Having a common voice and assembling a type of business improvement association was the most favourable idea to come out of last week’s meeting for revitalization of the downtown commercial area.
Brock Jackson was a volunteer on the Downtown Revitalization Committee and he says that in order to see some of the ideas come to fruition a group must be formed.
“It’s imperative that a BIA (business improvement association) be formed. A group like that would really be helpful in making things happen downtown,” he said.
Twenty ideas for changes and improvements were presented at the meeting by Gina MacKay, director of planning and development services, and Michael Von Hausen, president of MVH Urban Planning and Design Inc. Business owners and stakeholders were put into groups and were encouraged to come up with additional ideas. The groups ranked the initial 20 ideas, as well as their own, in order of importance.
While not necessarily deciding on the formation of a formal BIA, the consensus among downtown business owners was that an organization that would unify the businesses would be a positive first step in the process towards the revitalization of the downtown core.
Kelley Glazer, executive director of Destination Osoyoos, was among the attendees who thought that forming an organization would be important in realizing any change.
“I was also really pleased to see several groups that saw a real benefit to having a Downtown Business Improvement Association,” she said. “In my mind, that is an important step to help make many of the ideas and suggestions for revitalization work.”
She added that she was “really encouraged by the DT Revitalization meeting.”
Many of those that gathered agreed that it would be unrealistic to think that every point could be realized but stated that they were pleased with the outcome and are hopeful.
Joanne Muirhead, proprietor of Jojo’s Café said, “It would be impossible to implement everything that is discussed, but maybe when ideas are put out there, it will spark some interest for groups to form, like a downtown business association.”
MacKay said that while the findings have not been fully reviewed yet, she does see a pattern.
“I would say people looked favourably on the idea of an organization of some sort. A downtown business organization – how that may frame out I’m not sure.
If you look at the actual rankings … on the top was business retention and recruitment program…so I would say people look favourably upon that, definitely,” said MacKay.
The final results and artist concept drawings of what was discussed will be presented by MacKay at a future meeting.
MICHELE WEISZ
Osoyoos Times
