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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-03-23 DAAC Minutes Downtown Action & Advisory Committee Minutes Thursday, March 23, 20234:00 p.m. Location: In Person, City Hall (Schmalz room) In Attendance Brandon Van Dam, Sandra Castle, Joel Leslie, Jeanette Makad, Will Turman, Debbie Chapman, Aislinn Clancy, Thea Mistry Meeting Called to Order: 4:00pm Disclosure of Pecuniary Interests: Nothing to declare now been corrected. Otherwise, minutes unanimously approved. Agenda Items 1. Welcome and Land Acknowledgment (10 mins) Update offered about Gaukel Question raised by Councillor Chapman about when DAAC will be consulted about the Charles Street Terminal. T. Mistry will inquire with Mistie Brown, who has been conducting engagement sessions. 2. DTK Vision and Principles exercise, led by William Turman (80 mins) W. Turman let the committee through the Downtown Kitchener Vision DIY Facilitation Guide, beginning with an ice-breaker question about favourite spots Downtown, and working through seven themes. The Theme One: Parks and Public Spaces Discussion Question: What should parks and other public spaces downtown look and feel like? Connected/integrated into the space Vogelsang Green does that well; not plunked down somewhere tucked away and neglected (like that parkette at Duke/Scott) A continuum of parks Flow Parkettes The City needs to be buying land to create more green space Necessary for equity Important to distinguish between types of public spaces; for example, this is green space for forests, this is where you have lunch, this is where children play, this is to look at, this is a reasonable and needed in a Downtown We have public spaces Walking to Vogelsang Green and then down Goudi more of that! Examine different lenses of what people want Create nuggets where people gather We already own public roadways and parking lots how could they be put to better use? How can we transform a sidewalk into a public space with a tree canopy, like in Tel Aviv? SUMMARY THEMES: Connected/integrated, pockets, different types, interesting, using what we Theme Two: Street Life, Events and Culture Discussion Questions: What does a vibrant downtown look like to you? What does a vibrant street life look like to you? People! Life, all ages, foot traffic Filled storefronts, a variety, more browsing options, window shopping Do anchor brands bring people? Not sterile and generic still some strange and gritty in the mix Cleanliness fosters a sense of pride Patios are great, thou we closed King Street to traffic after 5pm on Friday! Let the diverse population shine downtown Cars are the enemy of vibrancy But it has to be accessible The distance between parking and walking to the other side of Conestoga mall is probably the length of Downtown What if we expanded on the pedestrianized streets, like Gaukel and Eby, and try out closing streets more regularly? What if there was somewhere to park adjacent to those closed to car areas? Theme Three: Growth and Housing Discussion Questions: How important is it to you that there is a mix of housing types available in that this will likely result in additional apartment buildings, especially in DTK? Likes a mix not convinced that the only option is a row of skyscrapers along a transit line. Maybe some of our streets are too wide Is 35,000 units enough? Having a mix is very important How could the City make it easier for people who might be over-housed to create a duplex or triplex or rent out their attic maybe with the right toolbox we could help a senior stay in their home and rent out part of it Some cultures often have multiple families/generations sharing space; does our expectation of space need to evolve? We need better security for renters You can have many types of home within a high-rise development How do we encourage folks to think outside the box and live with a smaller footprint? What about housing co-ops and alternatives? THEMES: A proper mix, distributed not just downtown but expanding into other areas; get creative with intensification options, affordability, and ownership Theme Four: Neighbourhoods and Movement of People and Goods Discussion Questions: What is needed to make DTK a series of 15-minute communities? What barriers/challenges are there in DTK that limit pedestrian movement? How can these be removed/improved? We need childcare, groceries, hardware/houseware Better, more connected sidewalks Better sidewalk clearing in the winter For things to be open! A 24hr drug store Concentration of clothing/boutique shops Micro-mobility e-scooters We need more trees (shade) Construction projects need to better take care of pedestrians Our streets need to be accessible in all seasons stroller-pushing friendly Theme Five: Climate and Environmental Leadership Discussion Questions: How can DTK be a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and better prepare for climate changes? District energy! Put solar over a parking lot We have to force developers to make better choices for the environment We need more cooling, such as trees and cooling spaces bake Why do our sidewalks so quickly deteriorate? Could we use better materials? We need more shade and wind protection More charging stations Less cars! Lighting could the big buildings switch to LEDs? What about retrofitting incentives? Better use of storm water management Theme Six: Business Recovery & Moving Forward Discussion Questions: What does the future of business in DTK look like to you? What is missing? Why do you choose to shop at a DTK business? Experiential book readings, attractions, something to do Events/activations within businesses How do we encourage businesses to open Downtown? How do we pressure the stakeholders (like the bad landlords and the private parking lot owners) to adjust? How can we squeeze them more? We need better property standards We spoke quite a bit about business mix in a prior question and are running out of time Theme Seven: Safety and Security Discussion Questions: What would a safe, inclusive, equitable downtown look like? So many people need a home (supportive housing) Issue is the ratio of people out downtown compared to the people with challenges We need supports and a place for each person Safe supply is important Cleanliness makes a space feel safe Lots of people out makes a place feel safer! Cars are dangerous We need public bathrooms and active transportation Part Eight: Vision Elements What three words would you like to use to describe what you want downtown to look, feel and be like in the future? The sound of people (not vehicle sounds) Pleasantly crowded 15-minute city Culture, sustainable, active A place to loiter Beauty, colour, lush, visually appealing Adjournment5:30pm on motion by B. Van Dam Next Meeting: April 27, 2023, at 4 p.m.