Competition for Japadog, which for years has become Vancouver's number one street food attraction, is going to have to pony up a significant investment to participate in the upcoming pilot project.
While the plan to introduce new culinary options to Vancouver streets has generally been a welcome decision by most Vancouverites, there were a number of concerns voiced by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.
Quite simply, the $1,000 licensing fee that these new locations would be required to pony up for the city seemed to undercut restaurants downtown who pay through the teeth for their location. Rent, taxes and parking alone make any downtown food proprietor a brave soul that puts their money where their mouth is.
Well, Charles Gauthier et al. should be happy with the following curbside parking fees that will most definitely weed out those vendors who are looking for an inexpensive path to a downtown location.
I am exactly sure how this reporter got the $43,200 annual figure, but the $2,400 a month parking meter recovery fee seems like a pretty reasonable rate to put these quick food options on a level playing field with storefronts.
Personally, I think the flat fee of $1,500 for locations outside of the downtown core are much more reasonable and would give the lottery winners a much better shot at actually turning a profit in this initial 9-month trial run.
A placement at 49th & Cambie (pictured above), right outside of the new Canada Line station catering to the thousands of students who take transit to attend the nearby Langara College, for example, would be a boon and a bargain at $1,500.
And the best part? There is nothing there to cut into business with, risking no dispute with an already existing owner and offering commuters a quick and easy option for a bite that never existed before.
Critics of the current Council roundly criticized the plan as they do with most ideas forwarded by Vision Vancouver over the fact that they were rushing into a decision without the proper consideration for the business owners who pay significant civic taxes.
Yet as is usually the case, the combination of Council direction and staff oversight has provided a reasonable way to ensure that no unfair advantages are being offered, but at the same time residents can now look forward to a range of new and exciting food options as they walk the streets across the city.
Accusations against Council about being unfriendly to business have come from people looking to advance a political agenda. The bike lane trial on Burrard Street, which Appleton Galleries owner Ron Appleton blames for the closure of his business, is just one example where people piled on the decision.
But as this letter writer aptly points out, Appleton Galleries had far more problems than a simple road closure. To suggest that customers were attracted to the gallery by a quick right turn onto Hornby off of the bridge, and to further suggest that business dropped by an astonishing 50% after the closure, is utterly ridiculous and has been since the very first day that Appleton decided to take his complaints public.
Vision Vancouver has shifted taxes to residents from businesses, engaged in the Metro Vancouver Commerce program that has brought $60 million in investment to the city, and is open to new ideas from business owners who are looking to make the city more vibrant, greener, and more cost effective, particularly when it comes to housing.
The way in which VEDC is being used as a platform to actually sell the city to the outside world is a fantastic leap forward from past councils that took the organization for granted.
This street vendor program will be fun to test out from a consumer’s point of view, and interesting to see where the City heads next based on the results of the pilot.
Interesting info , I also found another related post in other blog about living expenses in different world countries – Which is the worlds most expensive city costs of living compared and visualised
Wow, nice balanced piece of journalism.
The accusations and comments have NOT just come from people trying to advance a political agenda, but from citizens who see a city council who make decisions based on their “vision” of the city, rather than the realities of businesses and citizens. The Dunsmuir bike lanes are a perfect example of jumping into something based on what feels good, rather than what makes sense. This “temporary” trial now appears to be a permanent factor in the downtown core, ignoring the fact that it has caused traffic congestion (leading to more idling cars/pollution), and the reality that it’s simply not being used. Stand on Dunsmuir street at anytime of the day and count the number of bicyclists using the lanes…you’re lucky if you see one every 15 mins.
Now you have the same city council spending money to investigate taking down the viaducts, the main entry point into these very same bike lanes.
I don’t see a vibrant, greener, more cost effective city council. I see a city council that is making decisions in a vacuum, spending money needlessly, and showing very little in the way of “Vision”