DOWNTOWN CENTRE-VILLE INC.

ANNUAL REPORT l 2019

downtownmoncton.com Who we Are Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) Incorporated in Created to manage Moncton’s Business Improvement Area (BIA). 1977

Mandate Mission Vision To affect growth & To create a positive To be the most make downtown a and dynamic vibrant community better place to do environment to be business the best place to live and work

About us Objectives l Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) is an l PROMOTE downtown development independant, non-profit organization l ENCOURAGE growth l DMCI operates on a BIA Levy of $0.16 per $100 assessment l DMCI’s approved 2019 working budget is $866,171 l CARE for the downtown l ADVOCATE for downtown property owners and tenants

The Office 104-770 Main Street, first floor of the Assumption building (next to Service )

Executive Anne Poirier Basque Director

Staff Paulette Wynberg (Office Manager)

Ron LeBlanc (Programs Coordinator)

Michel LeBlanc (Communications and Marketing Coordinator)

Photography by: Maurice Henri/David Corkum

2 President’s Statement

After more In 2018, DMCI Board than a decade priorities were very of lobbying and advocating specific: for the Downtown Events Centre, it is finally here! To draft and finalize the memorandum of understanding Downtown Moncton Centre- with regard to the commitment to ville Inc. (DMCI) was very well the Centre AVENIR Centre, aware of the significance of 1 a multifunctional centre in the downtown and committed to To explore its rebranding to develop contribute $3.75 million towards a new or differentiated identity in the successful realization of the the eyes of its stakeholders and the project to show its importance. 2 general public, and Today, the much-loved Centre Avenir Centre has already brought To engage in a dialogue with many benefits to our stakeholders. stakeholders to better understand The development and economic the needs and priorities of both activity that is now taking place 3 property owners and all business within the Business Improvement classes. Area are quite impressive and the only way is up from here!

In 2019, DMCI DMCI will continue to will shift and create a positive and refocus its efforts: dynamic environment and will remain dedicated to its work

WE DID IT! towards downtown being the most To increase DMCI 4 awareness vibrant community.

To provide value added 4 to its stakeholders

JIM DIXON, ASHFORD INVESTMENTS Board President, Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc.

3 Our Board Our volunteer Board is made up of downtown stakeholders, building and business owners located in the Business Improvement Area (BIA).

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

PRESIDENT Frank Maillet La Mine d’or Jim Dixon Ashford Investments Ginette Robichaud Boutique 2e Look VICE-PRESIDENT Ben Champoux Champoux Inc. Denis Foulem DuParc Real-Estate Group

TREASURER Kolin Barley St. James Gate Group of Cathy Quas RBC Companies

DIRECTOR Sébastien Duval CBRE Limited Charles LeBlond Stewart McKelvey Jocelyne Dupuis Adelin Properties NON-MEMBER Debbie McGrath Colliers International Greg Turner Deputy Mayor

Charles Léger Councillor

Committees

BIA BOUNDARIES AND BUSINESS ADVISORY DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN LEVY RATE REVIEW AND ADVOCACY BRANDING DEVELOPMENT AND COMMITTEE COMMITTEE COMMITTEE REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE

Charles LeBlond, Jocelyne Dupuis, Ben Champoux, Ginette Robichaud, Chair Chair Chair Chair

Greg Turner Cathy Quas Derek Martin Bob Stamp Denis Foulem Kolin Barley Lawrence Forbes Pascale Landry Charles Léger Frank Maillet Jim Dixon Jim Dixon Jim Dixon Gracia Williston Charles Léger Sébastien Duval Michelle Parker Kevin Silliker Hussein Barar Marc Blanchard Katelyn Daigle Nausika Breau

Timeline

PRE- Pre-European 1690s 1733 settlement Settlement by Community of HISTORY Area inhabited by the French Acadian “Le Coude” established MONCTON semi-nomadic Mi’kmaq people. people. at the present day Moncton.

4 Downtown at a Glance

Land area Tax revenue

The total assessed value of downtown properties is The BIA represents 1.5% of the The BIA generates a little over 696.7 million City of Moncton’s land area 14% of the tax revenue for the city

Downtown Moncton is home to more than 1000 businesses and property owners in the BIA.

