The Zannette rendition of what Prince George's downtown could look like is beautiful.... unfortunately that will never happen. The commissioned report by Nielson-Welch and Leftside Partners, is correct stating that this tax abatement would not spur construction downtown. It is troublesome to hear that our city council and the DBIA is angry at this report and that they are considering non-payment for this prepared report. Wasn't due diligence exercised in hiring the best consultants for this downtown feasibility report?
To base the future of downtown off of Commonwealth's development and "hope" for spin off construction is ridiculous. Prince George has had this "hope" for the last 45 years.
The downtown has to be vital....its own entity, and offer an experience that is positive and offers spin off activities and experiences.
For example, the Keg is a destination restaurant. Customers would go for their meal and then return home. Ideally, the consumer would shop downtown, eat at the Keg, perhaps go to a desert shop, and then take in an art performance all within the confines of downtown. Here we have one business which provides the 'trickle down" effect of providing a total experience for the consumer and monies for the entrepreneur.
Right now with the condition of the downtown, those positive experiences and "trickle down" opportunities are not available. To not organize and control development will leave the city looking like a mosaic. This piece-meal development does not allow for harmonious appearance and tie in opportunities. You could have a beautiful restaurant adjacent to soup kitchen for example.
Zoning, land use, and land ownership all have to be addressed to create this entity of a harmonious downtown. The speculators will have to have their lands sold/leased to the City or expropriated and efforts in construction and planning all have to be towards a common goal. Open Prince George up for business.
It is strongly rumoured that Prince George could have had the Surrey Taxation centre built here and the BCR head offices built here. These two entities could have seriously changed the face of Prince George. We cannot afford to lose opportunities to attract major business here. There are opportunities abounding for these groups to truly make Prince George the "Hub of the North" or British Columbia's true "Northern Capital."
Eric Chow
Prince George
