Is Bloor West Village a victim of its own success? |
The following article was written for the Villager newspaper as a "guest column" for the November 1998 issue. Instead, it was published as a letter to the editor... with a number of significant cuts and omissions. This is our original submission. The Villager’s cuts are in italics.
| As a grassroots community organization, world19
would like to respond to David Hutcheon’s essay "30 years later, Bloor West
Village more popular than ever" in the August Villager. Mr. Hutcheon, with
obvious exaggeration dismisses the "mass hysteria" in the neighbourhood
regarding the "Runnymede Bingo Theatre" issue, and suggests that people should
reconsider "marching to save our Village". Nothing to worry about –
we’ve had chains and "company stores" in the past, he says. "Do we
Villagers hate change, or what?" Relax. Have an ice cream. Well… do "we Villagers" hate change? Our answer is a qualified "no". We do object to certain types of changes and the way in which these changes seem to be unfolding. What we see is the insidious but certain "mall-ification" of the Village, a process driven solely by market forces in the absence of public discussion about the kind of community we want to live in. But the Village is not just a "market" (although it has fine markets!). It is our home – our neighbourhood – our community. Change is inevitable, but all change is not necessarily change for the better. Changes to Bloor Street can alter the character of the entire area and thus of the community in which we live. Our community is too important for us to just sit back and passively accept changes that seem to be for the worse. What is so special about this community? A fundamental characteristic of our area is the wealth of small, owner-operated shops, many of which cater to our everyday needs. Each shop has its own unique products and personality. These shops truly define our community. We depend on them just as they depend on us. The issue is not just about "what" products are sold, but about the "who" and "how" of service delivery. Independent businesses, by their very nature, have the freedom to innovate, to create, to respond to customer needs and provide personalized service. They know our community, and we know them. Let’s face it: they have a personal stake in their own survival, and as a result, a greater stake in our community than do branches of national or international chains.
The Village’s unique character has been its formula for success. But such success creates its own dangers. A recent real estate listing for a BWV retail property advised prospective buyers to get in on a "rare opportunity to own part of the ‘gold mine’". As rents climb and property taxes escalate – that is, as long as the Village remains a victim of its own success – larger companies will be the only ones who can afford to operate here. Not surprisingly, landlords would rather not "gamble" on a small independent business when a larger established business is willing to lease. The owner of a small bookstore who tried to move into the Village confirmed that there is no place for "independents" in the Village. She found, "at each potential location, the rent being charged was exorbitant. Landlords and real estate agents wasted no time informing me that the only tenants being considered were ‘the chains.’" The effects of this prevailing unwritten policy are obvious. Just take a walk along Bloor Street. Virtually every new business that has opened recently has been an "outlet". We would like to emphasize that our position is not "anti-chain", though we are not pleased with the endless proliferation of them along Bloor St. Rather, we are concerned about the survival and future health of our community which is centred (in many ways) on Bloor Street. The bookstore owner quoted above added, "gone will be the charm and ambiance that have long made the Village popular. In no time at all, the area will resemble a mall without a roof". A streetscape that becomes dominated by large chains (and financial institutions) creates an environment that is sanitized, homogenized and boring. The sameness is stifling: If this is Tuesday, it must be Seattle. It is the unique character of our stores and their services that have made the area so healthy and vibrant. The Village not only serves residents, it also draws many visitors and shoppers to the area. If the trend toward "mall-ification" continues, and our community becomes sanitized and homogenized, we believe business will suffer and we will all pay the price in the long run. And let’s remember that the economic viability of our small businesses remains threatened by the uncertainty created by the temporary capping of property tax increases. Under Current Value Assessment, typical property tax increases could amount to $30,000 or more annually.
What can we do? As a start, we’d like residents to think about what is happening to the area. If the "Village character" is important to us, let’s support it with our wallets. If we shop the "big guys", we can’t complain a few years from now when all the "nice little shops" are gone. We also think it’s time that residents, landlords and business owners all come together to share our perspectives on the future of the Village. We would like our local organizations such as the BIA and residents and community groups – who have contributed so much to the success and vitality of the area – to recognize our concerns, and work to assure the continued vitality of the area. The Village has changed in the past, and will keep on changing. Let us ensure that the changes are for the better. world19 intends to organize a community meeting on these important issues early in the new year. We would be interested to hear from those of you who have ideas or proposals regarding the future of our community. |