Renoviction

There is a little bubble of talk on Canada's screen right now about happiness. UBC's Global Happiness expert, John Helliwell is quoted in this Saturday's Globe and Mail as saying that “happiness is very local. . .things like, 'Do you trust your neighbours or your company? Do you have confidence in the police?'”. In their responses to a survey question about happiness, most respondents quoted in the Globe, talked about common places and mundane family activities. Chantal Kreviazuk, for example, mentions “cooking with fresh produce from the Wednesday market” and other such simple pleasures.

In other news, New Westminster tenants are victims once again, of a crime called renoviction- the neglect of basic maintenance by landlords which eventually leads to tenants' eviction because of the necessity of renovation. This kind of behaviour sounds like exactly the kind of thing which does not foster happiness.

I would like to live in a world in which the people who have the power to make decisions which affect all of our lives do so with humility. I would also like to live in a world in which regular people know that they have a right to a satisfying experience of public space and where they feel empowered to participate in the making of it.

Islands Marketplace article: Dec. 10

Setting the Record Straight

By Emily McIvor

There are a few little known (or misunderstood) facts in play about the situation involving Admirals, Windflower Moon, Salt Spring Soapworks, and Acoustic Planet. The first is the question of leases: many people believe that these four stores were offered leases for the new building and simply refused to sign them. This is not the case. All four of the owners of the four small stores wanted a spot in the new building. None of them were given that choice. Of the four, Salt Spring Soapworks is the only one with a lease with time left on it. That's why they are being re-accomodated in an adjacent space after the reconstruction.

Acoustic Planet had a lease which just ran out. They requested a spot in the new building but were denied. Admirals has a lease with a five year 'option to renew' left on it however the paper copy has been lost so it's not much good. (Coincidentally, the landlord's lawyer has lost his copy as well).Admirals has requested a space in the new building and has been denied. Windflower Moon is the only one which did not sign a lease and that was years ago when they were offered a contract that they didn't like and decided not to sign it. They were not offered a spot in the new building.

The other little known part of the story is that all the appropriate permits are not yet in place. Any new development within Ganges is required to obtain a Development Permit. This process has not yet been completed. It has been started but the permit has not been approved so as far as we know, it could be months before anything can happen in that space.

The real problem with the new development is the loss of character and diversity in our downtown core. This is a pedestrian and tourism hot-spot. We need the interest of lots of quaint little shops. Mark's Work Wearhouse is great but they shouldn't be expanding right downtown. We need development in Ganges but it needs to be smart development. Development which makes Salt Spring more itself and which will serve us well into the future. This is not that development.

Refuting Johnathan

I am writing in response to Johnathan Yardley's Dec. 8 viewpoint article. I have a few problems with his letter and I'd like to point them out.

In response to the first point, a franchise is not simply a matter of “sourcing merchandise”. A franchise store buys the rights to the name, advertising and buying power of a larger corporation. In exchange, the franchise owner (in this case, Brian and Heather Gooding, who now live on Vancouver Island) agree to exclusive loyalty in their merchandising, decor and expression of the parent company's public relations messages. Franchise agreements also contain a “right of first refusal” for the parent company. This means that when the Goodings (now in their sixties) are ready to move on, the store will likely be bought back by Mark's (a subsidiary of Canadian Tire).

As to Johnathan's confusion regarding the objections raised against the proposed expansion of Mark's in Ganges, regardless of whose lease expires when, the opposition to Mark's expansion is two-fold. He is correct that there is sadness over the displacement of the four small businesses. What he has missed is the issue of diversity, pedestrian appeal and character in our downtown core. Even if none of these four small businesses continue in their current locations, there should still be four little storefronts there, not one big one.

In a place known world-wide for it's unique “made or grown on Saltspring” Saturday Market, it is a natural extension to protect the locality and charm of the surrounding area. People love Saltspring because of the forests, the farms and the “unique boutiques”. Development in this area should reflect our local vision and embody our values. It should be more interesting, more unique and more pedestrian friendly. Architects are among those whose vision serves the community through their ideas for our built environment. Six hundred and sixty eight people have signed the petition opposing Mark's expansion in its current location. Our vision serves the community too!

Open Letter to Mark's Franchise Owners

As you may know, I have started a petition opposing the expansion of your store in downtown Ganges. I have two reasons for doing this. The first is that I am extremely upset to see the loss of two of our most unique specialty shops in Ganges. Admirals and Windflower Moon have nowhere else to go and they will both be forced out of business to make room for your business to grow.

The other part is that I feel that Ganges needs the variety and character of lots of little shops. In this busy public space in lower Ganges, the pedestrian experience is enhanced by variety and by unique and charming small shops.

There is another piece of this story which I have not yet given voice but here it is: Saltspring needs you. We need the practical clothes at reasonable prices which you provide. We need to be able to buy t-shirts and workboots and we need to be able to do that on-island. Almost everyone I've talked to has stated their support for your shop.

The distinction I'm trying to make is between support for your business and opposition to your possible expansion in the current location. I realize that you may not have many alternatives but maybe you could expand in the new upstairs portion (like Mouat's) or maybe you do not really need to expand at all.

Please consider the opinions of community members as you think over your options. Part of the charm of Saltspring is its unique character boutiques. Fewer of these in the downtown area will negatively affect tourist experience and fewer tourists will affect all of us.

I would like to ask you, “What do you need?” Is there any way that the concerned citizens of Saltspring Island, wishing to protect the tiny shops next door can also help you achieve your goals? In other words, is there any room for compromise?

Please enter into dialogue with us. We support you and you support us too.

Sincerely,

Emily McIvor