Chard proposal would help Old Town

I write in support of Chard Development’s proposal for a boutique hotel at 1314-1324 Broad St. I own a 90-yearold family business in Old Town and feel this development will be a benefit to an area that desperately needs revitalization.

Our small business, Robinson’s Outdoor Store, has been an anchor in Old Town and has been in its current location since 1946.

Our small business has experienced the decline of Old Town first-hand. We had a major break-in on Saturday, Dec. 21. The result was expenses to our business well into the tens of thousands of dollars.

By not authorizing increased policing as requested, the City of Victoria has also left shopkeepers vulnerable to this type of crime.

When the city had more beat cops and more police officers, we could expect better help for our marginalized people and better responses when events such as break-ins occurred.

By delaying the construction of the hotel, the city is prolonging the opportunity of Broad Street merchants to have a more vibrant street. We have the chance for an excellent developer to build a boutique hotel with retail merchants on the ground floor.

The mix of visitors and small business is recipe for growth and promotes the type of sustainable tourism Victoria wishes to attract.

Gayle Robinson Robinson’s Outdoor Store Victoria