Taste-of-the-Danforth Fever

The return of parking meters to the east side of South Bayview (see post one down) raises the perennial question of whether South Bayview should have a Business Improvement Association (BIA). More and better parking is a goal of almost any business district. In this respect, BIAs can be divided into have and have-not bodies. Frequently, those with masses of parking (such as the Danforth and Kingsway) are able to use it to attract business from some distance. When the parking comes with a subway underneath it, the BIA and its members are no doubt headed for success. South Bayview however comes with not much parking and no mass transit. Even the proposed crosstown LRT, whenever its built, will dump passengers off at Bayview and Eglinton, a good distance from the shops and restaurants. Unfortunately, BIAs have very little control over the creation of new parking. At a somewhat rancorous meeting to discuss a BIA last year, it was clear that at least some in South Bayview are hoping to somehow replicate the Taste of the Danforth on South Bayview. Structurally, this seems like quite a challenge. But in any case, experience has shown that BIA membership frequently breaks down along a line separating restaurant owners and food outlets from specialty shop owners. On the Danforth, many specialty retailers simply lock up their shops during the food festivities. Specialty retailers tend to seek a less flamboyant type of BIA. It may well be that South Bayview would benefit from a BIA, higher taxes notwithstanding. There is no doubt that traffic is down in this economy. But those who wish for a BIA should be sure they are getting what they’re looking for. Taste of the Danforth Picture Courtesy of Peter Rehak, Toronto Photographer