For every dollar spent in the downtown by Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI), 6 dollars is generated in economic development. That means that with this year’s budget of $866,171, over 5.1 million will be generated directly in the Business Improvement Area (BIA) through incentive programs, beautification, events, contributions and the list goes on.

4,000 20,000 3,000

downtown downtown than More Approximately Just under people live people work restaurants, bar and café seats downtown

2019 BIA property assessment base: $491,242,700

Sources: Canada/New Brunswick Cooperation Agreement on Urban Economic Development 1993-1998 and Moncton Downtown Evaluation 2017

1758 BIRTH OF 1766 1755 Battle of Stoney Captain John Hall arrived from Pennsylvania Deportation Creek, end of the MONCTON with 11 immigrant ‘Deutsch’ families and of the Acadian resistance. Monckton Township is established. Acadians.

5 Downtown at a Glance

Major office buildings downtown Community Peace Centre 22 Church Street 80,000 SQUARE FEET Tangerine Building 1234 Main Street 122,000 SQUARE FEET Atlantic Place 922 Main Street Heritage Court 75,000 SQUARE FEET 95 Foundry Street Blue Cross 215,000 SQUARE FEET Building Assumption 644 Main Street Place

260,000 SQUARE FEET 770 Main Street Moncton Law Courts building 254,000 SQUARE FEET 145 Assumption Boulevard Commerce House 135,000 236 St. George Street SQUARE FEET 50,000 SQUARE FEET Vacancies MONCTON CENTRAL – OFFICE

Source: Turner Drake and Partners Ltd., Dec. 2018, Market Survey (Office) Moncton, NB

1830s 1836 Wooden shipbuilding industry and sea Regular stage coach and mail service trade emerge as major industries in begin, connecting Halifax, Monckton local economy. Township, and Saint John.

6 Sommet Park Reconstruction Renderings Source: City of Moncton Source:

Proposed Water and Sewer Renewals and Street Reconstruction

St. George Street from Norwood Robinson Street to King Street Lockhart St. George Street from Weldon Street to RobinsonArchibald Street Estimated cost: $4,000,000 Estimated cost: $3,500,000 Year: 2020 Year: 2022 Mountain

St. George Street fromJohn Lewis Wesley Lester Vaughan Harvey Boulevard Botsford Lutz King to Weldon Street Church

Pine Austin

Dominion Estimated cost: $3,500,000 Park Year: 2023

Robinson Dufferin Victoria Alma Main

V a Highfield u gh Weldon Queen an Main Ha rvey

Elm

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s Gordon t 1871 High 1875 mo on ti 1890 lntercolonial Railway of Moncton regains its civic charterr p 1855-1862 Cameron la m Moncton achieves n o Town of Monckton Canada (ICR) opens as a town after the railway industryd s s status as a city. incorporated, but headquarters in Moncton. creates an economic rebound. A later loses its status as an incorporated town.

7 CENTRE AVENIR CENTRE Nominated 2018 New Concert Venue of the Year by Pollstar Magazine

A GROWING 1912 1928 1963 Moncton selected as the eastern terminus Moncton Airport Université de URBAN of the National Transcontinental Railway is established. Moncton is founded. CENTRE (NTR).

8 2018 Overview

l Over 110,000 attendees since opening l 6 concerts l 2 major sporting events l 2 family shows l 1 theatre event l 16 games l Moncton Wildcats attendance increased in the 2018/2019 season l 4 Moncton Magic games l Over 65 private and public events since opening in mid-September 2018

Source: Centre Avenir Centre

1980s Economic 1990s 1973 recession due to “Moncton Miracle”— 1999 Moncton termination of economy restructures Moncton hosts Francophonie Museum is Eaton’s catalogue with emergence Summit including representatives established. division, closing of information from 54 different nations. of CNR shops and technology centre CFB Moncton. and call centres.

