Day 2 | What Can be Done on the Ground to Recover our Downtowns?

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We are going to keep things moving and jump right into our next session “What can be done on the ground to recover our downtowns?” History has shown us that cities are remarkably resilient, even when faced with sudden or chronic challenges. What tangible ways can civic leaders, policymakers and entrepreneurs bring our downtowns not only back, but catapult them to a new dynamic future? 05:24:09 Canadian Urban Institute: Joining us today are: Amahl Hazelton, Producer, Strategy and Development, Moment Factory  Nick Griffin, Executive Director, Downtown Center Business Improvement District, Los Angeles  Nolan Marshall III, President and CEO at Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association   Regina Myer, CEO, Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, New York    This session will be moderated by James Lima, President of James Lima Planning + Development 05:24:59 Canadian Urban Institute: James Lima has extensive experience in the planning and implementation of urban revitalization projects throughout North America. His real estate and economic advisory firm, James Lima Planning + Development, helps public and private sector clients create more vibrant, equitable, and resilient places. JLP+D provides planning, policy, real estate, and economic advisory services for downtown revitalization, institutional real estate value creation, great placemaking, and shaping impactful public policy. Prior to founding JLP+D in 2011, James was a partner at a national real estate and economic advisory firm focusing on downtown revitalization, mixed-use development and waterfront revitalization. As a public development official in NYC, James led the City’s Downtown Brooklyn Redevelopment Plan and was later appointed by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg as founding President of the public corporation charged with planning, redeveloping and operating Governors Island in New York Harbor. 05:25:33 Canadian Urban Institute: Nolan Marshall is the President and CEO of the Downtown Vancouver BIA. Prior to joining the DVBIA he served as the Chief Engagement and Solutions Officer at the New Orleans Business Alliance. He lead cross collaboration between Small Business Growth, Strategic Neighborhood Development, and Industry Attraction and Retention teams, and engagement with public sector partners around the economic opportunities and challenges facing New Orleans. His prior work has included grassroots and grasstops community organizing in public safety and public education policy, place based economic development strategies, and creation and implementation of both macro and micro economic development policies and programs. 05:25:47 Canadian Urban Institute: Regina Myer is President of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, a not-for-profit local development corporation that serves as the primary champion for Downtown Brooklyn as a world-class business, cultural, educational, residential, and retail destination. Prior to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Regina was the senior vice president for planning and design at the Hudson Yards Development Corporation, and the Brooklyn Borough Director for the New York City Planning Department. She received her BA and Masters in Urban Planning from the University of Michigan, and resides in Park Slope, Brooklyn. 05:25:59 Canadian Urban Institute: Nick Griffin acts as the Downtown Center Business Improvement District’s Executive Director. Griffin manages the organization’s marketing, economic development and strategic initiatives, to attract companies, retailers, investors and residents to Downtown Los Angeles, one of the nation’s most dynamic urban centers.Prior to the DCBID, Nick spent more than 25 years in business development in the real estate, media and technology industries. Nick is a graduate of UCLA and holds an MBA from Ohio State University. 05:26:12 Canadian Urban Institute: Amahl Hazelton joined Moment Factory in 2009, and currently heads Strategy and Development for the multimedia studio’s ‘Cultural & Educational’ division. His experience in Digital Storytelling ranges from immersive, interactive exhibitions at the Museum of Science, Boston, the Canadian Museum of Nature and Paris’ Grand Palais, to cultural storytelling activations on flagship civic facades ranging from Vancouver’s iconic Canada Place Convention Centre to the National Arts Centre and federal Parliament in Ottawa to the Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona. A graduate of McGill University’s School of Urban Planning with a specialization in Place Branding & Competitive Identity, Amahl has led the development of groundbreaking participative media installations that celebrate local, regional and national identity and engage the public with cultural and scientific content. 05:32:12 Catherine Deegan: very interesting content James !  all main streets are a cultural and artist canvases awaiting to be repainted 05:35:08 paul mackinnon: Go NM3!! 05:36:01 paul mackinnon: DT Vancouver will be hosting the Sept 2022 annual International Downtown Association conference – hopefully focused on post-pandemic downtowns! 05:36:33 James Lima: Sorry folks.  Somehow my connection dropped. 05:36:46 Cherie Klassen: I can’t wait to go to another IDA conference! I miss them. 05:37:30 paul mackinnon: We are also looking to add a day at that time for a Canadian BIA summit. Details to come. 05:39:47 Kristen Shima: curious to see how much engagement and involvement occurs with the artists and creatives overall understanding the social fabric and dynamics of their ecosystem to support the downtown ecosystem. gentrification occurs as a lifecycle… wonder if that is the case now (but land/real estate costs high, costs of living for creatives, etc.) 05:40:56 Sophia Symons: I wonder what jeopardized the safety of the other 8%? 