The ongoing discussion about downtown Victoria is a reflection of the passion our citizens have for the core of our community. We voice both our pride and our concerns because we care.
Through the combined and committed efforts of a diverse group of participants, we have seen great progress in addressing a number of downtown concerns. Over the past several years, we have all worked together in tackling street issues to increase our sense of safety, and to attract investments that fuel our economic viability.
The number of residential developments completed and in progress is a sign of investor confidence. The changing demographic of downtown residents is exciting, not just as a sign of economic recovery but because of the associated opportunities for diverse and expanded services.
Much has been said about ground-floor commercial vacancies. It is important to remember that moves, additions and changes occur on a cyclical basis. As we adjust to shifting conditions, there will be peaks and valleys, and what we have seen over the past few months is typical.
Through last fall and into this spring, we celebrated a number of new openings, some of which are built on the tech boom that began here in 2011 and continues to build. The City of Victoria is working on a number of downtown-positive initiatives and several stakeholder groups, including the Downtown Victoria Business Association, are creating business-focused strategies for today and into the future. What we continue to achieve by sharing a vision and our resources is a story that should be told across the country as a model for positive change.
At the end of the day, the downtown is the most complex and enigmatic part of our region. It is the toast of our community, but is also the part of our city about which people have the most concerns.
It not only has the most beautiful collection of architecture, it also has the most aged infrastructure. It not only has the most appealing and well-attended festivals and events, it is also identified as having the most street issues. It not only has the highest concentration of retailers on Vancouver Island, it also has the most obvious signs of vacant spaces.
These are the same social and economic challenges facing every downtown in North America, and working together as a community we are seeing measurable results. Is there work that remains to be done? Of course, and we should welcome these further opportunities for ongoing collaboration.
The DVBA remains “committed to the core.” Our downtown is a vibrant destination for visitors and the heart of the town for residents. It’s where we gather for breakfast, cultural events, festivals, shopping and street fun — it’s where we connect with one another. Let’s be loud and proud about this community we choose to call home.
Fran Hobbis is chairwoman of the Downtown Victoria Business Association.
