DBIA to step up downtown beautification

Peterborough’s Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) has new plans for beautification that will be revealed next week to the board, DBIA executive director Terry Guiel told councillors Tuesday night.

Guiel said architect and board member Michael Gallant is leading a new “visioning ” project that will be presented to the DBIA board shortly – and then details will be offered to the public and to council.

But some things are already clear: Guiel said the idea will be to “tackle things like vacancy and graffitti” while also creating new murals downtown.

Guiel also said there will be some new, innovative ideas for beautification too.

He also said the ambassador program will be back, but that ambassadors will be replaced by a team with expertise in mental health, addictions and poverty.

In the summer, the DBIA ran a pilot program to try to help shoppers by giving them directions and change for parking meters, while also ensuring that marginalized people downtown know where to get a meal or some shelter.

The DBIA was making a presentation to city councillors during budget talks Tuesday night – which is rare. The DBIA isn’t typically asked to come and talk about their plans for the forthcoming year.

But the DBIA is about to start receiving $150,000 a year, for the next 20 years, to make up for the fact that council didn’t consider the downtown as a potential location for the casino (the building is under construction now on Crawford Dr.).

To make up for the loss of business downtown, the city will compensate the DBIA; in exchange, the DBIA dropped its appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board over the casino location.

Coun. Keith Riel said he didn’t know enough about how the DBIA plans to spend that money.

The DBIA voted in favour of a budget, earlier this fall, that prescribes how they are likely to spend that $150,000 in 2018: the downtown will likely get increased security, for example, a new mural and perhaps new holiday lights.

But Riel asked exactly how the DBIA is fulfilling its mandate, which is supposed to be promotion and beautification of the downtown.

“The city has bellied up to the bar and given quite a bit, here,” Riel said.

Guiel outlined some of the beautification and promotion plans: Gallant’s visioning project, for instance, more murals, and several new events for 2018 on top of the full slate of events the DBIA already puts on.

Dave Madill, the chairman of the DBIA board, said they have certainly fulfilled that mandate of beautification – and then some.

“It’s economic vibrancy – it’s more than beautification,” he said. “We’re doing events.”

Brad Smith of AON Inc., told councillors he was offended that councillors would laugh as Guiel was describing some of the events they’ve planned such as the Win This Space contest.

Guiel and the DBIA are working hard to organize these events, he said.

“And there are giggles around the table,” he said, referring to councillors’ reaction. “I’m dumbfounded.”

Smith, Madill and Guiel left council chambers before councillors could respond to that.

Mayor Daryl Bennett said nobody was laughing at them – they were simply reacting to some humorous comments made during the presentation.

Riel said he wasn’t asking questions to browbeat anyone. It’s his job to ask about how tax money is being spent, he said.

“If someone’s back gets up, that’s too bad.”

Budget talks are expected to wrap up Wednesday night at City Hall.