DBIA Chair reports to Economic Development Committee

Welcoming Streets – The DBIA and our members, continue to also be on the front lines dealing with the homeless and troublemaking community. Welcoming Streets is the program initiated by DBIA a few years ago, remains an undoubtedly useful resource to the Belleville community now staffed by 5 support workers. On March 31 2025 current funding from the Police Services board comes to an end and all should be concerned that there is no apparent renewal commitment from police services, City hall or Hastings county to continue funding. I believe the time is now for action to ensure that with the change of venue for the bridge hub, that provision to maintain this program be taken on by the city, or the management organization of this Hub. I hope this committee will agree and support this with a motion to city council to adopt such plan of action.

New Community Policing office – On another front, the DBIA and its members have funded and opened is a community policing office to increase presence of police, and support their efforts downtown. The New Chief and Deputy Chief have met with us to open the centre and at a members meeting recently and all are agreed that this will be a valuable addition to Front St. bringing improved policing presence downtown.

Bridge Hub Progress – Our members remain concerned that the warming centre planned for the Bridge hub at Alhambra Square may not be ready for the coming cold season and its deadline of Dec 1. We respectfully request that the city communicate the plans in this event, and that this plan not include remaining at the present site of Bridge St. United Church. As this committee should be aware this ongoing problematic location becomes worse in the wintertime, and greatly impacts the economic development plans for the adjacent vacant lot and all of the businesses downtown. City Feedback is requested on other issues effecting the downtown, some longstanding, tend to get pushed aside that I would like to continue to pursue with city staff assistance.

Parking – a persistently high ranking area of discontent for our members – The city has hired a consultant to review and take action on parking issues, with which we met and made specific recommendations many months back, including providing more overnight parking for the increased use of residential community, short and long term accommodations downtown, and making more affordable parking option available for workers of the downtown. No feedback, draft resolutions or otherwise have been shared with the BIA at this time.

The DBIA has requested via this committee to consider Electric Vehicle charging stations in its capital plan at an earlier meeting, and requires a follow up given the capital budget cycle. Similarly it is not clear from current public available materials what is the schedule for upper bridge restoration. The re-routing of city wide busing also surprised many in the downtown, and a request was made through informal means in recent months to reconsider its decision to re route buses to Pinnacle from Front St. Forcing residents of the downtown including McNab Towers and Quinte Living Centre to walk to Pinnacle st. and reducing convenience for those wishing to shop or visit downtown.

Short term accommodations (STA’s) abound in the downtown (42 ?), which we believe is excellent for attracting tourism which we are developing promotion al tools however we have been requesting confirmation of Licence status of those in the downtown for sometime without response, city’s assistance in response is requested as a immediate termfollow up to this meeting.

The DBIA will be ending its fiscal year with an AGM Nov 20 at an event at Capers Restaurant, where there will be more celebrating the achievements an efforts in the District in 2024. For those interested in attending, please contact the DBIA office.