DBA Director to Explain Benefits of Association

Monday, November 10, 2008 03:54 AM

Prince George, BC.- There is another meeting set for those on both sides of the matter of the expansion of the Downtown Business Association.

While the City collects letters or notices from property owners who oppose the expansion, the existing Business Association has been trying to explain why it’s a good idea to be part of a Business Association and how the dollars collected will be spent.

The lack of a clear business plan was just one of the reasons why land owners expressed their opposition to the idea at a meeting held last week. Several property owners also said the tax burden will be very high, adding thousands of dollars to their annual tax bill.

One of the Downtown Prince George Directors, Kirk Gable, will be on the Meisner program this morning on CFIS FM and on live streaming audio here on Opinion 250 to talk about the expansion and the renewal of the Association’s mandate.

If the expansion is defeated, the Downtown Business Association will also cease to exist at the end of this year. That is of course, unless the DBA asks Council to rescind the reverse petition and instead goes ahead with a request only to renew the Association in its current configuration.

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Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 03:54 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: ammonra on November 10 2008 7:52 AM

Does this not refer to the Downtown Business Improvement Area (or is it Association, DBIA) rather then the Downtown Business Association (DBA), which was renamed the Town Centre Business Association (TCBA) years ago.

The DBIA was set up by Council and gets tax support. The TCBA, formerly the DBA, is a voluntary association with an annual fee. The TCBA already covers an area from 1st to 15th, and as a private association does not require anyone's approval to expand.

Posted by: He speaks on November 10 2008 8:38 AM

DBA,Get rid of them, they seem to be suffering from a lack of direction and leadership anyway. Let private industry consolidate properties, and develope them.

Next time a building starts to burn, get everyone out and don't be in a rush to put it out. Let'er burn down. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. Let the new rising be our downtown.

The downtown core will always be the way it is, if they are going to be waiting for government handouts. If nobody wants to go downtown, then the downtown property value should bottom out. Then private investors will consolidate it and rebuild it. All this interference to help out the businesses downtown is just slowing up the process. Stop the over tax, let it go down in value and it will rise again. Victoria Street will be fine, George Street will be fine. Let the rest go and it will happen. Bring back the riff raffs and the hookers and bring down the value so it can get consolidated and rebuilt.

Posted by: BCRacer on November 10 2008 8:59 AM

A change of name maybe, but it appears like the same old song.
And no I don't have the answers.
Not going to be an easy fix....

Posted by: downnotout on November 10 2008 12:43 PM

Hewhospeaks does have a good point. Private bussness could do a much better job than the way they are going about it now. If the panhandlers and assorted rifraff are not moved away than there is no way you can revitalize doentown. Just talk to shoppers they will tell you the same thing. We don't go downtown because of the people [panhandlers,druges, drunks ect.]. Unless that attidute is changed downtown won't.

Posted by: downnotout on November 10 2008 12:44 PM

sorry, He Speaks

Posted by: thereasonableman on November 10 2008 1:12 PM

I think the benefits are more for the people involved in running the association.