HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-09-034 - Centre Block Business Liason CommitteeREPORT
REPORT T0: Council
DATE OF MEETING: April 15, 2009
SUBMITTED BY: Rod Regier
PREPARED BY: Rod Regier'
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: June 5, 2009
REPORT NO.: CAO-09-034
SUBJECT: CENTRE BLOCK BUSINESS LIAISON COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDATION:
That Council establish a Centre Block Business Liaison Committee under the attached Terms of
Reference.
BACKGROUND:
In May, City of Kitchener staff held consultations with the Downtown Kitchener Business
Improvement Area Board, the KBIA's Building Owner Consortium, the Downtown Advisory
Committee and the Economic Development Advisory Committee about the Agreement of
Purchase and Sale for Centre Block to Andrin Investments Ltd. Feedback from these groups
focused on three main themes:
1. Accelerate the redevelopment of the former Mayfair Hotel and 156/158 King
2. Establish a firm date for the installation of the Model Suite and Sales Office
3. Establish a specific inflation index for the control of costs for City parking on Centre Block
REPORT:
The Agreement of Purchase and Sale has been amended to address each of these issues.
Both Andrin and the Kitchener Downtown Business Improvement Area have expressed interest
in working together to insure that the timing and marketing of the project are optimized to move
the project forward as quickly as possible. Andrin specifically proposed that a liaison committee
be established to coordinate communication with the business community and the City of
Kitchener on Centre Block matters. A Terms of Reference for the Committee are attached.
Staff propose that the Centre Block Business Liaison Committee consist of two representatives
from the City of Kitchener -the Executive Director of Economic Development and the Manager
of Downtown and Community Development; two representatives from the Downtown Kitchener
Business Improvement ArealDowntown Kitchener BIA Building Owner's Consortium and two
representatives from Andrin Investments Limited. The Downtown Kitchener Business
Improvement Area has suggested that there be two representatives from each of the Downtown
Kitchener Business Improvement Area and Downtown Kitchener BIA Building Owner's
Consortium. Council input in this regard is being sought.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Rod Regier
City Centre Downtown Liaison Committee
Purpose
The Committee will coordinate the exchange of information between Andrin, the
Downtown business community and the City of Kitchener about the Centre
BlocklCity Centre Condominium marketing campaign and the timing of
development of the City Centre Sales Office and Model Suite and explore
opportunities to accelerate the redevelopment of the heritage buildings on Centre
Block either as proposed by Andrin or under alternative scenarios.
The objectives of the Committee are to:
• Review the marketing of the City Centre project
• Review the timing of the installation of the Sales Office and Model Suite to
optimize a successful sales strategy
• Develop a project plan to expedite the King Street (Heritage buildings}
redevelopment.
Committee Participants
The Committee will consist of:
• The Executive Director of Economic Development -City of Kitchener
• The Manager of Downtown and Community Development- City of
Kitchener
• 2 Representatives from the Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement
Areal Downtown Kitchener BIA Building Owner's Consortium
• 2 Representatives of Andrin Investments Limited.
Committee Chair
The Committee will be chaired by the Executive Director of Economic
Development for the City of Kitchener.
Meetings
The Committee will meet on a quarterly basis, or more frequently as required,
beginning June 2009 and concluding with the commencement of construction of
Phase 3 of the project. Committee work will commence immediately on the
development of a plan to facilitate the redevelopment of the heritage buildings on
Centre Block
Committee Support
The work of the Committee will be supported by the Executive Assistant to the
Executive Director of Economic Development.