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26
Jan

Downtown Windsor BIA lobbies against reintroduction of sidewalk cafe fees

The Downtown Windsor Business Improvement Association (DWBIA) is urging the City of Windsor to reconsider reinstating the annual sidewalk café encroachment and application fees citing that it will bring undue hardship to Downtown’s hospitality sector.

Over the past five years, Council has generously waived the sidewalk café encroachment and application fees resulting in more than 20 downtown merchants extending their sidewalk cafés annually. These sidewalk cafés, bustling with activity, have helped create an appealing, pedestrian-friendly and vibrant urban environment.

In a recent letter from the City, merchants were advised that City Council had passed By-law 12-2016 approving the following fee and permit changes:

  • Permit fees for sidewalk cafes were previously one dollar ($1) and have now been increased to $209 plus a $3 over-the-counter fee.
  • Sidewalk cafe encroachment fees, which were previously waived, have been reinstated to $5.90 per square foot in downtown Windsor.
  • Sidewalk cafe encroachment fees are calculated for the year and pro-rated for the duration of the sidewalk cafe. As such, sidewalk cafes operating between March and November or 9 months will be assessed 9/12th of the total cost of the encroachment fees.

In addition, applicants will be required to pay a refundable indemnity deposit of $1,000.

“Sidewalk cafés can be found in every downtown area the world over,” said Larry Horwitz, DWBIA Chair. “They are popular gathering places for socialization and greatly enhance the urban experience. Sidewalk cafés infuse a sense of space into our downtown landscape bringing more life and energy into our city centre, and in so doing making our downtown streets more inviting and vibrant.”

The DWBIA believes that the reinstatement of the encroachment and applications fees will deter many merchants from extending their patios this year, which in turn reduces the appeal, ambiance, attractiveness and walkability of the city centre at a time when it should be most welcoming and inviting to visitors and residents alike.

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Assistant Editor