If you own a business in Midland here is what you need to know
The council of Midland is urging businesses to take more initiative.
Midland Town Council is expected to ask town staff to investigate the possibility of implementing a vacant building tax for the downtown area. It also considers new regulations requiring building owners to upkeep their storefronts when they are not in use.
Unused and unkept businesses in downtown Midland have caught the eye of the town council.
"We are not reinventing the wheel; other communities have these. We are looking at strengthening our property standards by law by adding some more teeth. You know, we have a lot of carrots. We don't have a lot of sticks. This isn't meant to punish the people who are doing the good work. This is meant to incentivize more the people that, for decades or more, just haven't cared enough about their building," says Bill Gordon, Mayor of Midland.
Gordon and many business owners in the downtown area say that many buildings have been vacant or unkept, affecting other businesses.
"It would be great if there were less vacant storefronts in the downtown core; the more businesses that are open and thriving, the more people want to come down, and the better it is for all of us," says Wesley Hains, who just opened Let Me Be Frank, a hot dog shop in the downtown.
The mayor says the goal is to continue improving the downtown experience. He points to the millions of dollars it has invested in the downtown in recent years and feels it's time to force some property owners who are not looking after their property to help with the downtown experience.
Megan Marchildon is a downtown business owner and the Business Improvement Association (BIA) co-chair.
"If all of us are working together to create a beautiful, thriving and prosperous downtown, it would be great. It is important that the business reflect that, and it is part of the BIA initiative because it does help our overall downtown," says Megan Marchildon, a co-chair with the local BIA.
"We can deal with zoning, we can deal with property standards, and a new tool that's available to us is a vacant unit tax," says Mayor Gordon.
Both ideas will be discussed at tomorrow night's council meeting. Mayor Gordon states that public input will be thoroughly considered before making final decisions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
What we know so far about the helicopter crash that killed Iran's president
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
The push to Parliament's summer hiatus is about to begin, here's what you need to know
When MPs file back in to the House of Commons on Tuesday, it will be for the final five-week parliamentary push before hitting the barbecue circuit. Looking ahead to what could be a raucous rush to the summer hiatus, CTVNews.ca spoke with top House representatives to get a sense of what's atop their priority list.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war between Israel and Hamas.
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection with US$100 million in financing commitments
U.S.-based restaurant chain Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a Florida court after securing $100 million in financing commitments from its existing lenders, the company said on Sunday.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you’ve been to a party lately and haven’t seen someone drinking a BORG, you’re likely not partying with college students.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Your kids' ultraprocessed food consumption may put them at higher risk, study shows
The ultraprocessed foods your kids eat now may be putting them at greater risk for cardiometabolic problems – like heart attack, stroke and diabetes – in adulthood, a new study suggests.