IntenseDebate - mr

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Best of 2016: Kingston... · 0 replies · +1 points

I think the tour proves it cannot be " Alcatraz". Despite its success, the suplus from the tour only raised $300k for the united way. As soon as someone has to own, operate and maintain the property, having that tour would lose $millions.

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Weekly Poll: The Thing... · 0 replies · +5 points

Rasing rates either .05 or .10 per hour per year would be the breaking point?

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Community Soapbox: A D... · 0 replies · +4 points

Not sure its so simple to say lower rent = fewer lease signs. If available spaces were suddenly much lower rent, they would no doubt quickly be taken. However that does not increase the customer base (we are no where near the point where its so empty people are avoiding it), so that would just spread the existng customers around more. Which would then cause closures until the market found the number the custmers can support.

Occupancy cost(inclduing taxes and utilities that don't change with rent) for a successful restaurant probably running about 8-10% of sales. Compared to ~70% food and labour. So a cut in your rent doesn't meant that much, but having more competitors then the customers support does. Thats why high price Cat center is always virtually full, while Frontenac Mall has never been close to full since walmart's traffic left.

Not sure we can say downtown has "underperformed', it would appear to outperform a large majorty of North American downtowns. Also wonder if rents are so high, why would we have people taking prime retail to open dentist and medical offices? Then we have the 700 member BIA, most leasing, who probably know whats best for their own businesses, who almost all (2? publicly against) strongly support the new buildings.

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Community Soapbox: A D... · 0 replies · +2 points

Followed the link with the title thinking this was about the NIMBY group who keeps saying "follow the plan" wrt height, while they campaign agaisnt the decades long plan for the WSE. Or who try and spin what they want as environmental, while they try and stop the city from having development that is much more environmentally sound

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Town Hall: Reopening o... · 0 replies · 0 points

Odd city where self proclaimed environmentalists fight against density, but fight for one of the most environmentally damaging activities mankind does in both ghg emissions and water use involved in operating a dairy farm.

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Weekly Poll: Downtown ... · 0 replies · +2 points

Mexico Lindo on Sydenham is on the move to La Hacienda's location

9 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Weekly Poll: Pedaling ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Kingston seems to be well behind most other cities with any kind of enforcement effort. After watching the debate on red light cameras, ignoring the police in favour of lobbying by a few car drivers who don't want tickets, there is no hope of positive change with the present council in place.

I like the app Guelph has to report illegal parking (and other things), which also allows one to see what others have reported and if the city ever responded http://guelph.ca/2015/11/report-a-problem-with-th... . They claim it saves them more then the low cost to implement it. Compared to here if you are riding/walking along and see an illegally parked car, you can phone, navigate their phone system to by-law..and get voice mail to leave your message. It sees like a waste of time to bother.

With fines being low here - park in a bike lane is $20 vs $150 in Toronto, and enforement almost non exstant, there is a better risk/reward to park in a bike lane then to pay to park somewhere properly or be inconvenienced being further away

10 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Weekly Poll: Marine Mu... · 0 replies · 0 points

Hard to answer the question. If the question really is - stay at its present location at a cost to the public of over $200k per year to pay the rent, I'd have to answer move somewhere else. Not sure what the recent attendance figures have been, but doubt it would be the best way to spend that much.

10 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Plan B · 0 replies · +1 points

Not sure why the anti development people are upset that they "might be rented"? The larger supply of rentals the better. There are units in Frontenac Village, where a lot of them live, offered for rent. Might even be a room or unit on airbandb. Should it have not been built because "they might be rented"?

10 years ago @ Kingstonist.com - Weekly Poll: Best Slic... · 0 replies · +2 points

Someone in Kingston should try offerring a real vegan slice as many in larger cities are. Whether with Daiay or some sort of home made alternative. I bet it would do well, as long as the price premium wasn't too high.

IntenseDebate Comment System

Connect with mr_rectifier

People I'm following

mr_rectifier