Extended patios are good for downtown Guelph but closing streets to traffic works against downtown prosperity.
The Downtown Dining District is not an either or proposition – you can have a robust outdoor dining scene without streets being totally blocked off.
We want a fair playing field equally distributed to all food and beverage and retail establishments. This was not the case at all during last year's pilot project. Ideally, increased patio space would bring more people downtown and would help bring foot and vehicular traffic to all downtown retail and food and beverage establishments.
I contend that extended sidewalk patio space with less red tape and a more festive atmosphere could accomplish what the road closures last year intended to do during the pilot project. We can have our cake and eat it too.
Downtown Guelph is going to change dramatically over the next five years because of the redevelopment of Baker Street and associated infrastructure improvements. I want to be clear that I am not opposed to creative ideas regarding outdoor dining and entertainment.
The Bookshelf is a downtown business which includes retail, entertainment and food and beverage components. We ask for fairness for all players in the downtown business ecosystem. This fairness includes public transportation being able to run efficiently and not having impediments for people who may want to commute to the downtown.
I live just south of The University of Guelph and talk to my neighbours about their perceptions of accessibility to downtown. Last year, many of them expressed dissatisfaction with so many of the roads being blocked off to traffic. We want a holistic city. A city where residents feel comfortable going from area to area with as few impediments as possible.
Downtown Guelph businesses are going through the toughest social and economic conditions that I have ever witnessed. Let's come up with
solutions that help everyone.
Ben Minett