05:47:17 Gelare Danaie: The best activation in Toronto was in my opinion the opening of lakeshore to bikes and pedestrian in weekends… we need to keep these amazing activation not just in the pandemic time but to make our cities more vibrant 05:49:52 paul mackinnon: We all have members who object to losing street space for drivers and parking. Interested to hear if any BIDs did pedestrian-friendly changes which they regret? 05:52:10 Mona Moreau: Hopefully people responsible for Toronto’s development are watching this!!!  Please reach out to our City staff to ensure they see these ideas i.e. get rid of parking spots and make larger sidewalks. 05:53:22 Laura Wall: I’d say the same for London ON 05:56:23 Cherie Klassen: @Paul, we took away parking spaces for sidewalk activation in 2020 and 2021. The first year we heard a bit of negative feedback from businesses, but upon surveying them and making some changes in 2021, it wasn’t much of an issue. the key was ensuring we had delivery and loading zones on each block. In our surveys after the project, visitors were least concerned about loss in parking. Interesting stats. 05:59:06 Gelare Danaie: This is amazing! 06:00:26 Judith Cox: Cherie, where are you from, I’m interested in promoting a project like this. 06:00:46 Tim Kocur: Ears are burning 06:00:53 Mary Pattion: Inspiring presentation Nick! 06:01:21 Mark van Elsberg: Removing parking is not always the end result.  Relocating parking is the key 06:01:30 Nick Griffin: DTLA/reimagined – https://downtownla.com/dtla-reimagined 06:01:55 Alysson Storey: Nick – fascinating presentation. Your enthusiasm and energy are so refreshing! Thank you for sharing your expertise. 06:02:19 Nick Griffin: DTLA Virtual – https://downtownla.com/business/tours/dtla-virtual-development-tour 06:04:33 Cherie Klassen: @judith I’m in Edmonton, AB 06:05:46 Mark van Elsberg: By narrowing roads from one intersection to the next creates an opportunity to increase curb side parking  (Transportation requires a large space before parking is permitted if the lane is open (often 15 to 30.5m from the intersection) by expanding the boulevard (making the crossing safer) we creat opportunities for lay by’s or better seasonal parking on the boulevard.  This provides flexible parking areas that can be converted to patios seasonally.  the increased boulevard space also makes room for planting, street furniture, and bike share.  And traffic is calmed as a result with a reduction of illegal stopping at intersections 06:08:11 Philip Brown: Lighting adds a lot to downtown aesthetic value. 06:09:56 Alysson Storey: Love this ROE Amahl. Definitely requires a major shift in thinking from some of the powers-that-be but absolutely agree. 06:12:52 Cherie Klassen: Agreed Nolan! We’re doing the same with our municipality on patio permits. Now we know they can be nimble, we need to continue with that – and more. 06:13:40 Don Herweyer: Some great images. On the examples of crisis sparking innovation totally agree. After successful pilot we made permanent changes to City of Ottawa Zoning By-law to allow outdoor patios on private parking areas, resulting in much more flexibility and opportunity for small businesses to expand their services, and contribute to a vibrant streetscape in commercial areas and main streets. https://app05.ottawa.ca/sirepub/cache/2/0qd3r3f3ycnu5ndpk4nz3qzc/76364701262022054704948.PDF 06:13:56 Mona Moreau: Do you have any idea why Toronto cannot seem to provide a “pedestrians only” street or area?  I travel a lot around the world and EVERY city seems to have been able to provide “pedestrian only” streets or areas.  Do you have any suggestions for Toronto? 06:14:08 paul mackinnon: for one of the first times there were Fed and provincial placemaking programs open to BIAs to apply to. Will these continue? If not, we may see projects slide backwards this year. 06:16:12 Rachel Braithwaite: Agree @Paul funding for events in main streets and improved infrastructure is key 06:16:55 Cherie Klassen: Agreed also. We are not able to continue our expanded sidewalk program this year as there’s no funding for it. 06:17:03 Janice Wilder: In the summer Toronto has Kensington & Church St pedestrian on weekends, plus Wilcox in U of T is permanently pedestrian.  also, there are hundreds of local weekend festivals where streets are closed to cars. 06:17:18 Kay Matthews: Delighted that BIAs have been recognized by grants and funding, but core small infrastructure funding needs to be ongoing. 06:18:13 Mona Moreau: Yes, I’m very familiar with JW’s list.  But I don’t think that’s enough for a city like Toronto. 06:18:21 paul mackinnon: Particularly as BIAs will be facing decreased core budgets, as assessments decline in their areas. 06:19:47 Mona Moreau: I do think that Toronto seems to be a “car society” and we can’t get past that.  City councillors tend to be from the GTA and keep prioritising their cars. 06:21:10 Rachel Braithwaite: Infrastructure improvements are key to increase safety and walkability in our downtowns – we can’t depend on small business owners to fund this. 06:21:57 Janice Wilder: I agree that TO is too car centric, but much of this is driven by complaints from small businesses (the King pilot, the St Clair streetcar).  Any loss of parking generates huge outrage from local business.  So, how can we change their minds? 06:22:22 Deborah Ballinger-Mills: This has been a fascinating and inspirational two days. So glad I’ve had the opportunity to see and hear this conversation. Mary you rock! Thank you everyone. 06:22:23 paul mackinnon: Mark your calendars! Sept.21-23: https://downtown.org/event/2022-annual-conference/ 06:22:30 Catherine Deegan: Thank you everyone, great session 06:25:15 Kay Matthews: Join the Ontario BIA Association for our in person Conference April 24-27, 2022 in Niagara Falls.  “Keep Calm and Power ON”.  www.obiaa.com  Conference Registration is now open.