9 Executive Director’s Statement

When asked what amenities are missing in our What surveys tell us downtown, we received the following top three responses: During the latter part of the year, our Downtown Top 5 benefits DMCI initiatives Business Advisory and Advocacy Committee l Public restrooms conducted a short survey with our downtown l Water fountains/Greenery (flowers, trees, planters, businesses that revealed many interesting things. etc.) ✔ Easy access 1. Promotion of the downtown through social media, the DMCI website, radio and digital billboards One third of the respondents were professional l Public art ✔ Atmosphere & streetscape services. 2. Downtown development Good suggestions were also provided: better lighting ✔ Proximity to other services, More than half of the respondents have been doing options for retailers, a coin exchange for transit including parking 3. Sidewalk cleaning business in the downtown for more than 10 years. passengers, a to-do map for the downtown, a play ✔ park for kids with basketball hoops and umbrellas. Visibility for their businesses 4. Downtown advocacy The respondents provided the top five benefits ✔ Tourism, walk-ins 5. Promotion of Events and Festivals of doing business downtown as follows: Other important comments were:

l l Easy access Displeasure at how the western end of St. George has been ignored l Atmosphere & streetscape l Limited outdoor seating for restaurants Missing amenities l Proximity to other services, including parking l The need to address homelessness l Visibility for their businesses DMCI’s top 5 services l The need to create more positive issues, make l Tourism, walk-ins x Public restrooms downtown a positive experience The challenges of doing business in the downtown l The need for more wayfinding signs ✔ Downtown Christmas Lights x Water fountains/Greenery were listed as follows: vagrancy and aggressive l The need for free or discounted parking for (maintenance and installation) (flowers, trees, planters, etc.) panhandling, lack of available parking spaces, downtown workers ✔ Façade Development Program x Public art increased litter, increased drug use creating public l The need for people places ✔ Promotion of Events and safety issues, the sidewalks needing repairs, the streets Festivals looking old and tired. ✔ Downtown Gift Card Program When asked what would encourage retention and ✔ Promotion of the downtown Other suggestions expansion of their business in the downtown, the five What did we learn from top responses were: this survey? ● Better lighting (options for retailers) l Beautification and improved streetscape ● A coin exchange (transit passengers) l We learned that we do have a great downtown l Lower taxes or rent ● Downtown to-do map l We learned that we cannot fix everything at once l More customers, walk-ins, traffic Retention and ● Play park l We learned that we have yet many opportunities l More affordable parking for downtown businesses to making downtown a better place to do business l Cleaning up the downtown (run-down properties, expansion panhandling and prostitution) However, we cannot do it alone. We are but one piece of the puzzle. We all have a role to play in the ● The top 5 services provided by DMCI according to the success of our downtown. Beautification and improved Important respondents were: $ streetscape We will continue to collaborate with you our ● Lower taxes or rent comments l Downtown Christmas Lights stakeholders and economic partners to market the ● More customers, walk-ins, traffic (maintenance and installation) downtown, to advocate for our downtown businesses ● More affordable parking for ● Focus on Western end of l Façade Development Program and to create a most vibrant place to live, work and downtown businesses St. George l Promotion of Events and Festivals play. ● Cleaning up the downtown ● Increase outdoor seating l Downtown Gift Card Program (run-down properties, l Promotion of the downtown at restaurants panhandling and prostitution) ● Address the homelessness The respondents believed that DMCI’s initiatives in situation order of importance should be: ● Make Downtown a positive ANNE POIRIER BASQUE Executive Director experience l Promotion of the downtown through social media, ● the DMCI website, radio and digital billboards Provide wayfinding signs ● Provide access to free or l Downtown Development l Sidewalk Cleaning discounted parking for l Downtown Advocacy workers l Promotion of Events and Festivals ● Create more inviting people places

10 Survey Results - Doing Business in the Downtown

Top 5 benefits DMCI initiatives

✔ Easy access 1. Promotion of the downtown through social media, ✔ Atmosphere & streetscape the DMCI website, radio and digital billboards ✔ Proximity to other services, 2. Downtown development including parking 3. Sidewalk cleaning ✔ Visibility for their businesses 4. Downtown advocacy ✔ Tourism, walk-ins 5. Promotion of Events and Festivals

Missing amenities DMCI’s top 5 services x Public restrooms ✔ Downtown Christmas Lights x Water fountains/Greenery (maintenance and installation) (flowers, trees, planters, etc.) ✔ Façade Development Program x Public art ✔ Promotion of Events and Festivals ✔ Downtown Gift Card Program ✔ Promotion of the downtown Other suggestions

