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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 46
NO FOOLING
LIVELY HISTORY How a death in Victoria gave birth to Kamloops Old Man’s Home
Local magician to appear on Penn & Teller TV show
TODAY’S WEATHER
Sunny and warm High 26 C Low 12 C
NEWS/A17
NEWS/A10
VICTORIA STREET SQUARE?
The pandemic’s brutal impact on business has prompted some to suggest turning the city’s main street into a pedestrian-only route to help retailers. KTW surveyed more than 100 tenants to gauge their opinions JESSICA WALLACE
KTW SURVEY OF 107 VICTORIA STREET TENANTS
jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
In favour of closing street: 50 Opposed to closing street: 38 Unsure about closing street: 12 Impartial: 7
STAFF REPORTER
V
ictoria Street tenants are divided over an idea to shutter the street to vehicles in favour of creating a pedestrian-centric area, with many citing concerns about parking. Kamloops This Week conducted a survey in recent weeks of tenants on Victoria Street, from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue, asking if they support or oppose closing the street to vehicular access. The idea was floated by Hello Toast restaurant owners amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Owners of the popular downtown breakfast and lunch locale said due to occupancy restrictions and distancing rules in place for restaurants to curb spread of the novel coronavirus in B.C., they would not be able to keep their business afloat in their typically small and cozy space. Instead of closing the street, the city instead loosened rules for outdoor patios and sidewalk sales, allowing businesses to spill out onto
sidewalks and parking stalls, to create more space for customers. Several businesses have since expanded their patios. KTW compiled a database of more than 150 Victoria Street tenants from First Avenue to Sixth Avenue, which includes top-of-mind stores and restaurants and many professional services — counsellors, lawyers, accountants and financial services advisors — not vis-
ible to the average passerby, tucked away on top floors above storefronts. In addition, the area surveyed is home to non-profits, big banks, government offices, a movie theatre, a library, a hotel, a pharmacy, fitness studio space, beauty services and others. KTW reached more than 100 tenants. The survey does not include residential dwellings, which are also sprinkled along the strip.
The survey found 50 tenants were in favour of closing Victoria Street to vehicular access — 46 per cent of those contacted by KTW — while 38 were opposed (35 per cent), Twelve tenants (11 per cent) indicated maybe/unsure and seven (6.5 per cent) were impartial. Of those in support of the idea, owners of restaurants and professional service providers were generally more in favour of closing the
street to vehicles, while owners of stores were generally opposed. Restaurant owners told KTW closing the street to vehicles would create a good atmosphere downtown and allow for social interaction and physical distancing during the novel coronavirus outbreak. Restaurants have been hit particularly hard during the pandemic, with most already working on slim margins.
Caffé Motivo and Hoja Mongolian Grill expressed support, as did Subway owner Grayden Flanagan, who noted these are “unique times.” One restaurant, Dorian Greek House, was not keen about the idea, noting the proposal is better in theory than in practice and that “every time there’s a road closure, unfortunately it hurts business for us.” Service providers seemed open to helping businesses in their neighbourhood hurting during the pandemic, with 14 of 19 reached in favour of at least testing closure or putting it into place on a temporary basis during the pandemic. Meanwhile, store owners expressed concern about parking and loss of customer convenience. In fact, the issue of parking was raised by more than one-third of tenants reached by KTW, by far the most significant concern raised in closing Victoria Street to vehicular access. Many liked the idea, but are concerned about parking, with some suggesting they would support the initiative if issues were addressed. See REACTION, A6
Electric vehicle charging station
40%OVER PRE SOL -LE D/ ASE D Bike parking & shower/ change room
10 years reduced property taxes
Underground parking for purchase or lease
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