THUNDER BAY – A prominent business improvement area is looking to city council for increased partnership to improve the north downtown core.
Waterfront District BIA chair Jim Comuzzi addressed council at its Monday night meeting and presented highlights from the group's strategic plan, saying the 150 businesses in the area want to be involved in the planning for the area as the city develops its own new strategic plan.
“I believe it’s a crucial time in the next four or five years for what’s going to happen in the downtown core,” he said in an interview following his presentation to council. “We’re fighting for everything we can get. It’s been depressed for far too long.”
Increasing walkability and accessibility for businesses and tourist attractions is a primary concern, Comuzzi said.
Earlier this year, Coun. Trevor Giertuga brought a proposal to council suggesting a shutdown of Red River Road between Court Street and St. Paul Street to vehicular traffic, either seasonally or permanently.
Comuzzi voiced his support for the idea.
“I see the start of a revitalization to where we’ll have the walkability we had in the 1960s and 1970s that we’ve lost in the last 25 to 30 years,” Comuzzi said.
“I’m in favour of anything that enhances the notoriety of our area and brings anything to the downtown core, whether it’s one way or totally blocked off. We have to do something.”
Another significant priority for the Waterfront District BIA is to create street-level access between the business district and Prince Arthur’s Landing.
With recent waterfront development and ongoing construction of a new hotel, a passage would increase traffic for potential tourists to shops and restaurants.
Comuzzi said it’s “almost at the top” of the Waterfront District BIA’s agenda.
“We have the greatest asset in the world with Lake Superior right in our front yard and we want to utilize everything we can,” Comuzzi said.
“You have to have a flow in the downtown core. If you’re walking right next to the Baggage Arts Building, which has the platform already, it makes it an easy flow between the waterfront and the downtown core.”
