(06-29-2020, 12:58 PM)Momo26 Wrote: I can appreciate where Tony_Plow is going with this. I am one of the folks really excited to see the revitalization and return of a bustling DTK. A lot of these projects are set to be completed in 2021/2022 and newer ones in 2023 (even taking into account COVID). For me the biggest indicator is going to be how many new businesses decide to move forward with plans of moving into or expanding their DTK presence. Jobs = people living close to work = businesses opening to serve this population.

All with A wrench in it due to COVID. 3 years to even 5 years is what I consider 'over night'

(06-29-2020, 02:52 PM)Tony_Plow Wrote: It's exciting to know of so many developments on the horizon.  Personally, I think it will take approx. 10 years for DTK to have a safer, more bustling feel outside of working hours (and for some of the grungier businesses to turn over between Victoria and Frederick).  I wonder if the City/Region can do anything else to help move this process along.

(06-29-2020, 04:24 PM)ac3r Wrote: The pandemic is one reason why the downtown is so quiet at the moment. What is also true - and someone pointed it out - is that we're a region of over 600'000 people, but we have 3 downtown cores. Aside from that, what the downtown is really lacking is retail and things to do. There are very few interesting shops and even fewer things like art galleries, cinemas, music venues and so on.

(06-29-2020, 04:26 PM)danbrotherston Wrote:

(06-29-2020, 04:24 PM)ac3r Wrote: The pandemic is one reason why the downtown is so quiet at the moment. What is also true - and someone pointed it out - is that we're a region of over 600'000 people, but we have 3 downtown cores. Aside from that, what the downtown is really lacking is retail and things to do. There are very few interesting shops and even fewer things like art galleries, cinemas, music venues and so on.

Downtown does in fact have a cinema, an art gallery, and several music venues...

Edit:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@43.448548,-80.4861357,3a,23.7y,187.49h,89.95t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFO4364IkWuin829lILpT9w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Apollo+Cinema/@43.4519444,-80.4888889,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x882bf4f2b8605b17:0xd7349fdbbdc1376f!8m2!3d43.4519444!4d-80.4888889?hl=en
https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Conrad+Centre+for+the+Performing+Arts/@43.4502232,-80.4898258,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x882bf4f2f3523bcb:0x7cc51174fc487f3!8m2!3d43.4502232!4d-80.4898258?hl=en

I think the biggest failing in DTK is advertising, aside from the apollo, which I frequent quite a bit, I wouldn't know about these things if I didn't walk past them...which is why foot traffic is so important.

(06-29-2020, 11:44 AM)Acitta Wrote: If Waterloo Region was a single city with a single downtown then you would probably see more people walking downtown, but the Region has six downtowns so people are more spread out.

(06-29-2020, 05:08 PM)BruceAshe Wrote: I think the small gallery on King is gone now. It looked completely empty when I walked by it yesterday. Unless they removed everything for some other reason.

(06-29-2020, 04:26 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: I think the biggest failing in DTK is advertising, aside from the apollo, which I frequent quite a bit, I wouldn't know about these things if I didn't walk past them...which is why foot traffic is so important.

(06-28-2020, 02:30 PM)tomh009 Wrote: I do believe that church owns the retirement apartment building, yes.

(06-29-2020, 05:08 PM)BruceAshe Wrote: I think the small gallery on King is gone now. It looked completely empty when I walked by it yesterday. Unless they removed everything for some other reason.

(06-29-2020, 05:39 PM)ijmorlan Wrote:

(06-29-2020, 11:44 AM)Acitta Wrote: If Waterloo Region was a single city with a single downtown then you would probably see more people walking downtown, but the Region has six downtowns so people are more spread out.

Can you expand on the 6 downtowns? I normally think of Waterloo/Kitchener/Cambridge; but then Cambridge is really 3 so we end up with Waterloo/Kitchener/Galt/Preston/Hespeler; but I’m having trouble thinking of the 6th.

(06-29-2020, 09:00 PM)tomh009 Wrote:

(06-29-2020, 05:39 PM)ijmorlan Wrote: Can you expand on the 6 downtowns? I normally think of Waterloo/Kitchener/Cambridge; but then Cambridge is really 3 so we end up with Waterloo/Kitchener/Galt/Preston/Hespeler; but I’m having trouble thinking of the 6th.

Cambridge was originally Galt, Preston, Hespeler and Blair! But maybe Acitta was referring to Elmira?

(06-29-2020, 06:15 PM)dtkvictim Wrote:

(06-29-2020, 04:26 PM)danbrotherston Wrote: I think the biggest failing in DTK is advertising, aside from the apollo, which I frequent quite a bit, I wouldn't know about these things if I didn't walk past them...which is why foot traffic is so important.

I don't think I can agree with this. Places like the Conrad Center really only attract people who are already going to actively seek out that kind of entertainment. I absolutely love the Apollo, but if I was a suburban living car driver, I can get close enough of an experience at any other theater without the negative experiences of DTK. Same thing for many of the more generic restaurants and bars that dot the downtown. I think most of my friends (all suburban living) are aware of what's available downtown, especially since I've mentioned much of what's available, and they continue to choose to not come here.

I think repeat-customer kind of retail and unique experience based businesses are what will get a consistent flow of people visiting downtown, but there is a bit of a chicken and egg problem there.