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cite ie ee EET A NT ee ee Merchants and municipality stuck for a solution There is a controversy quietly simmering behind the store fronts of the Town of Penetanguishene for which no one seems able to find a solution. For the past decade-and- a-half the Main Street, commercial core, has been faced with an identity crisis. Like most small Cana- dian towns, the main street in Penetanguishene was. the backbone of the com- munity's economic well be- ing and future, providing goods and services for the community and the sur- rounding area, as well as providing employment. Penetanguishene is uni- que. With its proximity to Midland, residents are of- fered a wider variety of places to shop. That, com- bined with malls on Highway 93, created stiff business competition for local merchants. As a result businesses on Penetanguishene's main street have suffered. The problem was iden- tified in the mid 1970's, when the town council conducted a study to deter- mine what could be done to revitalize the business district. There was a proposal made to institute a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in Pene- tanguishene, but the local ' merchants could not agree on the proposal and the plan was turned down. In 1980, council amend- ed its commercial zoning bylaw in an effort to stimulate a revitalization of the commercial core. Prior to the amendment, property zoned "commer- cial general" could include a percentage of residential accomodation. With the amendment commercial property could be rezoned residential. As a result, the Fern Shoe Factory was con- verted into residential ac- comodation. But little change occured in the business core of Main Street until recently. Again in 1983, a study was undertaken into a commercial facade im- provement program but the net result was no change. The municipality and the merchants have charged each other with being apathetic. According to Town Plan- ner Paul Hodgins, the municipality has tried on two occasions to stimulate revitalization in the area and have adopted a wait and see attitude. "We are letting market conditions prevail." Ken Gauthier, of Gauthier Sports, agrees there is a problem on Main Street. ; "Tax dollars from the business area are not being spent on (business) proper- ty." He said that a BIA was not necessarily the answer, adding that the Chamber of Commerce (C of C) should be better funded. Entrepenuer Ray McLarney, owner of pro- perty, formerly Marie's dressmaking store, on Main Street says there is a problem attracting business to Main Street. McLarney advertised the property for rent for more than a year without any response. "T dropped the rent to a ridiculously low figure," said McLarney who opted to put two luxury apart- ments in the store. He adds that this is not the alter- native he would have preferred. Most of the merchants on the street were sym- pathetic to McLarney's predicament, saying they would probably have done the same in similar circumstances. But not all see turning former businesses into residences as a solution to the problem. Glen Bryant, of Bryant's Jewellers, says the main street is at a low point of a cycle and believes attrac- ting young people as poten- tial businessmen would help the area. "A younger outlook would strengthen Main Street." In recent years the chamber has suffered from a poor image and lack of input from the business community. As recently as last year, factions within the chamber were polarized. They could not agree as to whether the organization should emphasize the pro- motion of business or help stimulate tourism which in its turn would bring money into the community. Bill Waters, past presi- dent of chamber says a strong chamber would help Main Street and is op- posed to a BIA. Waters' main complaint with the BIA was that there was no long term accoun- ting of what the merchants share of improvement costs would be. Waters also added that there had been improve- ment on Main Street, he noted that more than 18 business had improved their property or expanded during the past five years. Perhaps the strongest - supporters of a BIA were Bryant and Al Zylich of ' Bay Drugs. Zylich, who was in favour of the initial BIA ¥ proposal, would not com- ment on the present situa- tion saying it is too sensitive. However, Bryant said a optimistic about the business district's future. "There is growth in BIA would be good forthe _ commercial district. ae Pare aBY As WS avery | important". Like Waters, Bryant is Main Street Penetanguishene. I'm see- ing many new customers. Bryant also note that And there is optimism almost 60 per cent of his toward the downtown customers come from area." Midland, ooeag that future merchants have to offer specialized and per- sonal service in order to at- tract business. fA MOUNTAINVIEW MALL Present the 230 EASTER EGG HUN DRAW SAT., APRIL 18 YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN. nx ~ "Oa oe RA soorrarvren JV MALL HWY. 93 & HUGEL AVE., MIDLAND 2 P.M. You could win over $1,230 in prizes. Get all the details in Friday's paper. COME ON UP FILL OUT A BALLOT -- Mall Hours -- OPEN 9:30 A.M. TO 9:30 P.M. MONDAY TO FRIDAY - SATURDAY 9:30 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M. K-MART, ZELLERS & NEW DOMINION OPEN SAT. 9:30 A.M. TO 9:30 P.M. Tuesday, April 7, 1987, Page 7