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Viewpoint: Build it and they will come

by wendy brown All summer I watch visitors wandering along Marine Avenue from the harbour, looking for something to do—somewhere to spend their money. Visitors come in cars, on boats and ferries and stop here on their way through to somewhere else.

by wendy brown All summer I watch visitors wandering along Marine Avenue from the harbour, looking for something to do—somewhere to spend their money. Visitors come in cars, on boats and ferries and stop here on their way through to somewhere else. But for a tourist, there’s no reason to stay. Aside from the natural beauty, all they see are a few shops and restaurants and a lot of offices. They never see the other interesting shops, galleries, businesses and attractions located throughout Powell River because they rarely leave the wharf or Marine area.

We need a dedicated tourist area to immediately pull in the visitors—and keep them here. Then they’ll discover all the rest that Powell River has to offer.

It’s a tough economic climate right now, but tourists are still touring. Let’s give them a reason to tour to Powell River and improve our economy.

1. Designate and name a tourist area.

Designate Marine to Willingdon Beach, including the harbour area, Wharf Street and west side of Willingdon Avenue as the tourist area. An area name would be useful for advertising, maps and signage.

2. Petition ministry of transportation and infrastructure to reroute Highway 101 to Joyce Avenue through town.

From its southern intersection with Joyce, the highway should follow Joyce to Alberni Street then down Alberni (or a new road) to rejoin Marine out to Townsite. The Westview section of Marine would be released from highway regulations.

3. Draw up detailed plan.

List desirable businesses–Powell River Visitor Centre, outdoor cafés, attractions, coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, fashion and gift stores, souvenir shops, et cetera. Use cohesive design elements (shop frontage, colours, et cetera) to tie these businesses in.

4. Provide financial incentives.

Award grants or tax incentives to business owners and entrepreneurs in a designated area to build or operate businesses specifically on the list (or with a new commercial idea to increase tourism).

5. Area beautification.

Award grants to businesses for redesign of building frontage following pre-set guidelines.

Street banners, hanging baskets, outdoor lanterns, and more, could be paid for by the city. Increase the number of gardens, walls, benches. (Possibly, people without gardens would volunteer to tend plantings.)

6. Tourism Now campaign.

Speeches from mayor and council, posters, et cetera motivating all residents and businesses to approve financial incentives, welcome visitors, beautify and update premises everywhere.

7. Advertise.

Hold a contest to come up with a catchy slogan and visuals.

8. Protect the view.

Restrict further building in the area to one storey only.

9. Encourage sidewalk cafés, rooftop gardens, vendors, busking and pushcarts.

Generate excitement: loosen, modify or remove restrictive bylaws.

10. Consider a bylaw to designate Marine (from Wharf to Alberni) retail/commercial only.

Encourage residents to sell homes or change to commercial establishments. Encourage services (offices, et cetera) to relocate.

11. Build a boardwalk from Wharf at Westview to Willingdon Beach.

Build city-owned kiosks at the wharf and a few along the new boardwalk–seasonal leases for artisans, coffee, ice cream, T-shirt stands, et cetera.

If we’re serious about attracting tourism, it will only happen if the entire city is behind the idea, an actual plan is in place and some financial help is available to those entrepreneurs who will take the gamble.

Build it and they will come.

wendy brown is a cartoonist, painter and writer, living in Powell River. She is currently finishing a travel book of text and cartoons which is under contract for publication in early 2013.