Proposal for 2012 season of Pedestrian Sundays

10 Feb

PEDESTRIAN SUNDAYS IN KENSINGTON MARKET - PROPOSAL FOR 2012 SEASON

Based on feedback received through an online survey, via community meetings in October & November of 2011, and discussions with area stakeholders, the Kensington Market BIA proposes the following schedule of festival & non-festival events for 2012.

Definitions:

  • A Pedestrian Sunday Festival is the same format as in the previous 8 years of events.

1. No cars on the streets from 12-7pm
2. Sidewalk & On-street sales of food/art/goods
3. Programmed arts/music/multicultural entertainment in designated areas
4. Full market closure

  • A Pedestrian Sunday is the new format that prioritizes pedestrians throughout the market.

1. Parked cars can remain on closed streets from 12-6pm (exit-only)
2. Sidewalk sales/promotions
3. Noise by-law restrictions in effect
4. Reduced closure (Augusta remains open Dundas to Denison Sq.)

IMPORTANT: Timely accommodation can be made as needed for local residents or business owners who require vehicular access during a Pedestrian Sunday (non festival).  A handcart delivery service will also be available for all locals & customers requiring assistance with heavier items. The Pedestrian Sunday coordinator will always be on-call and on-site during festival & non-festival closures – call 416 826 2964.

Proposal:
Pedestrian Sunday Festivals: 12-7pm May 27th, July 29th, and September 30th
Pedestrian Sundays: 12-6pm June 3,10, 17, 24 July 1, 8, 15, 22 Aug. 5, 12, 19, 25 Sept. 2, 9, 16, 23.

 

Why Pedestrian Sundays?

  • Kensington Market is busier than ever, the narrow sidewalks overflow on weekends, and changing consumer trends have put added pressure on some of Kensington’s merchants.
  • Although the enormously successful Pedestrian Sunday Festivals bring thousands of visitors to the area and have helped to revitalize the neighbourhood, Pedestrian Sundays aim to further promote and ingrain the market as a unique and thriving shopping destination with something for everyone.
  • Open-air pedestrian marketplaces have an almost universal appeal – the proposed Sunday afternoon pedestrian zones will help Kensington’s independent business community to prosper.

Why fewer Pedestrian Sunday Festivals?

  • Feedback received via the survey and consultations indicated that although most recognized the overall value of these events to the market, some residents and merchants found the noisy & crowded festival atmosphere to be overwhelming at times. 
  • The BIA also recognized that since many merchants do very good business on festival days, they should not shift entirely to un-programmed pedestrian zones. 
  • This proposal reflects a compromise that will help to reduce the volume of noisy crowds, and spread the opportunity to enjoy Kensington’s unique pedestrian-priority marketplace over the whole summer, with celebratory festivals at the start, middle and end of the season.

How:

Pedestrian Sundays:

  • These un-programmed pedestrian priority zones will be created through use of the seasonally permanent infrastructure that is being installed by the City’s Public Realm Office in cooperation with the BIA.
  • Vehicles belonging to residents and merchants will be allowed to remain parked within the pedestrian priority zone and can exit-only between 12 and 6pm.
  • The Coordinator will be responsible for closing and reopening gates at 12pm and 6pm.
  • The Coordinator will be on-site to assist with any vehicular access needs or issues that arise, to ensure that noise bylaws are not broken, and ensure that neither buskers, nor illegal vendors block roadways or sidewalks.

Pedestrian Sunday Festivals:

  • Festival days will be created through rented barricades & signage in addition to the seasonally permanent road closure infrastructure.
  • All vehicles will be required to leave the pedestrian zone by 12pm, and remaining vehicles will be relocated to the Bellevue Green P parking lot via tow-truck.
  • The Coordinator, seasonal staff, and volunteers will be on-site to manage festivals, and open and close barricades/gates at 12pm and 7pm.
  • The Coordinator will work with local merchants, artists and performers to create an entertainment schedule that prioritizes acoustic music, and diminishes sound conflicts.

Questions & feedback regarding this proposal can be submitted until March 1st via email or telephone.
Email to: councillor_vaughan@toronto.ca & coordinator@kensingtonmarketbia.ca
Phone: 416 392 4044 (Councillor Vaughan) & 416 826 2964 (BIA Coordinator, Yvonne Bambrick)

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Please find attached a pdf copy of this proposal, along with consultation survey & dotmocracy* results.

* The meeting at which the dotmocracy exercise was conducted, took place on a day with torrential downpour which affected attendance – only 34 people were in attendance. Colour Code: Blue = Merchants, Green = Residents, Red = Visitors (only merchants & residents participated in the dotmocracy exercise.)

PSK 2012 Proposal – Community Notice Feb_12

PSK 2012 Surveybasic_11292011

Question 1 – Frequency of Pedestrian Priority Zones

Question 2 – Frequency of Regular PSKensington Festivals

Question 3 – How to handle live music levels

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