Downtown direction: What’s next?
The next council has decisions to make, and election candidates have varied opinions on how to grow the downtown core
While economic development has been a key issue in the past two civic elections, finding a cure for what ails business growth and activity in the city centre has been a common quest since the mid-1980s.
New lights, sidewalks and planters, grant programs, major infrastructure renewal and other programs have all gone ahead while candidates stump to bring life to the heart of the city.
Incumbents in the race to join council on Oct. 16 and others say momentum is gaining pace — especially on Second Street where buildings were sold and spruced up after major street work in 2013.
However, others say a City Hall goal of including an underground parkade on a lot it owns at 603 First St. has scuttled private development on the site.
Most agree the area is ripe to host more events, festivals and, most of all, more businesses.
Council candidate Maureen Roberts, co-owner of the Rite Downtown garden centre, recently said changes to provincial law this fall could be the most immediate and effective measure. It would authorize cities to apply special tax to derelict buildings, making it more costly for landlords to sit on buildings, instead of improving them for sale or new tenants.
“The landlords of non-residential derelict buildings are holding downtown hostage,” Roberts told an election forum, while extolling new activity in the core, where she has served on the City Centre Development Agency.
Some factions in the community have long blamed absentee landlords, while others have complained that efforts by the CCDA (a provincial-mandated business improvement district) hasn’t done enough. Others say economic and regulatory hurdles of redeveloping old buildings has hampered new investment.
Most mayoral candidates put their support behind increasing the profile downtown by boosting events, and say more support is needed.
Incumbent mayor Ted Clugston staked his political future on a landmark building for the First Street lot by the 2017 election. That didn’t come to fruition after council shelved the idea of a public-private project when developers backed away, and the Chamber of Commerce lobbied hard against the project going ahead.
“When I came into office most of Second Street was vacant, and now it’s blossoming,” he said. “Things are happening.”
Candidate Tom Fougere, who bills himself as an iconoclast candidate, says council dropped the ball on the lot, and the vocal critic of the CCDA said the group should be disbanded by a referendum of business owners.
“There are other organizations that do similar work (staging events),” said Fougere. “It would save business owners a lot of money and taxpayers as well.”
Candidate Scott Raible said better interaction with business owners was needed, and offers of graduated taxes could entice development.
“If a city doesn’t have a downtown, it doesn’t have a soul,” said candidate John Hamill, who also stated new business starts are the work of the private sector, but the city should encourage new ideas and help make them happen.
All agreed getting people downtown is key, either for festivals or other events.
The waterfront and a river recreation plan was proposed by the city parks department several years ago.
That, combined with a reworking of the Medicine Hat Arena land into a commercial and condo development — an idea envisioned in the city’s Flats Redevelopment plan — could spark activity, said council candidate Michael Klassen.
Kris Samraj says that as the city promotes building on the edges of town, downtown loses prominence, but new focus on infill construction would balance growth.
The city offers about $250,000 per year in smaller grants for building improvements and owners who add residential space above shops, fix up street fronts or generally invest in their properties. A near 90 per cent subsidy of some infrastructure charges, known as off-site levies, has been in place for two years.
“We have been working on these things and need to remain intentional and committed,” said council veteran Julie Friesen, a proponent of the off-site discount.
While some areas have perked up, the parking lot at 603 First Street has remained a contentious issue.
Over the years, developers have pulled out on three occasions stating economics of the project wouldn’t work, especially with the city’s wish to have underground parking to alleviate congestion worries.
This year, council voted to repave of parking lot to improve its appearance and perhaps marketability while not limiting future options.
“I think we need to reflect more on that development,” said Darren Hirsch, a former alderman seeking election. He favours fewer restrictions.
“Let market forces dictate downtown, and let the city be the cheerleader.”
Candidate Immanuel Moritz said council should remove parking requirements to free up potential builders.
“You have to make it easier and less restrictive to build, he said.
Challenger Charles Turner also said CCDA transparency is an issue, but also that perception of crime generally dissuades business activity.