A) JOBS
B) ACTIVITY OPTIONS (RECREATION)
C) AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Well, obviously it has to be a combination of all 3! Unfortunately, just as obviously, a lack of all 3 spells disaster to a town that NEEDS A YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC!
http://www.theprovince.com/Lower+cost+housing+drawing+newcomers/6125340/story.html
parties. Contact Patrick Murphy 250 486 2529
Part 1 in a heartfelt series outlining the changing economic, social and tech impacts in a small town:
Somebody asked me how Summerland’s Main St is holding up these days. Well, it’s still a fantastic street for my Real Estate business to call home. Main St still gets pretty much vacant at 5:01 every day, and most of my clients find that quite charming as part of life in this small town. The money invested in those two great new upgrades to the entrances from highway 97 also gets rave reviews from my clients, who appreciate the beauty of those changes leading to Main St Summerland.
The City workers still keep Main St looking beautiful year round, and the Arts Community always seems to have a new idea to enhance the look, season after season. Most times, there seems to be a reasonable amount of activity, and my business continues to generate a workable level of foot traffic, season after season. But, like many small towns (and some larger), Summerland’s Main St has a fair number of vacancies, and I fear there may be more coming if we don’t do something impactful, and soon!
There are currently 5 storefront vacancies in the block where my business is, and 3 additional Main St buildings remain for sale, with only one building having been bought since Dec 2007 (MLS). That’s the kind of trend that can build a head of steam so fast it will make the “business license people” wonder where all the revenue went!
Oh, and, for those who think (and hope) that things can magically and suddenly change? I would suggest that, things HAVE changed already!
Consider that it takes less than half an hour to set up an online storefront using facebook. And it’s FREE to do so. And people can buy from you 24/7 at that new online store.
And, there are zero municipal regulations, fees, inspections or permits required. That’s pretty tough competition for us who still want to believe in Main Street Summerland, I have to say!
A lot of questions being asked about Main St Summerland
Lower Mainland antiques store, Second Time Around, is starting its closing-down sale this weekend after 32 years in business. It follows last year’s significant folding of the Cloverdale Antique Mall, the largest one in the Lower Mainland, with 40 dealers.
This kind of change is happening all around us. That doesn’t mean we can sit back, point fingers and say, see, it’s not just in Summerland! No, it means things are more competitive than ever, and we in Summerland better get with changing things, pronto.
Seth Godin is a huge name, and a fabulous online commentator for REAL WORLD TODAY…and no, I don’t believe for a second he has even heard of a “Summerland”, so nobody needs to be offended by what he says, right?
Solving problems (vs. identifying them)
“Often, we’re hesitant to identify a problem out of fear we can’t solve it. Knowing that we have to live with something that we’re unable to alter gives us a good reason to avoid verbalizing it–highlighting it just makes it worse.
While this sort of denial might be okay for individuals (emphasis on might), it’s a lousy approach for organizations of any size. That’s because there are almost certainly resources available that can solve a problem if you decide it’s truly worth solving.
Put yourself and your people on a path to finding problems without regard for whether or not they are capable of solving them. Queue them up, prioritize them and then go find the help your organization needs to solve them.
Just because you don’t know what to do about it doesn’t make it less of a problem.”
Seth Godin, online.
And in closing, I add the following excerpt from an online quotation source:
M. A. Rosanoff: “Mr. Edison, please tell me what laboratory rules you want me to observe.”
“There ain’t no rules around here. We’re trying to accomplish somep’n!” – Thomas Edison
This has been part 3 in the series, Summerland Main St
For part 1, titled, “So How is Main St Summerland, Anyway?” click this
For part 2 Titled “CHANGES”, click this
And click back again soon for the next article on Summerland’s Main St
Earlier, we saw the Okanagan Wine Industry in the news some more.
Very interesting article as the Okanagan Wine Industry continues to make news in Canada’s Newspaper: “…foreign workers for agricultural jobs that Canadians won’t do – more than 3,000 a year in British Columbia alone, up sixfold since 2005″
“…the program brings more than 20,000 workers a year to Canada, mostly from Mexico, to toil in orchards, greenhouses and vineyards.”
”Most say they plan to keep working in the program for a few more years or until their bodies give out, saying they cannot make the same amount of money in Mexico. For their eight months here, they gross about $16,000, which is reduced to about $9,000 by the time they pay all of their costs, including taxes and housing.
They’re proud of the money they send home. At least one of them has made enough to buy a house in Mexico. All of them have kids. All hope those children get an education and grow up to do something other than what their fathers do, so far away from home. ”
You can click here to read the Globe & Mail Article:
Summerland…small town living in the heart of the Okanagan. Active lifestyle with 2 golf courses, Okanagan Lake and plenty of wineries!
Enjoy Mountain Biking, hiking, and lakeside tennis courts and don’t forget the four season playground for excellent Ski Resorts (one with 45 minute drive, the other just over an hour away)
Slopes of Garnet Valley feature sheet Patrick
Warm spring sunshine followed by summer days enjoying the clean sandy beaches and clear warm water…all in the comfortable confines of a small town that does not explode with tourists. Summerland lies close to Penticton, as well as Kelowna with its major airport, and a short drive off the Coquillah Highway.
There are excellent mountain lakes to fly fish for rainbow trout, and there is excellent hunting within a half hour drive…again, you will not be squeezed out by tourists on the lakes or in the mountains around Summerland.
Probably the nicest thing about Summerland, after its 4 distinct seasons, its predominantly agricultural feel, being on Okanagan Lake itself, with easy access to all the recreation that only BIG mountains can deliver in the heart of the Okanagan…is the absolute privacy and space and the ability to just fit in without fanfare…if you want. Summerland’s rich history is one of “outsiders” owning land here and enjoying their family down time without the publicity and pressures of a more well known town such as Kelowna or Penticton.
Patrick Murphy 250 486 2529
As summer comes to a close, Summerland and area can look back on the economic successes of sports tourism for the area:
Young Stars Tournament at SOEC was a huge success, and yet another indicator of the positive impact of sports tourism on hard hit local economies. I enjoyed watching Winnipeg vs Vancouver, and was encouraged to see just how much business activity this event, along with IRONMAN & GRANFONDO generates for the area. And, remember, these 3 major events are all in addition to the ONGOING economic impact of the Okanagan Hockey Academy, also at the SOEC.
BC Hockey Hall of Fame is holding the Inductee Dinner next Friday July 22. This years inductees include Joe Sakic, Jack McIlhargey, Rob Shick and Duncan Wray plus the 1985/86 Penticton Knights.
The celebration weekend begins Thursday July 21 with an invitation only event at the fabulous Red Rooster Winery on the Naramata Bench, across Okanagan Lake from Hunter’s Hills in Summerland.
For more information, click here:
http://www.bchhf.com/index.htm
In Summerland, and across the road from the Hunter’s Hills project. Sumac Ridge Estate Winery was created by Harry McWatters 30 years ago this month.
It was a pleasure to attend the celebration and to honor Harry for his accomplishments. MP Dan Albas, Mayor Janice Perrino and other dignitaries were on hand for the sunny event hosted at the winery.
The beautiful property is still home to the golf course I learned to play on! Yes, its a bit smaller now, but the hole across the Canyon is still just as intimidating!
For info on Sumac Ridge winery, click here:
