06-03-2015, 01:00 PM
Since I live in Cedar Hill, I think I will try to answer this. I don't speak for anyone but myself.
Why do I not shop downtown?
During the week, I work 9-5, get home, and the last thing I want to do is wrangle kids and head for the downtown. Heck Budds is just down the street, yet I prefer to to to Budds in Guelph. Second, there always seems to be an aggressive subset of the population downtown that I'd rather just avoid. They hang out in front of shops, on the corners, and basically anywhere on the sidewalk. I have yet, in my 9 years of living in Cedar Hill, gone for one walk downtown where I am not repeatedly asked to spare change, or nearly bowled over by people congregating. Then there are the people who insist on driving their bikes on the sidewalk. Many of the shops are small, disorganized, and full of stuff that can be knocked over or broken. People smoking, cussing, yelling, arguing, fighting. Garbage laying strewn, not on garbage day. Drug addicts, prostitutes, people with severe mental illness. For some reason, they are overly represented downtown. On the weekend, especially Market Day, it is a mob down on Cedar/King.
Maybe I totally suck. I get it. But shopping is supposed to be relaxing and fun, and I just don't "feel that" when I am downtown. Except maybe at KW Bookstore.
Why do I not shop downtown?
During the week, I work 9-5, get home, and the last thing I want to do is wrangle kids and head for the downtown. Heck Budds is just down the street, yet I prefer to to to Budds in Guelph. Second, there always seems to be an aggressive subset of the population downtown that I'd rather just avoid. They hang out in front of shops, on the corners, and basically anywhere on the sidewalk. I have yet, in my 9 years of living in Cedar Hill, gone for one walk downtown where I am not repeatedly asked to spare change, or nearly bowled over by people congregating. Then there are the people who insist on driving their bikes on the sidewalk. Many of the shops are small, disorganized, and full of stuff that can be knocked over or broken. People smoking, cussing, yelling, arguing, fighting. Garbage laying strewn, not on garbage day. Drug addicts, prostitutes, people with severe mental illness. For some reason, they are overly represented downtown. On the weekend, especially Market Day, it is a mob down on Cedar/King.
Maybe I totally suck. I get it. But shopping is supposed to be relaxing and fun, and I just don't "feel that" when I am downtown. Except maybe at KW Bookstore.