Shining a light on Queen Street heritage

Kitchener considers incentives to get businesses to illuminate architectural features

KITCHENER — Kitchener is considering an incentive program that would give businesses matching grants of up to $10,000 to install lighting to highlight heritage architecture along Queen Street.

“If you could imagine every building along Queen Street in those two blocks being elegantly lit, it would be quite an experience for residents,” said Cory Bluhm, Kitchener’s executive director of economic development.

The city is spending almost $2 million to redesign the stretch of Queen Street between Duke and Charles streets, and make the area’s parks and laneways more inviting. The project, to be completed in 2019, should attract more people to the area, said Hilary Abel, Kitchener’s manager of downtown development. “Additional upper-storey lighting will increase the street-level experience.”

“We know that we have a special collection of buildings along Queen, particularly between Joseph and Duke streets. With Queen and King being the heart of the city, the ‘royal crossroads’ and a major pedestrian and vehicle route, we think there’s an opportunity to feature these buildings in a unique way,” Abel said.

“I think it would be fabulous in that stretch of Queen Street,” said Coun. Frank Etherington, a downtown councillor.

City staff will consult with the public and business owners to see if there’s interest in a heritage lighting program, and would then bring the issue to council again for approval, Abel said.

City council also voted 9-2 to extend the incentive program that matches investments up to $10,000 for downtown businesses that spruce up storefronts. The facade program, in place since 2009, now continues to the end of 2020. Some councillors expressed reservations, saying retail areas across the city are struggling.

“I drive past plazas all the time that have empty storefronts and they don’t look very nice, either,” said Coun. Yvonne Fernandes. “We can’t keep giving to the downtown area. There are six or seven other areas of this city that require an additional leg up.”

Several councillors noted that there are still at least 25 vacant shopfronts downtown, and argued that the vibrancy of the core affects the city’s whole image. “I think this allows our businesses downtown to turn something that would be good into something that’s great,” said Coun. Dave Schnider.

The program has cost the city about $600,000 since 2009, and has spurred about $1.8 million in facade improvements.