy Walshe provided two draft entry forms for the contest. The first form invites citizens to provide their five favourite things about Kitchener's Downtown. The other form would be used at the second stage to invite artists to transform the inspiration into a visual art work. The initial plan is to post the first entry form in Kitchener This Week for three weeks. The five best things would be selected and then used by artists as inspiration to create an art work that reflects those things. The draw would be unrelated to the ideas. All participants would have the same chance of winning the draw regardless of what their ideas are. Three issues were raised during the discussion. Firstly, should the ideas be listed in point form instead of being described in paragraph form. Secondly, should the contest be city wide or should it be focused on the downtown only. Thirdly, if the contest is to be city wide, should the second stage that would involve artists be eliminated. It was agreed that the point form would be less intimidating than the paragraph form. It was suggested at the sub-committee meeting that the contest be held city wide featuring one area each time and the downtown would be one of the areas. Some members supported to hold the event city wide because they did not feel that the downtown should be singled out. Since Waterloo Chronicle has been conducting a similar contest and it has been proved to be successful, their model could be applied to the City of Kitchener. Other members supported focusing on the downtown only to avoid losing the attention on the downtown since the purpose of the contest is to promote the downtown. Besides, if the city wide approach is taken, the second stage which would involve artists might be eliminated. Lillian suggested to separate the different age groups because people's interests change with age. Since no agreement was reached, Peggy Walshe will bring the comments of the committee to the sub- committee and continue to work out a feasible plan. 6. DOWNTOWN OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND - David Gowland David Gowland found it a pleasure to work with the Steering Committee of the Downtown Open House Project. People were pleased with the houses for sale. Murray Diegel reported that there were more than 50 open houses on that day. Many phone calls were received. He thanked the downtown merchants for providing the brochure and the shopping coupons. The K-W Record and Kitchener This Week both reported on it and discussed it in the editorial column. -78- There were 50% more visitors than average. There were 250-300 consumers in the area at the time. Mr. Diegel felt that it went well considering that it was the first time. The project will be continued and Dorinda Pleau will take over the chairmanship of the Steering Committee. David Gowland and the committee expressed their appreciation for the hard work and time that Mr. Diegel has put into the project. The KDBA prepared the welcoming package which includes coupons from more than 30 downtown stores. 7. ST. JEROME'S FEASIBILITY STUDY - Don Bourgeois Don Bourgeois expressed appreciation for the opportunity to speak with the committee. Don provided an overview of the St. Jerome's Centre for the Arts. The proposal includes the building on Duke Street as well as the one on College Street. The proposed theatre would be located in the building on College Street. The buildings have been designated by the City as an heritage building in 1983. The Friends of St. Jerome's was formed in March 1994. The initial proposal only included the theatre on the first floor. The idea was introduced to the public at one of the public meetings hosted by the Mayor's Task Force. The Task Force saw arts and culture as an important element of downtown revitalization. They recommended in their Interim Report to Council that the City provide $50,000 for the Friends of St. Jerome's to conduct a feasibility study and Council approved the recommendation. As the study was being conducted, the building on Duke Street became available for purchase. The study ended up including that building and the rest of the building on College Street. There has been rumour that the buildings are not structurally sound. Don Bourgeois announced that that rumour has been proved false. The buildings only require cosmetic improvements. The consultant, Janis Barlow who conducted the feasibility study concluded that the buildings are a perfect site for a community art centre for Kitchener. The proposal now includes not only the theatre, but also specialization shopping, commercial uses, dance studios, a community centre, recreational uses, meeting rooms and support services. The basketball gymnasium would be converted into other uses. A questionnaire is available for the community. The group would like to find out what the community wants to see in the buildings. Its proximity to City Hall is an attractive feature. The buildings could also be used by post-secondary institutions for lectures. It would be ideal for complementary offices and retail stores. If the development of the Forsyth building materializes, the St. Jerome's and the Forsyth will complement each other. -79- It would be a destination site. The group is now recruiting interested users and estimating revenue and costs. A report is due near the end of June and input is still welcome. The Friends of St. Jerome's is a registered charity organization and they intend to finance the project by fundraising. Lillian KeN suggested to consider having a drop-in health centre and a drug store in the buildings. David Gowland asked who would own the buildings and if the City would be the owner and the operator. Don Bourgeois did not feel that having the City own and operate it would be a viable option. Although the City might be involved in it in some ways, he envisions it to be a partnership between various players. David Gowland asked if its Catholic name would discourage people who have other religious beliefs to use the facility. Don Bourgeois replied that the issue has been discussed. The preference was to maintain the current name for a few reasons. The name has historical and marketing values. It is a name that people are familiar with. It is also believed to be advantageous from the fundraising point of view to keep the current name. Nevertheless, no final decision about the name has been made. David Gowland felt that the lack of a sport component would make the community centre incomplete. Don Bourgeois replied that the intent is to determine what the best use would be for the gymnasium from the operating point of view. Using that space as a gymnasium might not be the best use because it has potential for a number of other uses. While the basketball gymnasium