The recent report about downtown improvement provided by a consultant to our city council will most likely not change much. As long as the downtown condition, meaning safety, security and cleanliness are not improving, it will be extremely difficult to improve and resurrect downtown to expectations of local citizens. The report does not really offer anything new.
Council has been elected to govern and make decisions, if possible, without getting expensive consultants involved. Council can be compared to a “board of the city” and anything that is being decided will ultimately affect the city. The question, however, remains whether decisions made, really cause the betterment of our city. Lengthy discussions about gravel that has been moved while everybody knew about it should not take place. Understanding the mayor and supporting/discussing his ideas is what I recommend.
My comments should be understood as constructive criticism, reflecting the opinions of many in our community. While some councilors seem to agree with my analysis, others seem to like the position of an opposition.
Further, the former Northern Hardware store on Third Avenue has been empty now for a while. Did council ever discuss with the current building owner, or think about who could be a tenant contributing to the improvement of downtown? With three levels, the space of the former hardware store is enormous and may be just right for an IKEA or JYSK or WINNERS & HomeSense store.
I hope that realtors are looking into these options and try to get one of these potential tenants here, offering some good incentives when working together with the development department of our city.
To reduce the crime in town, would it not be advisable to support the RCMP with “Guardian Angels” as it has been successful in other cities? Be inventive and do not allow our city being taken over by a developing bad reputation. There always is a solution to a problem, a very good one just has not been found yet. I believe the mayor is on the right track with the transition housing. A new beginning while it may not immediately show the expected improvement, but so far, no other community has taken this approach.
For the future, how about a hotel near the university along with a mini mall and shopping centre, as well as a small hotel with a restaurant on Connaught Hill, and leaving the hill open in winter as well? This hotel should be designed in such a way that expansion is easily possible.
These and more ideas could be part of a strategy meeting and should be brought forward by council who should ask administration to evaluate and analyze options without a consultant.
Dr. Albert Koehler, P.Eng., is a former Prince George City Councillor
