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Markham Main Street Big Box Development
Commercial Policy Review committee – Sept 29, @ 11:30 am
Representing: Markham Village Business Improvement Area

Good afternoon, mayor, councilors, ladies and gentlemen…

My name is Sid Ridgley and I am the owner/manager of Simul Corporation, a consulting company located on Main Street Markham that assists organizations improve customer & employee satisfaction in the electric utility, healthcare, retail and municipal government sectors…and a volunteer board member of the MVBIA.

As business owners and residents we believe in Markham, the leading Canadian municipality…that embraces technological innovation, celebrates diversity, and is characterized by vibrant & healthy communities. In short, in Preserving the past, building for the future—Leading by remembering. I will be making 4 recommendations to you today on behalf of the Markham Village Business Improvement Area.

But first, who and what is the MVBIA?

The Markham Village Business Improvement Area (MV B.I.A.) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes local business people and property owners to join together. With the support of the Town of Markham, the B.I.A. organizes, finances, and carries out economic development programs and physical improvement initiatives.

Markham Village B.I.A. was established in 1977 and is governed through a board of management comprised of volunteer business/property owners, one regional councilor, and one municipal councilor, lead by the B.I.A. manager. The B.I.A. is principally funded through a Tax Levy to all property owners in the area and utilizes the energy and expertise of its members in securing grants and sponsorships.

The Markham Village B.I.A. serves 160 businesses who in turn serve approximately 25,000 Households/customers within a 10km radius. Competition for businesses in the B.I.A. area is fierce. I read in earlier correspondence that Main St is a destination, the data we have doesn’t support that view.

Mission of the BIA

The B.I.A. is a vehicle for focusing the energies of business owners, property owners and the municipality. When the B.I.A. achieves success through its various initiatives, it can lead to an increase in sales and profits for business owners, increase in property values for property owners, and an increase in civic pride for the Town of Markham. The B.I.A., through volunteer committees and highly focused sponsorships, has a dual responsibility of bringing customers to the area and in making the area more appealing.

Here’s the facts:

• 160 businesses
• Of which 83 are retail (down 10% from 5 years ago) we’re losing retailers, only 59% of retailers remain from a scant 5 years ago
• Retailers on main street employ hundreds of people
• 82% of Customers are in a 10 mile radius of main street
• Businesses pay an additional tax levy to “preserve the past” and they manage their businesses “for the future”—the original lifestyle centre.

Recommendation #1: Create a tax levy for commercial and retail development that is given to and administered by the MVBIA to continue its mandate. Afterall everyone, including new developments benefit from a healthy, vibrant Main Street. Currently the small businesses on Main street, who don’t have the resources of big company, pay.

Recommendation #2: Conduct an indepth Retail Impact Study, that doesn’t just concentrate on what is lost, but also addresses what will be gained. Simply working to manage the losses or minimize impact is not a formula for ensuring future sustainability of the street.

More facts: We have about 147,000 sq ft of retail space, Major Mac development is 1.6 million sq ft. The reality is, there is an impact…the question becomes how can we work together to make the impact mutually beneficial.

Recommendation #3: Install an interim control bylaw. This is a common sense recommendation because, as we understand it, landowners may prepare and submit detailed plans for their proposed developments. Planning must respond to the applicant within 30 days, or face a challenge at the Ontario Municipal Board. By adopting this recommendation you will be living up to Markham’s credo “preserving the past, building for the future”.

Recommendation #4: Prepare a detail plan, a study if you will, with the involvement of all stakeholders, which includes a full master plan for the area and that addresses the issues of transit, traffic, heritage, environment, retail and housing. The BIA, in order to survive, requires a reduction in traffic on Main Street. We would be pleased to provide thoughtful advice and counsel.

I’m sure that you’ll agree that the businesses in the MVBIA have fully embraced the dream….preserving the past, building for the future. They put their money where their mouth is by paying the tax levy and they manage their business in a competitive way. They are doing this in a balanced manner. It seems to us that the development being proposed is “building for the future” where is the “preserving the past” part? I’m confident that you agree that the BIA mandate is an important one…especially the part about civic pride. We believe that new development can be done in a balanced way where everyone can benefit, it is within your power to ensure that we do so.

I thank you for the time today. – Sid Ridgley (905) 294-1260