Making downtown Kitchener more “lively”
Posted Jan 19, 2012 08:51:22 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A key part of Kitchener’s economic development strategy is to make the downtown more lively.
Now, it’s just a matter of finding the right balance.
City Councillor Berry Vrbanovic wants a review of the types of licensed establishments in the core, fearing too many of them could spark chaos in the downtown at closing time.
As it stands now, there are four such businesses along King Street between Water and Francis.
Once The Honest Lawyer opens, there will be five.
The chief concern is, if the balance is not right, King could be crawling with drunks when the bars close for the night.
Vrbanovic stresses there have been no major problems to date, but they want to be proactive.
Vrbanovic tells 570 News the balance they are striving for needs to focus on more than just large bars targeting young people and students.
He would like to see businesses that attract customers from all age groups and demographics.
He says the review will involve city staff with input from the BIA, local residents and businesses and communities that already have entertainment districts.