might not be kept, other sports can be accommodated. David Gowland further questioned the justification for the City and the community to spend money and energy on the St. Jerome's when there are so many needs for funds that appear to be more urgent and of a practical nature such as infrastructure. He used the Goudies building as an example of problems that need money and energy to improve as soon as possible. Councillor Redman responded that while there is no panacea, Council attempts to address all the issues positively. Marianne Wasilka supported the St. Jerome's concept and the preservation of the buildings but questioned how the St. Jerome's would relate to the Centre in the Square. In particular, whether it would become a competitor for funds to the Centre in the Square and create excessive similar facilities. Don Bourgeois replied that Centre in the Square is supportive of the St. Jerome's project and is of the belief that the St. Jerome's Centre would complement the services provided by Centre in the Square. Centre in the Square deals with a different market than the one the St. Jerome's Centre is intended to deal with. The St. Jerome's Centre would deal with smaller amateur groups while the Centre in the Square focuses on the professional groups. The Friends of St. Jerome's sees a true partnership between the two instead of competition. Don Bourgeois agreed that there is a concern about competition for funds but he felt that different organizations can try to co-operate with one another. Lorna Van Mossel did not foresee the existing name to be a problem and she volunteered to raise the issue to the attention of the Multi-Cultural Group to see if there is a concern. Lillian Kehl suggested hiring summer students to operate the facility because that would be an inexpensive way to operate a cultural facility. Karen Taylor-Harrison shared David Gowland's concern about competition for funds. frustration about funds not having been allocated to her neighbourhood for improvements. She expressed infrastructure Don Bourgeois appreciated the concern about competition for funds but he felt that the St. Jerome's project was aiming at a different pocket of funds. Peggy Walshe expressed a concern about justification of creating excessive facilities when funds are limited and when the similar facilities at the library and Centre in the Square are being under-utilized. Don Bourgeois explained that the Feasibility Study did investigate the facilities available at the Centre in the Square and decided that those rooms are too large for the proposed uses. The rooms at Centre in the Square are not fully utilized for a number of reasons. Don concluded that he and his group are conscious of all the above concerns. The study suggests that the St. Jerome's would be the most ideal location for the proposed uses. The fact that the uses would be complementary would be the factor that would make it successful. Brock Stanley took chairmanship. Carolyn Parks agreed that artists lack a home in Kitchener. While she agreed that the issue of vacant spaces at the Centre in the Square and the library need to be addressed, those spaces are not the venues that the artists need. 8. REPORT FROM THE THREE LOCAL SAFETY COMMITTEES REGARDING THE SAFETY LEVEL IN THE DOWNTOWN - Karen Taylor-Harrison Karen Taylor-Harrison explained that there was a confusion with regard to this agenda item. Karen Taylor-Harrison was not in the position to provide information about safety issues. At the meeting in April, Karen meant to propose that the representatives from the three local safety committees be invited to one of the DAC meetings to talk about safety in the downtown. She has invited the Co-chair of the Safe City Committee and the Co-ordinator of the Community Safety & Crime Committee Council to the next meeting. -81- 9. KDBA UPDATE - Nancy Brawley Nancy Brawley introduced Carolyn Parks to the committee. Nancy reported that the Transportation Study was passed by the Regional Council. Some of the work will start this year and majority of the work is anticipated to be conducted in 1998. The Community Action Day on April 19, 1996 went smoothly. Some businesses, especially restaurants, did much better than they had anticipated. Others did not do well. The Walper Hotel has been featured by Canadian Country Inns Magazine. The Downtown Open House Weekend was successful. The Sidewalk Sale will be held on June 30. A managing group has been hired to manage the Canada's Day Countdown Event. The KDBA is searching for sponsors. The Big Brother might be one of the partners. The Sidewalk Cleaning on King Street between Cedar and Francis is coming up. The Street Guide is being updated. A restaurant and tourist brochure is being developed. The welcoming package that was used in the Open House Weekend will be used in other events. Karen Taylor-Harrison asked about the role of the Event Co-ordinator. Sybil Frenette answered that the Event Co-ordinator's major objective is to create two major events in the first year and that her role is not what the Task Force had hoped for. 10. NEW BUSINESS David Gowland protested against the lack of interest from members of Council in the committee. He felt that DAC is a Committee of Council, therefore Council should show support for it. A number of other members also expressed their disappointment and frustration over the apparent lack of political interest. Because of lack of time, other items on the agenda were postponed to the next meeting. Wasilka asked that the postponed items be addressed first at the next meeting. 11. ADJOURNMENT M~anne The meeting was adjourned at approximately 11:30 am. Submitted by -82- Catherine Heal Acting Committee Secretary May28,1996 741-2310 Members of the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee will be held on THIJRSDAY~ June 13~ 1996 in the Conestoga Room on the 1st floor, City Hall, 200 King Street West commencing at 8:30 a.m. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 9. 10. Approval of Agenda - June 13,1996 Approval of Minutes - May 9, 1996 Meeting Attendance - Councillors Discussion on an Open House Event for Houses Not For Sale Update on the "Think Tank Team" - Martin de Groot Report from the Three Local Safety Committees Regarding the Safety Level in the Downtown - Trudy Beaulne and Christiane Sadeles Update on Outdoor Patios on the Sidewalks - Brock Stanley Update Downtown Action Team - Sybil Frenette KDBA Report - Nancy Brawley New Business Submitted by, Catherine Heal, Acting Committee Secretary Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee C~ Members of Council Mayor's Office (1) Members of Management Comm. B. Arnot D. Corks S. Frenette J. Witmer T. B. Stanley G. Nixon T. McCabe T. Boutilier L. MacDonald Press (2)2