09-06-2015, 11:07 AM
I don't think there's an especially high number of vacant storefronts in downtown Kitchener. Looking at street view I counted 12 vacant storefronts on King from Madison to Francis, a 1.3 km stretch.
I did something similar in downtown Oakville where my parents live. Along a 700m stretch of Lakeshore Rd and there's 22 vacant storefronts. In both downtowns most of the vacant storefronts aren't boarded up, they'll just have for lease signs and maybe some screen (paper? blinds) to prevent people from seeing in. Oakville despite having a shorter stretch does have a higher % of retail frontage though, while King st in Kitchener has more parking lots, civic buildings and office buildings without retail frontages. Also I haven't counted Market Square vacancies, just what's visible from King. The storefronts in Kitchener of course have shops catering to a more diverse clientele and often look a bit more run-down vs Downtown Oakville which is just upscale boutiques.
The 850m stretch of King from Spring to William in Uptown only had 2 vacancies, 3 if you include the post office.
By the way Kerr Street not far from downtown Oakville only had 4 vacancies despite being in a more working class/middle class neighbourhood so admittedly I don't know what's up with downtown Oakville.
I did something similar in downtown Oakville where my parents live. Along a 700m stretch of Lakeshore Rd and there's 22 vacant storefronts. In both downtowns most of the vacant storefronts aren't boarded up, they'll just have for lease signs and maybe some screen (paper? blinds) to prevent people from seeing in. Oakville despite having a shorter stretch does have a higher % of retail frontage though, while King st in Kitchener has more parking lots, civic buildings and office buildings without retail frontages. Also I haven't counted Market Square vacancies, just what's visible from King. The storefronts in Kitchener of course have shops catering to a more diverse clientele and often look a bit more run-down vs Downtown Oakville which is just upscale boutiques.
The 850m stretch of King from Spring to William in Uptown only had 2 vacancies, 3 if you include the post office.
By the way Kerr Street not far from downtown Oakville only had 4 vacancies despite being in a more working class/middle class neighbourhood so admittedly I don't know what's up with downtown Oakville.