● Better lighting (options for retailers) ● A coin exchange (transit passengers) ● Downtown to-do map Retention and ● Play park expansion $ ● Beautification and improved Important streetscape ● Lower taxes or rent comments ● More customers, walk-ins, traffic ● More affordable parking for ● Focus on Western end of downtown businesses St. George ● Cleaning up the downtown ● Increase outdoor seating (run-down properties, at restaurants panhandling and prostitution) ● Address the homelessness situation ● Make Downtown a positive experience ● Provide wayfinding signs ● Provide access to free or discounted parking for workers ● Create more inviting people places

11 Façade Development Program

Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) provides grants to commercial properties and business owners within the Business Improvement Area (BIA) in renovating, improving and restoring the façades of their buildings. The numbers speak to the success of the program.

YEAR GRANTS IMPROVEMENTS IN $ 2012 $30,000 $63,000 2013 $30,000 $134,000 2014 $30,000 $150,000 2015 $30,000 $180,000 2016 $30,000 $292,000 2017 $30,000 $361,263 2018 $23,000 $146,721 TOTAL $203,000 $1,326,984

NEW 2001 2002 2006 MILLENNIUM The population of the City of Moncton becomes Moncton CMA becomes Moncton is 61,000. The Moncton Canada’s first officially largest population CMA population is 120,000. bilingual city. centre in N.B.

12 Downtown Moncton Gift Cards

Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) launched the Downtown Moncton Gift Card Program in July 2017. The Downtown Moncton Gift Cards are universal gift cards that can be used at participating downtown Moncton businesses and at all downtown parking meters. Twice a year, gift cards are sold at a 20% discount.

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2018

682 cards sold

Events and Festivals

In 2018, DMCI supported 27 Events and Festivals From large-scale community events to smaller more intimate gatherings and everything in between, Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) is a strong supporter of downtown events and festivals.

Large events taking place within the downtown can bring between 6,000 to 15,000 people and can have an economic impact

between $125,000 and $3.94M* *Source: Moncton Downtown Evaluation 2017

2011 2013 Moncton (city) St. George Street 2008 2008 Streetscape BIA boundary expansion St. George Street Conceptual population is Improvements. to include St. George Plan is developed. 69,000, growth Street Area. of 8,000 people since 2006.

13 Downtown Christmas Lights Downtown Moncton Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) oversees the storage, maintenance and installation of the downtown Christmas lights. 20 x 16’ large ground angels 3 x archway bows 4 x 8’ small ground angels 4 x 16’ trees Promotional 7 x 10’ sitting angels 2 x 24’ trees Banners and 20 x large pole angels 2 x 32’ trees 64 x small pole angels 1 x 12’ wreath Poster Collars 74 x small pole snowflakes 1 x 8’ wreath Downtown Moncton 24 x pole mount trees Centre-ville Inc. (DMCI) is dedicated to maintaining Approximately high standards of aesthetic Total: $690,000 appeal within the Business 500,000 Improvement Area (BIA). Christmas lights

153 poles for banner installations. Downtown Maintenance

On average, 590 banners When referring to graffiti, are installed every year GRAFFITI REMOVAL DMCI is speaking of within the BIA. “tags” found on private $10,000 property which is 200 of the 590 banners are considered to be DMCI’s holiday banners. vandalism.

Approximately per year DMCI stores and installs 390 banners for various events The “broken windows” theory demonstrates how taking place within the BIA. the perception of disorder in an area can have a detrimental impact on a Banner Brackets. 900 community, which is why graffiti needs to be removed within Approximately 20 Poster 24-48 hours. Removal and are installed along Collars reporting of graffiti to the Main Street and St. George police reduces the chance Downtown Street. They are cleaned of reoccurrence to 10%. by DMCI on the final week Cleaning of every month. Record! Report! Remove! Students Downtown Moncton covers 2.15km2 maintain a clean downtown. 1 sidewalk sweeper It is within DMCI’s mandate to help = $60,000 2015 Destination 2040 2016 2018 established a regional Downtown Centre 2016 Opening of the The population of the transportation plan construction City of Moncton is Centre AVENIR Centre. detailing Moncton’s begins. strategy to ensure the 71,889. The Moncton creation and maintenance CMA population is of effective transit. 144,810.

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