SWOT Analysis of Hespeler Village Strength Location Proximity to Water Walkability Heritage Buildings Weakness Limited Selection of businesses Seasonal Winter Minimal Parking Heritage of Crime and Poverty ID: 549688
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Slide1
Hespeler VillageSlide2
“SWOT” Analysis of Hespeler Village
Strength
Location
Proximity to Water
Walkability
Heritage Buildings
Weakness
Limited Selection of businessesSeasonal (Winter)Minimal ParkingHeritage of Crime and Poverty
OpportunityInventory of Industrial BuildingsUnderutilised Municipal AssetsBusiness Improvement AssociationEmerging “Arts Scene”
Threats
Suburban Development
Bureaucratic red
tapeSlide3
StrengthSlide4
Location
5 minutes from the 401, 15 minutes to downtown Cambridge, Kitchener and GuelphSlide5
Proximity to Water:
Located on the banks of the Speed River and Hespeler Mill PondSlide6
Walkability
- Hespeler Village is compact and has a high walkability score- “Human Scale” Pedestrian Streetscape
- Surrounded by Trails and ParksSlide7
Heritage BuildingsSlide8
WeaknessSlide9
Limited Selection of Businesses
No Strong Anchor Tenants
Limited Hours of Operation
Very few Offices/White Collar Employers
Low
w
eek day traffic (Mon-Fri 9-5)Just one Bank, no post office, no grocery, no pharmacyLimited Retail selectionLow “permeability” low volume of customers on a daily basisInconsistent Operating Hours
Result – Few Pedestrians, no vibrancy, not sustainable for mainstream businessSlide10
Winter!
Poor winter transportation for pedestrians cyclists and transit users.
Snow banks
b
lock access to on street parking
Hilly Hespeler streets and sidewalks are precarious with ice
No winter festivals after Santa Clause Parade in early DecemberFew opportunities or reasons to “play outside”
Result – Fewer pedestrians and customers. Business declines significantly or ceases altogether.Slide11
Minimal on street parking:
Perception: There is “no parking” in Hespeler.
Reality: On Street Parking is free for 2 hours
There are several free city lots, well distributed throughout the core
Few areas for long term parking or daily parking for employers, employees or residents
Result – Many business discount Hespeler Village as a viable location and opt for sub urban office or retail space instead.Slide12
Ugly gateways to Hespeler
Poorly maintained Industrial buildings on the Northern Entrance on Guelph
Run down houses and poorly maintained streetscape on Queen Street West
Run down houses and poorly maintained streetscape on Queen Street West
Poorly demarcated pedestrian trailsSlide13
OpportunitySlide14
Inventory of Industrial Buildings
“New ideas must use
old buildings” – Jane Jacobs
Riverbank Lofts 200 Residential Units:
Approved, Completion forecast for Summer 2016
Hespeler Furniture Factory – Riverside “Brick and Beam” Employment Lands:
Proposed “Distillery District” concept shown belowSlide15
Under-utilised city assets:
Inventory of City Assets in Hespeler Village
Buildings
Old City Hall/Fire Station
City Works Yard Jacobs Landing West
Hespeler Library
Field House in Forbes ParkParks Forbes ParkCenotaph at Queen/Tannery
Jacobs Landing West and West2 Gazebo’s on Queen St EastPublic Docks at Little Riverside ParkParking LotsLots H1 through H4 as indicatedSlide16
Active Business Improvement Association (Hespeler Village BIA)
BIA mandate is to promote and beautify Hespeler Village
City funded board via BIA Tax Levy.
Annual Budget of $15K
Progressive members have a track record of effective program implementation
Social Media: 1,000+ Facebook followers
BIA sign improvement grantsStreet Banners, Christmas lights, flower baskets etcEffective Lobbying and fund raisingSlide17
Hespeler’s Emerging Art Scene
“The arts
.....
precede
gentrification” – Richard Florida
Hespeler’s public graffiti wallHespeler’s cheap rent, urban amenities and proximity to the river and trails is attracting a small but extremely active community of artists, designers and musicians. Clustered artistic activity such as this is often a precursor to main stream development. Slide18
ThreatSlide19
Suburban Development
Lax planning disciplines and retail standards have resulted in the flight retail and office space
to highly
car dependant
suburban locations
S
mall to medium sized developments are disbursed with little to no incentive for intensification and urbanisation
Result – Homogenous blandness with no sense of place or community identity. Slide20
Bureaucratic
Red Tape
Hespeler is filled with possibilities for architectural re-use projects.
Zoning limitations, flood plain issues, soil contamination and
aging infrastructure need to be addressed in a creative and constructive way.
The traditional municipal approach of rigidity and risk mitigation will stifle growth and result in lost opportunity. For Hespeler to fully realise its potential the private and public sector need to partner and embrace the “Art of the possible”