One idea for Mayor Lisa Helps in regards to all the vacant buildings downtown is to work with new or existing businesses interested in relocating or for start up assistance for them directly instead of giving landlords more profits that they already receive.
The problem downtown is operators are unable to stay viable and go out of business. Rent is a major factor.
What is not a problem is landowners going bankrupt with investment property in the downtown. So the tax base is not a problem for owners nor are empty buildings for them.
That being said the city could look at buildings they own downtown that are leased out and see if any of their tenants would like to move.
The city in a way is subsidizing business already with buildings they manage. So moving businesses like these or charging competitive rent in those locations would help finance an initiative for the downtown core.
Shawn Kuemper, Victoria
