Positive Buzz About Downtown PG
“We are very optimistic” says Downtown PG Executive Director Colleen Van Mook “Just since January we’ve seen half a dozen businesses open or reopen downtown.”
The façade improvement program, which offers grants of 50% to a maximum of $5 thousand dollars for the work, has really taken off says Van Mook “We are looking at 12 applications that have been approved, and we are vetting another four.”
The increased interest in that program may be the result of a boost in available dollars. The increased amount is thanks to a grant from Northern Development Initiative Trust. NDIT is also promoting the Love Downtown P.G. program which features local, independently owned businesses.
Funded primarily by a special levy on properties within the downtown, Downtown Prince George has also leveraged more dollars through a number of grants and private sponsorships.
Summerfest, which draws thousands of people to the downtown core, is just around the corner. Set for July 17th, this signature summer street party is set up at 6th and George Street in front of City Hall. It provides food, entertainment and lots of activities “It is very much top of mind for us right now” says Van Mook, but Downtown Prince George is looking ahead “One of the things that’s percolating right now is a winter festival, so we’re trying to see how we can incorporate and celebrate winter in our downtown.”
Van Mook says Downtown Prince George is also working with the Emily Carr School of Art and Design “We’re looking at a partnership that will bring their students to work with businesses downtown to work on projects that could be anything from enhancing facades to public art to engagement to events, so that’s gong to be exciting as well.”
“There just is a good positive buzz throughout the community” says Van Mook “Whether that’s because of the Canada Winter Games, or just people feeling more energetic about the possibilities, we are just feeling good about the atmosphere.”
Comments
For the love of god, please do something to force Photofax on the corner of 5th and George to clean up it’s act. This horrible business showed up at the Car Show with tons of fancy cars, trucks, and boats, but does literally NOTHING to maintain the facade of it’s business. The place is boarded up with plywood and the entire building looks like crap. I refuse to do business with them simply because they are a bad tenant of the downtown.
Probably waiting for his tax payer subsidized welfare check to pay for the updates of the building.
Summit, I couldn’t agree with you more. That being said, I’ve heard major upgrades are in plan for the exterior of the building in the very near future.
Outdoor heated pool. Equipped with the best outside gym. Money raised by on going donations and sponsors from local businesses. Have be able to be completely shut down and secured during winter. Sounds good to me. Be a real draw. Have it with sand and make it real Venice beach like.
Wal-Mart, Canadian Tire and Home Depot are planning facade lifts? News to me.
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