Council to consider upgrades (Downtown revite Penticton)

By John MoorhouseTuesday, October 17, 2006 http://www.pentictonherald.ca/article_2224.php
A proposed $2.8-million Main Street upgrade will be included in Penticton city council's 2007 budget deliberations.However, funding approval for the project is not yet a done deal.Peter Benson, president of the Downtown Penticton Association, told council Monday a recent survey of affected property owners in the 200 and 300 blocks of Main Street, showed that respondents representing 58 per cent of assessed property values supported the upgrade. But this represented only 38 per cent of total assessed values, after property owners who didn't respond to the survey were taken into account.Benson urged council to include city funding for the upgrade in the 2007 and hold a formal counter petition for property owner approval. At least 50 per cent of the property owners within the specified area, representing 50 per cent of assessed property values need to support the proposal for it to be approved."Although the petition does not meet the requirement of the Community Charter, we believe the vote clearly demonstrates support for Main Street revitalization," he said.The proposal calls for the city to contribute $1.4 million towards the upgrade, property owners would pay $1 million and donations would account for $400,000.Benson said although Penticton has a great downtown, the sidewalks are deteriorating, trees planted 20 years ago are now encroaching on buildings, sidewalk benches are outdated and there is little public art.Traffic speed on Main Street, reduced in the 1990s to 30 km/h, is now deemed by the DPA to be dangerous and not pedestrian-oriented. Benson noted one downtown business owner was struck by a hit and run vehicle in the 300-block crosswalk in August.Council voted unanimously to refer the DPA submission to city staff for further review prior to inclusion in its 2007 budget deliberations. It has not been determined whether city-wide voter approval will be needed as well.The project, which originally proposed upgrading the length of Main Street from Eckhardt Avenue to Lakeshore Drive, was downsized in March to only include the 200 and 300 blocks. It would see the current three lanes of traffic reduced to two, thus allowing for wider sidewalks and more landscaping.Coun. Joanne Grimaldi said the project would lead to a more attractive, people-oriented downtown. "By doing the 200 and 300 blocks only, it would probably be an incentive for the other blocks to then proceed at a later date," she said. "I hope we can find the dollars to proceed with this, especially when it could be done in time for our centennial in 2008 and we could put our best foot forward."Meanwhile, the city's downtown revitalization advisory committee is looking for $200,000 in budget money next year - up from this year's $150,000 budget. The 2007 budget proposal includes $100,000 for more public art.An investigation into developing public washrooms is also proposed. Grimaldi noted public washrooms are "sadly lacking" in the downtown area