Owners To Vote on Revitalization

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 14 March 2012 16:20
  A plan for more revitalization in Vernon's downtown will be put to a vote of businesses and property owners.  30th Avenue from 33 to 35 streets would go from four to two traffic lanes, with wider sidewalks, landscaping, twinkle lights, and other features added, similar to the rest of the street.  City council has supported the idea, but not without some opposition. Councillor Bob Spiers disagrees with the city picking up part of the costs, which didn't happen in earlier revites. "I believe development pays for itself, business pays for itself. They're the ones that are going to benefit from it and they should be paying the full load." Juliette Cunningham was also opposed to the city covering more than half of the 400-thousand dollar cost, when earlier projects were paid for just by the merchants. "They're still paying for that. They'll be paying for that until I believe 2017, so it just seems inequitable to me that the other end (of the street) will be paid mostly by the taxpayers of Vernon." Councillor Mary Jo O'Keefe says the project will enhance the downtown, and will complete the vision for the street as a whole. The city will pay 225-thousand for the infrastructure, streetlights and landscaping. The property owners would cover twinkle lights, surfacing and street furniture, worth about 185-thousand. The cost would be $450 per linear meter of frontage. City Engineering Manager Rob Dickenson told council, if the business owners don't support the project, staff would recommend the project not proceed. If it was approved, he says work could start in March of 2013. The last revitalization in downtown Vernon was in 2002. Photo: Proposed area for downtown Vernon revitalization from 33rd to 35th streets of 30th Avenue
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Don Quixote Note: Deja vu all over again. (From March 15, 2011)

Kate Bouey 3/15/2011 105.7 SUNFM

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City of Vernon staff will be patrolling 31st Avenue, hoping to convince businesses along five blocks in the downtown core to vote in favour of a proposed revitalization project that will add trees and street lighting. Shop fronts are being asked to contribute funds to pay for street furniture and other items, although the City plans to pick up the tab for much of the work.

Don Quixote Note: You can go to page 181-183 of Agenda Package  to see how the 2 options available for the merchants along 31st ave and the cost of these items and also the cost of the trees and street-lighting that the City has agreed to fund for this revitalization. (This was passed 6-1 at Monday's meeting).

•  The original costs for LSA (Local Service Area) was approx $1400 per metre. (Total 1220m for entire 5 block project). 
• 3 items originally in the LSA Costs for Bollards, Twinkle Lights and a mid block feature were eliminated reducing the cost to the LSA by $525/m. 
• City assumed responsibility for street lighting ($179/m =$216,000)  and Trees ($343/m =$418,000) and this reduced the original LSA costs by $522/m = Total $636,000. 
• The LSA has the option of accepting Decorative, coloured concrete at a cost of $191/m ($232,000) under option 1.
• The LSA has the option of accepting Decorative, coloured concrete at a cost of $191/m ($232,000) and adding street furniture at a cost of $229m ($279,000). 

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Also see

Beautification project goes to vote

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: March 16, 2011 1:00 AM
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Original 30th Ave Revite Yearly Tax Rates & Outstanding Debt