Downtown Business Improvement Association to host Urban Vitality Discussion

As the DBIA continues to move forward to create a new business plan and achieve a renewal bylaw for the beginning of the year, an opportunity to spark the imagination of downtown stakeholders will take place on on Friday, October 23 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm at the Days Inn with a public presentation and discussion.

"The DBIA board is conducting a strategic planning session this weekend," says Kirk Gable, president of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, "and we want to make sure the participants are primed with some ideas of what is possible with our downtown and our organization. We're fortunate to be able to schedule a free public presentation by the consultants working on the City's Official Community Plan review and the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. Bruce Irvine of HB Lanarc and Bruce Haden of HBBH have a great presentation, and I expect it will inspire our downtown business people and property owners with creative ideas of how a vibrant public space works."

The 30 to 45 minute presentation titled "Precinct City - an urban vitality discussion for the future of Prince George," outlines how we can significantly raise the vitality, success, destination quality and iconic character of the downtown. Following the presentation there will be plenty of time for questions and an engaging discussion about what is possible. The talk will be of interest to downtown stakeholders, businesses, Chamber members, organizations in the downtown area and anyone with a real interest in a more vibrant core.

"We believe that vitality in cities is created by real people visibly 'living out loud,'" says Bruce Irvine, an award winning accredited planner and Senior Associate at HB Lanarc. "Businesses and investment are drawn to successful, animated urban areas that have this vitality."

The DBIA has been refining its Renewal Plan through continuous communication with its membership, including luncheons, surveys and open houses, and the upcoming public presentation and strategic planning session are the next steps toward a new Downtown BIA bylaw.

"We want to make sure we get it right this time," says Kirk Gable. "We're confident that with the right organizational focus, the right vision and the right levy formula, we can see a DBIA that will enjoy a high level of support and enthusiasm from the membership as well as the community as a whole.