Kevin Allerston
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 17/05) - A few years ago when businesses were opening on Old Airport Road faster than flowers after a spring rain, downtown Yellowknife seemed doomed.

Crackheads, drunken brawlers, and vandals seemed about to claim the city centre for their own, but downtown is rebounding, helped by extra policing, mural projects and new retailers.

Old Airport Road has attracted retailers associated with growing suburbs: supermarkets, box stores, with a smattering of restaurants and service businesses.

But with first shot at office workers' paycheques, downtown Yellowknife retains a broad business mix of restaurants, retailers of clothing, books, and home furnishings.

Bob Wilson, chair of the Downtown Enhancement Committee, said the city is focused on keeping Franklin Ave. and the surrounding district attractive to business investors.

"We're hoping to bring through incentives for residential development in the downtown area," Wilson said.

One proposal would freeze taxes at the rate for an undeveloped lot for a period of time and forgive building permit fees, Wilson said.

He also said the mural program, planting trees, new lamp-posts along Franklin and the facade improvement program have made the area more attractive.

Robert Hui likes some of the initiatives in the city's downtown enhancement plan, but he said it could do more to reach out to business owners.

"A lot of things have been developing by Old Airport Road and a lot of attention has been shifting over there with not enough being put in downtown," said Hui, who has been running Hollywood Video for 11 years.

Parking is an issue for Gogoy Reyes, who owns the Booyah restaurant with his wife Lisa.

A former general manager of McDonalds, Reyes understands both commercial areas. He said one of the biggest differences between downtown and Frame Lake is the hours.

"Downtown business is pretty much nine to five and the lunch rush," Reyes said.

There is no incentive for people to drive downtown, then search for a spot to park when they could stay in Frame Lake and park for free, he said.

Reddi Mart owner Qui Pham said her biggest problem is kids who hang out in front of the store, scaring off customers, and intoxicated people who sometimes steal.

"There's nothing really they (the RCMP) can do about it," she said. "It's not worth it to fill out a report."

'Blown out of proportion'

Some don't agree the sub-culture of drug dealers and drunks are much of a problem.

"I think it's just a perception problem; it has been blown out of proportion," said Wilson, owner of Foto Source on Franklin Ave.

Wilson said he is committed to keeping his store downtown.

"For us this is a good location. We want to keep ourselves separate from Wal-Mart and Extra Foods for photo services," Wilson said.

Linco Schoenne moved her Linco's Pottery Nook from Old Airport Road to a downtown building that once housed Yellowknife Hardware.

Now the Nook gets more business from foot traffic, and regulars who are working downtown visit more frequently.

While some businesses measure their time downtown in months, Overlander Sports has been a familiar marquee for more than 20 years.

Overlander considered moving to Old Airport Road, after seeing others going that way, but decided it made no practical sense and relocated to the old Quality Furniture building on 50th St. last year.

"We wanted to stay in the downtown area. Because we're a sports store a lot of our customers are not in vehicles," said Sandra Stirling, the store's co-owner.

"It's nice to have a strong downtown area, because I think it makes the town more interesting and alive," Stirling said.

Healthy variety of services

Two new businesses sprang up in Overlander's former space - Gray Jay Toys and Games and Ragged Ass Road Emporium.

Centre Square Mall General Manager Jennifer Marchant said downtown has a lot to offer; people just don't know it. "We have to sell downtown better. There are not many services that you'd need to provide that aren't here," she said, pointing to restaurants, nearby trails, pubs, gas stations and shops.

Mayor Gord Van Tighem said the downtown enhancement plan proposes a Centre Town zone that would "promote uses supportive of the core commercial area."

"The thing that we're trying to avoid is the sterile downtown - nobody lives there and it just becomes a catch-point for things that don't fit in anywhere else," the mayor said.

proposals:

i Study the feasibility of constructing a community centre or library and/or public grounds by 2008.

i Create a summer public market at a location capable of operating during spring and autumn.

i Encourage existing property owners and developers to incorporate public washrooms at street level.

i Bus shelters at key locations in the downtown, possibly sponsored by businesses. As an

alternative, install awnings next to bus stops.

i Awards program to reward businesses, architects and other "champions" of downtown Yellowknife.

i Promote use of bright colours for greater visibility during the winter months.

i Create and promote a pamphlet for a downtown historic walking tour which ties into the

existing trail system and Old Town.

i Consider on-street parking along Franklin Ave. at all hours of the day.

- Taken from the city's Downtown Plan, approved by council in July 2002.