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Drawing the lines |
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Written by MARK NIELSEN
Citizen staff
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Tuesday, 07 October 2008 |
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VICTORIA STREETSHERRY SETHENDOWNTOWN PRINCE GEORGECIVIC CENTRE PLAZASEVENTH AVENUEFIRST AVENUE
A counterpetition process will be used to decide if the boundaries of Downtown Prince George should be expanded.
The option, chosen by city council on Monday night, means those opposed to the proposal must convince 50 per cent of the affected property owners representing 50 per cent of the total assessed property values to sign a petition in opposition to stop the initiative.
Council also had the option of requiring supporters of the proposal to gather signatures of approval from half the property owners representing half the total assessed property owners to allow the expansion to go ahead.
However, council was told just two property owners oppose the idea, which would see DPG's membership rise to 361 properties from 238.
It will also fatten DPG's bank account as the organization will continue to charge members $1.70 per $1,000 assessed property value.
According to a staff report, the assessed value covered by the DPG would rise to $205 million from $113 million, meaning DPG would collect about $350,000 a year, up from the $191,400 it currently takes in.
DPG director Kirk Gable said the additional money will be used for several items but the primary ones would be to hire a full-time events co-ordinator to hold events downtown on a more regular basis, revive the downtown ambassador program, launch a "clean and green" recycling initiative and make the downtown dumpster free, and establish a downtown real estate development corporation.
David Hillhouse of Majestic Management, who represents some of the properties that will become part of DPG if the boundaries are expanded, told council he was skeptical of the organization when it was first created, "but having seen the effectiveness of speaking with one voice, working together for a common goal" he is now a supporter.
Coun. Sherry Sethen was concerned the new members would not benefit as much as the current ones do, particularly if the events are held in the downtown core.
In response, Gable said the expansion would bring in such properties as the Coast Inn of the North "which would certainly correspond with the activities we already do outside of our boundaries such as the light up and the activities around the Civic Centre Plaza.
"I guess I don't see that it's necessarily always exactly fair for every property owner on every street but I do believe that the average citizen in Prince George sees the downtown as more aligned with the proposed new boundaries," Gable added.
As it stands, DPG stretches from First to Seventh Avenue and from the east side of Victoria Street to the west side of Queensway. The proposed boundaries would include the north side of First Avenue from Queensway to Vancouver, the west side of Vancouver from Third to 12th Avenue, 12th Avenue to the intersection of Victoria and 15th, and along 15th to Patricia Boulevard and Queensway, then back down Queensway to First.
DPG hopes to have the expansion in place by the end of this year.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 07 October 2008 )
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