*Opinion TheReview Wednesday, August 29,1990 — A115 Where fo from here, downtown Sidney? by Clive Tanner Special to The Review The wires are down, the telephone poles removed, the junk has disappeared from Beacon at last! Now let’s start to get serious about making this town of ours a truly pleasant place in which to live and work. The Town council (existing, and to be elected) needs to show leadership: the merchants must be prepared to invest, and the public must be ready to discuss this subject intelligently. People on the Peninsula are living in a truly unique area of British Columbia, and in fact of North America. Sidney is the natural hub and commercial centre of the Peninsula. It should be carefully and thoughtfully expanded to meet the needs of both residents and visitors. Congruent with the disappearance of the poles, the waterfront has suddenly materialized as an exciting and vibrant commercial area. The many people I talk to every day seemed to be impressed with the development. Sidney has the groundwork now — the para- meters have been set, with the highway overpass, the waterfront development, and the cleanup of Beacon. We should be planning for the future and all segments of our society must participate. The following questions, ideas and suggestions are offered merely to provoke and stimulate. They are critical of no one, but deserve comment, I think. — Why doesn’t the Memorial Park Society buy the Post Office building and surround it with a small park, or seriously look at a waterfront conference centre? — Has the Memorial Park Society thought of building two halls, one for cultural (music, ballet, opera, arts, etc.) and one for use by organizations such as Cadets, Scouts and Guides, Market Days, sport events, dog shows, flowers shows, etc.? — Why are the parking lots behind the banks and other private parking lots not coordinated with Town parking and administered by a parking authority? — Why doesn’t Sidney recognize that, by encouraging business, the merchants prosper, the citizens benefit and support their Chamber of Commerce? — Why don’t we have a Town Planner? — Why haven’t we any interesting pastimes or meeting places for youth in Sidney? Why no arcade when most other towns have them? — Why has public support for the Whale Museum dried up? — Why are the utility services, Hydro and B.C Tel, allowed to ride roughshod over this municipal- ity and put their equipment wherever they choose? — When is the Town going to put some backbone into its design bylaws to stop such ‘monstrosities as the Royal Bank building? — Why are there no public toilets in downtown Sidney? — Has any thought been given to building an employee parking lot under the new overpass? — Would it be possible to put a large parking lot on the airport grounds and run a continuous bus back and’ forth? — An organization is interested in sinking a large commercial vessel to create a fish habitat — shouldn’t we encourage them? — Why don’t we make the top of the breakwater “walkable on” and put out a fishing pier? — Why not create a Farmers’ Market in Sidney? — Isn’t it time the traffic signs and the poles they hang on be coordinated? I notice the “mad signer’ is already at work on the waterfront. — The work being done by our Parks depart- ment at the waterfront is excellent — why not continue it up Beacon Avenue? — Why not bump out the corners at Fourth and Third streets to make the distance between sidewalks shorter and make it easier to cross the Street? — What’s happened to our Revitalization Committee — has it died on the vine? Clive Tanner is a past chairman of the Town’s Advisory Planning Commission. DAYTIME i 1. mS YBC Youth Leagues Please reserve for public bowling times. FOR MORE INFORMATION PHONE 656-2431 Miracle Lanes 2375 Bevan Ave. LEAGUES FORMING NOW ENTER AS A TEAM OR INDIVIDUALLY AS ty LADIES & NY SENIORS me a MIXED @ ae NE. MIXED FUN LEAGUES Music education for the hand, the ear, and the heart FALL REGISTRATION AUG. 29,30,31°1-4 PM #1-9843 Second St. (Peninsula Dance School) There are still vacancies in: Kodaly Classes Piano Lessons Children’s Choir Information Call: Ann-Marie at 477-9701 TheReview RECYCLE &S i pp online from Page A9 ee ley speak louder than any words could. They really are a sad dis- grace to a seaside town hoping to attract visitors. It is an area where numerous local folk jog, walk and exercise their dogs. There are two motels and numerous bed and breakfast homes along this stretch and itis a very obvious area for improve- ment. With the start of the seawall this seems to be the time. It is also the road along which visitors from America, via the Anacortes Ferry, usually drive and get their first impression of Sidney. I understand that Hydro put forward a proposal to the munici- pality to put these wires unde- rground, and this was rejected last year on the grounds of expense. If we hope to attract people to. our town, and expect them to return, it would seem good com- mon sense to make this beach and walking area a truly scenic and delightful one. We want to gain business from visitors and I believe we shall have to improve this seafront to reach our full potential. With the wires gone and some landscaping it could be delightful. For local people using the area constantly, it would be a real asset. I enclose the photographs I took, in case they are of interest. Joan Barrett Sidney Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce FIRST ANNUAL MARKETING CO-ORDINATOR MARINA BERTHS SIDNEY PIER MARINA The new multi-million dollar Sidney marina will be completed this month. We are looking for a semi-retired sales- oriented individual to oversee our marketing program. Opening available immediately. Call Mr. Martin 1-800-663-1428 INTERVIEWS ON THURSDAY COST: 18 Holes 9 holes Non-playing Non-members welcome. GOLF TOURNAMENT Ardmore Golf Course Friday, Sept. 14th 12:30 pm $45.00 35.00 15.00 This includes 19th hole social, BBQ steak dinner and PRIZES! Register as Singles, Foursomes, Mens & Ladies mixed, Corporate groups or as you prefer. For further information call 656-3616 Come out and support your local Chamber Sun — Fun — Peninsula Hospitality! |