Parking availability, safety among top concerns for downtown Victoria businesses: report
The Downtown Victoria Business Association (DVBA) has just released its third annual "report on downtown," which collects input from local businesses.
While businesses suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the report found "the resiliency of Victoria’s downtown businesses was stronger than many other downtowns in North America," according to the DVBA.
The business association says that local customer support, changes in business models – such as pivoting to e-commerce services, delivery, or takeout services – helped downtown businesses survive during the pandemic.
Businesses that were surveyed also cited government support programs as helping them through the pandemic.
Moving forward, the top three concerns that downtown businesses face are a lack of parking, safety and security concerns, and "perception of a clean downtown," according to survey responses.
The DVBA says that the average business surveyed spent approximately 62 per cent more on security measures in 2020 compared to 2019.
"With regards to the cleanliness and safety of downtown, the overwhelming perception from survey respondents in both the statistical and anecdotal responses, was that the situation had worsened compared with the year before," reads the DVBA report.
"With a sparsely populated downtown due to work from home policies as well as the lack of tourists, vandalism and other criminal activity certainly became more visible, especially to business owners struggling to keep their doors open and customers engaged."
The business association notes that it's difficult to measure exactly how the pandemic affected businesses.
The DVBA cites a lack of tourism, a large transition of downtown office workers switching to remote work, and the mental health toll that business owners faced under a flurry of changing COVID-19 restrictions as being impacts of the pandemic.
When asked how profit changed from 2019 to 2020, approximately 68.22 per cent of surveyed businesses told the DVBA they had a reduction in profits, while 12.24 per cent said they had no change, and 19.53 per cent said they had profit growth.
The report also highlighted positive aspects of the downtown business community.
More than one-third of surveyed businesses, 36.3 per cent, said they have been in business in Victoria for more than 20 years.
A whopping 85 per cent said they also contributed to community organizations regularly, with 16 per cent contributing at least $5,000 in cash or in-kind donations every year.
The DVBA also noted that 54.5 per cent of businesses owners identified as female, with the business association saying that it's paying particular attention to diversity into the downtown community.
"This report identifies some challenges faced by downtown businesses," said DVBA executive director Jeff Bray in a statement Tuesday. "But it also highlights the tremendous resiliency of our business community; and illustrates the success of our community’s dedication to supporting local."
The DVBA's full report can be found here.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.