765 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

You just know that the municipal politicians who want to redraw the very nature of the urban realm and experience also want to price out anyone who doesn’t drive an EV or arrive by bus or bike. They are aspiring to introduce fees just to enter the zones they’re creating if you’re driving an ICE, we can see that aspiration from miles away. Remember how Councillor Caradonna called motorists cheapskates, looking to take advantage of parking when visiting downtown? Then Councillor Thompson said motorists engage in vehicular violence.

The Quadra McKenzie plan is a shining example of a local government completely out of touch with reality, and then acting surprised or dismayed that the public is not buying into their agenda.

Imagine being a resident of Lake Hill, and being told your community is now a high density, rapid transit, concentrated commercial zone and you’re going to be funneled onto bus transit unless you want to sit in traffic? That’s their plan. And now council says they’re at a point where public feedback is no longer worthwhile, since the original plan has been so whittled down and the public has lost interest in whatever adjustments are being proposed. What do they expect, when the public said no, then said no again, then said no again, and now longer cares to keep saying no? That’s the epitome of bad governance by governments who aspire to deliver good governance. As Dasmo reminds us, the goal of engagement in the modern era is disengagement but it’s proving so much harder than the governors thought.

[Victoria Watcher]

Downtown police patrols paying dividends for Victoria businesses, social agencies

 

 

As for retail vacancy downtown, it has only slightly improved since peaking at more than 11% in the fourth quarter of 2024, while office vacancy rates continue to rise.

 

According to Colliers’ most recent reports, retail vacancy in Victoria hit 9.6% in the fourth quarter of 2025. There has also been a lot of turnover in retail tenancy.

 

Colliers noted 6.3% of the downtown streetfront retail inventory changed occupants in 2025, suggesting businesses may be having difficulty achieving long-term stability.

 

There is also the looming challenge of another 325,000 square feet of retail space currently under construction.

 

Downtown is also facing a glut of office space. The office vacancy rate, according to Colliers, hit 13.2% downtown at the end of last year, up from 11.6% in the third quarter. That vacancy rate could get much worse, with 158,441 square feet of office space under construction downtown.

 

Alto said return on the city’s $17-million investment in community safety and wellbeing is likely to be more pronounced over the medium- and longer-term, but some things are having an immediate impact, like housing options that will open next month and the sense that things are improving downtown.

 

She said another update is planned in July, a year after the initiative’s launch.

 

“It’ll be left to the public to determine whether or not that was a reasonable investment,” she said. “I think it is, because people have told us that it is making a difference in the way that they live in Victoria, and I can’t think of a better thing to invest in than that.”

 

 

https://www.timescol...encies-12012658

 

 

 

 

 

Let's hear from actual downtown business owners.   Lots of politicians, poverty pimps and boosters talking here.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 17 March 2026 - 04:46 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The Downtown Victoria Business Association is scrapping its Lights of Wonder Christmas display plans, saying the large lighting structures are showing their age and are too costly to repair and maintain.

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The business group said the light display costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to assemble and operate and is funded through the nonprofit organization supported by a levy on commercial properties within the downtown core, along with sponsorships and grants.


https://www.timescol...istmas-12244659

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 May 2026 - 09:40 AM.

[Victoria Watcher]

The DVBA said that because downtown merchants provide funding, the organization is reassessing its approach to large-scale events.

This holiday season, the DVBA said it will provide programming to explore the downtown core.







But the DVBA including any events has always been funded by this levy. Although it’s also not technically on merchants, it’s on commercial property owners. They can and do pass through that tax of course, but it applies to both offices and merchants.

[Victoria Watcher]

The upfront $500,000 cost of the installation, designed by Shine Lighting Group, a North Vancouver-based firm specializing in custom public-lighting installations, was to be paid over five years.

Funding came from downtown businesses that pay a levy to the DVBA, which is collected by the city.

DVBA financial records show it had almost paid off the cost by 2024 with $100,000 yearly payments.

Only $4,400 is going towards amortized lighting expenses in this year’s budget.

The DVBA spent $310,000 to operate the installation in 2024, not including $138,000 in event staff wages, according to the budget.

Last year, the City of Victoria gave the non-profit business group a $200,000 grant from its major events fund to help with the costs of putting on Lights of Wonder.

Bray said that funding was critical in making Lights of Wonder happen last year, but with “no prospects” of covering most of the costs through sponsorship or grants, the event will have to go on hiatus.

Lights of Wonder saw about 80,000 people attend last year — 5,000 on New Year’s Eve alone — and 88,000 in 2024.

[Victoria Watcher]

The DVBA spent $310,000 to operate the installation in 2024, not including $138,000 in event staff wages, according to the budget.




So $448,000 for 80,000 standees.

Lame.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 06 May 2026 - 12:44 PM.