Downtown Action Advisory Committee

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Schmalz Room - Second Floor City Hall
City of Kitchener
200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Present:
  • A. Belvitt, Member
  • S. Castle, Member
  • G. Eveleigh, Member
  • J. Leslie, Member
  • W. Turman, Chair
  • L. Jutzi, Member
  • Councillor D. Chapman, Member
  • Councillor S. Stretch, Member
Staff:
  • T. Mistry, Committee Administrator

1.
Commencement

5 m
 

The meeting commenced at 4:02 p.m.

The meeting began with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair.

  • Two residents of the downtown neighbourhood observed this meeting. The Committee did roundtable introductions.

2.
Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

 

None.

3.
Delegations

 

None.

4.
Discussion Items

 

4.1
EcDev update on local B2B investment projects

35 m
 

Lidia Feraco, Business Growth Lead in the Downtown Development team in Economic Development at the City of Kitchener, gave an update on local Business to Business projects. The Business Development team is focused on particular market segments, business retention and expansion, and works closely with community partners on business attraction.

  • Manufacturing is the backbone of Kitchener, as well as technology and innovation.
  • L. Feraco gave an overview of some of the key partners in the innovation corridor, and some of Economic Development's larger investment projects. Her presentation included the following:
    • The Innovation Arena:
      • 90,000 sq ft building located at Victoria and Joseph
      • Collaborative innovation between the City of Kitchener and University of Waterloo's Velocity Program and Medical Innovation Exchange.
      • Building a health innovation partnership.
      • Includes wet lab space.
      • Communitech start-ups have moved into the Innovation Arena.
      • An impressive facility.
      • Launching in November, but is already fully occupied.
    • Communitech:
      • An innovation ecosystem, located inside the Tannery.
    • The Accelerator Centre:
      • Fostering innovation and entrepreneurship, focused on start-ups.
    • Catalyst 137:
      • Growth-oriented, globally funded tech firms.
      • Near Belmont Village.
    • Medical Innovation Xchange:
      • Canada's first industry-led medtech hub
      • Research and development
    • Bramm Yards
      • A sustainable urban revitalization project.
      • Will provide the Committee with an update since the report went to Council.
    • The Boathouse:
      • This heritage area has been undergoing a major renovation, and will have a large patio extending over the lake.
      • Question: will it be a bookable space for private events? We imagine so. The City owns the building, but it's a private business that will be opening there.
      • The timeline keeps getting extended because of unforeseen complications.
    • King-Victoria transit hub:
      • Centralized transportation infrastructure, facilitating seamless transfers between different modes of transportation
      • Question: Any timeline updates? Not that we know of.
    • Creative Industries Building:
      • A new Conestoga College campus in downtown Kitchener.
      • Location isn't confirmed yet
  • A lot of exciting projects that will have significant impact
  • The Business Development team is doing extensive outreach to gather data, learn more about the current business climate since the pandemic, and identify opportunities. They are here to collaborate and open doors. 
  • Interested in ideas for innovation about how else to use office space other then as office space.
    • Question: is there an office to residential conversion program in the City of Kitchener?
    • There is a need for more shareable creative space.

4.2
What's New in DTK

35 m
 
  • Quick roundtable sharing about new businesses that have opened in DTK.

4.2.1
Square Peg Micro Market

 
  • T. Mistry gave an update about Sq. Peg and the Micro Market, followed by a discussion about who gets access to the space and how it works.
    • A Committee member asked if there are opportunities to align pop-up shops with the big events that are happening downtown in ways that could be beneficial to the businesses, especially equity deserving businesses.

4.2.2
DTK BIA update: Dia de los Muertos and Christkindl

 
  • L. Jutzi and A. Yescas shared information about some of the BIA's supported events.
    • Stroll Walking Tours - free to the public, a wonderful way to deepen your connection to the downtown and its small businesses.
    • Christkindl is a City of Kitchener event that the BIA is proud to support. Some exciting developments for this year's event:
      • The vendors will be open until 9pm this year instead of 8pm.
      • It will have an open air liquor license, so you'll be able to have a hot toddy and go shopping.
      • There will be more warmers and outdoor seating.
      • New decor this year with a woodland, Nordic theme.
      • A light installation in the windows where there was the display last year.
      • A children's area with s'mores and activities.
    • Dia de los Muertos - a vibrant Mexican tradition, this is going to be an incredible event across DTK in November 2nd. A. Yescas shared a short trailer from TLN, their event partner.

4.3
CTS Update

10 m
 
  • W. Turman attended the Council meeting where the motion in support of the CTS was brought forward as a representative of DAC. He provided a quick update about that meeting.
  • T. Mistry shared some additional information from the CTS Community Advisory Group quarterly meeting.
  • One way that Sanguen is encouraging people to help is by writing letters.

5.
Information Items

5 m
 
  • Navitha Nandakumar will be administering the November DAC meeting, which is the final meeting for this term.
  • Scheduled for the November meeting is a Region-led design consultation about the Charles Street Terminal redevelopment.

6.
Adjournment

 

Meeting adjourned at 5:40pm

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