Downtown rejuvenation promoted for Carleton Place

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Desmond Devoy

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EMC News - There's life in the old girl yet.

Businesses are still finding their way to Carleton Place's downtown core, as are customers, but the Carleton Place Business Improvement Area's (BIA) plan to keep both in place is still being rolled out.

"It really stems from a couple of years ago when we walked up and down Bridge Street and saw all of the 'for rent' signs and vacant store fronts," said Jack Taylor in presenting the report, "Towards a Vibrant Downtown," at the BIA's annual meeting at Carleton Place town hall on Jan. 26. "We decided to do something about it."

Although downtown is a work in progress, there are signs of success.

"We are very committed to the downtown core," said BIA president Cathie McOrmond.

She noted that there have been six business expansions downtown and several new stores have opened such as Ponticellos Trattoria, an Italian restaurant, and Cupcakes at Heart.

While many Ontario towns are having trouble keeping businesses downtown, Carleton Place has had to contend with some unique concerns.

"There was some concern that the demise of the Riverside Jam would affect the Bridge Street Bazaar," said McOrmond. "(We're) glad to see that this is not so."

One of the things that needed improvement was something not as visible as a 'for sale' sign though. "The relations between the BIA and council had been spotty in the past," admitted Taylor.

In time, working in collaboration with the town, and of its own initiative, new directions were tackled such as the business retrofit program, fire code retrofits, façade improvement and a business incubator program.

"It was an idea ahead of its time," said Taylor of the incubator program. "It's hard to start a business in a small, rural town," he noted of the program that urged more flexible leases and reduced rents for businesses. "Maybe, fortunately, that one didn't make the cut. As a landlord, I can say that."

While the debate continues downtown over where and how to install a new pedestrian crosswalk, and how to improve existing crosswalks, there is still a push to make pedestrians a priority. Some plans to make downtown more walkable, however, did not make the cut either.

One plan would make traffic stop, 'if you put your finger out'. It was felt that would be too risky.

Signage directing people to downtown was also a priority for the BIA.

"When you go to McNeely Avenue, they think that that is Carleton Place," said Taylor of people driving through town, missing the jewel just a few blocks away.

"They don't come down to our little downtown enclave. They're too busy zipping by on County Road 29 or Highway 7."

Taylor also noted the community improvement plan (CIP) is in the drafting stages, and will be ready for introduction in about a month or so for feedback. He added that the façade program could be rolled in to the CIP, as could the fire code retrofit plan.




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