Here are highlights from Thursday’s meeting of Belleville’s Economic Development Committee.
Unseen activity in Downtown District
Most of it is hidden from the casual observer but there has been a lot of work going on behind the walls of many of the buildings in Belleville’s Downtown District.
Downtown District BIA Chair Maury Flunder told the city’s Economic Development Committee that before the end of this year around 50 new or renovated apartments will be ready for occupancy.
Many of the units will be high end apartments and several have already been spoken for.
However Flunder said there are two nagging problems in the downtown, parking for people living there and security.
Although not able to provide details Flunder said a parking proposal would be coming to the city soon and the BIA will be discussing hiring a private security firm with the city soon as well.
Another and important use for Loyalist’s residences
Loyalist College will be playing an important role when wildfires threaten communities in more northern parts of the province.
President of Loyalist Mark Kirkpatrick told Belleville’s Economic Development Committee Thursday that the college’s residences will be made available as one of many locations that people evacuated from fire-ravaged areas will be able to go.
Loyalist’s residences are generally about half full during late spring and summer months and accommodations would be available for evacuees.
College officials have been working with the Red Cross on the issue.
Asking for a helping hand from artists
” … and we’re purchasing those outside of the community. We’re looking for something very creative, something that reflects Belleville so it’s our
intention to put out a call to artists and use the budget that we have to purchase items that support artists in the City of Belleville.”
