Adelina Pecchia- At Large Candidate
1.Businesses are frequently the targets of crime and on the front
line dealing with societal problems in the area; what steps do you think should
be taken to ensure businesses are protected and our community is safer to
explore, shop, work and play in.
Lighting and roads play a huge part in how businesses are
protected. For example, is the downtown center lit up at night to the
point where people can feel safe walking? How accessible is the downtown
area? Are streets cut off? If so, how can we open them
up?
How about access to parks? Are underpasses safe and secure for
example and well lit? Not at the moment. I was part of the founding team
of the Neighbourhood Watch Program in Thunder Bay. We could start one for
businesses in the Downtown Core and call it Business Neighbourhood Watch.
We would need Business Neighbourhood Watch Signs, updating security
cameras, and ensuring that those who do vandalize properties are part of the
restitution to the business.
I would also advocate for community policing. Police Officers on
bikes, walking etc. This would allow the opportunity for Police and
Community to interact together and establish relationships.
Also, I
think it is important to have signs available to tourists coming from out of
town guiding them to where they can stay in Fort William (Kingsway Avenue for
example that have hotels) and Intercity.
There are
no hotels in the Fort William Business Community.
2. What is your impression of the Fort William Business community?
What is one thing that is done well and what is one thing that needs to
improve?
I applaud all who work so hard to be part of a vital community.
However, I do not frequent the Fort William Business Community very often
because there is not enough variety for me to take an hour or more or the day
to shop. Parking is also very limited. It
would be great to advertise free parking on Saturdays for example.
Also, I do not like driving to the Fort William Core because there is no
flow of traffic. Victoriaville cuts off the artery to the downtown area.
Victoriaville needs to be modified.
One thing that is done well is the attempt at beautification with flowers
and Christmas lights. Other than that we really need to focus on how to
bring back the flow of people and traffic to the downtown area and for me that
means modifying Victoriaville so we can get traffic moving again (please see
what London, Ontario did when their traffic flow was cut off on Dundas Street
in the 80’s with the same situation).
It is going to take one step at a time but Victoriaville no longer works
for the majority of those who live in the city. So we need to
re-imagine and refocus and restructure.
3. With the
revitalization of downtown Fort William project underway there is no planned
community center for the area after the project is completed. Victoriaville
provided an important and safe gathering place. What vision do you have to
recreate a similar environment for community connectivity?
The area of
Victoriaville was at one time the center for the area and it can be again, with
expanded boundaries.
There is a saying
“All Roads Lead to Rome.” If you look at how villages and town
centers were established in Rome and other centers in Europe there are flow
areas with open roads that leads back, usually to a cathedral or civic
center. We can chart it out…
Envision an open road from Centennial
Square which leads to the Fort William Core, and another open road to St. Pat’s
Cathedral, to the exiting Brodie Library, to further down the road to the shops
on Victoria Avenue, a physical flow chart is important.
I grew up and worked in the Fort William
Center. Everything has changed. The vitality is gone but we can get
it back even stronger with new visions…line up line, precept upon precept..we
can keep some of that which is and restore even and add new. I have
added to the saying, “Thunder Bay, Superior by Nature.”
My saying is, “Thunder Bay,
Excellent by Design.” Because it can be!
Adelina Pecchia- At Large Candidate