Enough About Down Town Already

Monday, November 10, 2008 03:44 AM

Five days from today you will be called upon to make a decision as to who should pilot the city for the next three years.

While there have been many new candidates in the field, in large measure there has been little in the way of new direction for the city.

The down town has received yet another hearing. During the past 20 years I have heard much the same pitch time in and time out.

In my mind, the City Council has played a major role in getting the down town to where it now is, through its bylaws, community plan and direction. Yet few, if any candidates that I recall hearing, have addressed the matter of what do we do with the laws we have jurisdiction over to fix the problem. Instead we suggest a new bandage is in order such as a Performing Arts Center, it will be a panacea for new down town. It won’t and while the Center is a great idea, during these uncertain economic times we need to address the basics first and foremost.

Again many of the candidates have suggested projects and efforts which are under complete control of the Federal and Provincial governments. Suggesting that in some way if we get money from the feds and the province that it isn’t coming out of our pockets.

Will the back to the basics taken by a number of new candidates catch fire with the voting public? It is hard to say, that will depend largely on how many people show up at the polls come Saturday.

In the final week let’s hope that we hear less about the down town and more about what these people seeking office believe is needed for the entire city, so far that has been the area of lacking.

I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.

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Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 03:44 AM in Views by Ben Meisner

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Comments

Posted by: IAM on November 10 2008 5:04 AM

I certainly agree that the "downtown revitalization" issue has been restated and repackaged again and again over the years with results which have been largely absentee and neglectful, at best.
Having said that, I live and work in the downtown, and it is a big, big issue, and it matters a great deal to those of us raising our families and working downtown.
My primary concern will remain as stated, and on Saturday, I will not be voting for any incumbent that has spent more then two terms on city council.

Posted by: diplomat on November 10 2008 7:51 AM

Elsewhere on this site:"The (mayoral debate) format is that of debate and will focus on themes of homelessness public safety, downtown economic development, streetscape improvement, zoning, public art, culture and the development of a comprehensive downtown plan."

It's the last part of the sentence that is worthy of scrutiny: development of a comprehensive downtown plan.

This has been bandied about for decades. Isn't it just about high time now that those responsible for doing that finally do it and then stick to it with determination and purpose?

Don't we have a city planning department, a city manager, a mayor, council, and the results of countless studies to use as guidelines?

The candidates for mayor can only restate what has been stated ad infinitum: it would be nice to have a comprehensive downtown development plan! And wouldn't it be nice to get some action!

If nobody takes the bull by the horns the debates will go on forever...

Posted by: realitycheck on November 10 2008 8:38 AM

Downtown = Waste of time until population increases isgnificantly.

PG simply does not have the critical mass to make a downtown core model work in the new reality; That being box stores spread about where land is cheap and parking is plentiful.

Like it or hate it the new retail landscape does not support a downtown core in a city our size.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on November 10 2008 8:41 AM

Start at Victoria will a line of D9 cats and don't stop until you get to the river!
Then start over from the ground up!
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, and this downtown rhetoric will go on forever with very little accomplished!

Posted by: BCRacer on November 10 2008 9:03 AM

I for one am tired of hearing about a performng center. There are at least three performing sites in town, that I know of, and I doubt any of them are being fully utilized.
I also believe the new gaming center will be, and has been built, in a round about way, for the performing center.

Posted by: dubber on November 10 2008 9:11 AM

Heard from a certain candidate....

"As far as I�m concerned, downtown could be bulldozed into a pile and burnt."

whoa..... bulldoze and start over? What about the people?

"sucks to be them" the candidade went on to say later

Posted by: Clean on November 10 2008 9:25 AM

I have written many complaint letters to the City Bylaw office about various residential properties over the last couple years.
These letters pointed out various bylaw infractions such as unclean properties, abandoned vehicles, industrial machinery and various rubbish within properties in the city of Prince George.
I have seen very little effort by the cities Bylaw office to address some of my concerns.
It is my opinion that the Bylaw office is a waste of taxpayer�s money as they are not effective in enforcing bylaws.
The bylaw office is a direct impression of the city, and with their actions they have shown me that the current administration is not interested in improving the city.

I have given up on making Prince George a better place to live and I have resorted to renting my two properties to back yard mechanics and their various abundance of vehicle parts and garbage scattered throughout my property.
This is what the city encourages therefore why fight it, it�s not worth it.

It is my opinion that with the current municipal government in place, Prince George has a limited future.
Unfortunately I am stuck with inner city property that is worthless. Unable to sell and unable to improve.
Its shameful.

Posted by: Bridge on November 10 2008 10:11 AM

Clean, there is no desire at city hall to improve the quality of life in PG. One need only drop in at city hall and that become very evident. Fifty feet from the entrance sita crumy shack for what purpose is unknown. Where most cities will have some lanscaping like flowers and shrubs we have a crummy parking lot right at the door.

The rest of the area is covered with the vehicles used by citie staff who are to lazy to park the vehicles elsewhere and walk a few paces. City hall is a administrative building. Its not the place for trades to hang out at and look important driving up in their full size trucks. These people need to be on the job to supervise their employees.

Council dose not know what its functioin is. At present they are so engrossed with the economy and the infrastructure is left to fend for itself. They have these grand schemes on spending tax dollars and a number of them have said that we need more money from seniore levels of government to maintain the infrastructure. They are incapable of managing with the tax dollars that they have.

It is encouraging to note that some of you have a handle on whats happening downtown. The big box plan on #16 west has destroyed the down town. This is just another folly to get more tax dollars that our council cant manage.

And I have to add that if Zurowski is elected as mayor it will be the same old same old. He will have a free ticket to the world and will be to engrossed with his dreams and we will pay the bills.Eugene would probably do more for our city then our Don.

Cheers

Posted by: diplomat on November 10 2008 4:06 PM

The only thing that kept me from attending City Council Meetings (I am very much interested in what goes on in the city) is my worry that if I park my car anywhere near City Hall in the dark for a couple of hours that I will find it to have been vandalized or stolen when I return.

The whole area is so incredibly rundown and dirty looking even in the daytime!

"And I have to add that if Zurowski is elected as mayor it will be the same old same old."

That's why voting for McCain to follow Bush was not a good idea either.

Posted by: robichal on November 10 2008 4:21 PM

I feel like moving after reading these posts - only because they are true. Although I don't believe the big box stores have ruined dwntwn - dwntwn was a mess long before the big box came. What's ruined this city is bad planning and no action. There is no "rhyme or reason" for the state it's in and whoever is elected Mayor has a pretty crappy job!

Posted by: faithfulreader on November 11 2008 8:16 PM

Re-elect? Not a chance. I am going to vote for anyone but an incumbent. They've had their chance and nothing happened except for junkets to China and Oregon and selfish decisions on our tax dollars. And I will not vote for Dan Rogers. We don't need another feeder at the trough. I'm going to vote for Dane. New eyes, new ideas. Someone who will work very hard to prove himself as our Mayor. That's who we need.