Posted Oct 24, 2007, 3:39 PM
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Downtown Moncton 'seizing opportunities'
Lobbying for new justice centre and inclusion of St. George Street are in the group's future plans
Times & Transcript Staff
Published Wednesday October 24th, 2007
Appeared on page C2
There was optimism in the air yesterday as Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) held their fall business meeting and discussed the positive strides that have taken place in the past year. Among other things, members talked of "seizing opportunities" in further development of Moncton's downtown core.
"We have first rate hotels, restaurants, night clubs, pubs, theatres, boutiques and all within walking distance -- And we should be proud of that," said Ben Champoux, business development specialist for the city of Moncton.
"When you create investment like that and you create jobs, it means more and more people come downtown, and more importantly, more and more people want to live in the downtown," he said.
A number of local business owners, community members, DMCI board members and local politicians gathered at the Moncton Press Club yesterday to hear an update on the progress of DMCI's vision plan, to accept their proposed 2008 budget and to hear details on the future of the downtown core -- including the impending inclusion of St. George Street as part of the city's main hub.
Highlighting developments such as the new Vaughan Harvey extension and the arrival and continuing prosperity of many businesses in the downtown core, DMCI Executive Director Daniel Allain said the vision plan created last year is being put into action.
"You just don't want a vision plan that is just on the shelf and not doing anything. The objective of our vision plan is to communicate it. It's a living document," he said.
From updating municipal plan and zoning bylaws to mapping out the appropriate budgets, those involved with DMCI have been working hard to make a reality out of the vision plan's ideas of a more prosperous downtown Moncton.
One of DMCI's biggest initiatives will come to a head on Nov 5, when the proposed expansion of the business improvement area to include St. George Street will be discussed in a public forum in front of city council.
The decision would make St. George Street part of the city's downtown core, and would allow for further beautification, commercial development and safety of the street, as part of DMCI's mandate.
DMCI also announced their budget for the 2008 year. With revenues and expenses equaling slightly over $500,000, Allain said their goal is to maintain a balanced budget, despite surpluses in previous years.
"There are always new expenses that crop up, but the board has been very fiscally prudent. This year we hope to spend the money we are allotted," he said.
Maura McKinnon, DMCI president, said the organization has a number of goals for the upcoming year, including continual lobbying for the construction of a new justice centre and conference centre, relocation and expansion of RCMP Headquarters and development of a new arena in downtown Moncton.
McKinnon also outlined DMCI's strategic plan for 2008 to 2010, which she referred to as "seizing opportunities". Included amongst the future plans is a focus on developing in available space and updating existing infrastructure, making the downtown a better location for residential development and taking steps to revitalize retail in the downtown core.
"We want to create and define what downtown shopping is. People are looking for experiences today, not just transactions. So it's a holistic approach that we need to take to create a downtown shopping experience." Mayor Lorne Mitton was on hand and was thanked by Allain for his hard work and teamwork with DMCI. Mitton said he is happy to see DMCI's efforts working towards a better downtown.
"We learn from them first hand what the needs are, try to accommodate where we can, and work together where we can," he said.
Despite the positives, Mitton said it's hardly time to get complacent in downtown Moncton.
"There's a lot more work to do yet, a lot of projects to do. There's no slowing down -- it's full force ahead," he said.
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