The exodus of Liquidation World from the Capri Centre Mall (part of a Canada-wide shutdown) is the most recent visible example of a business closing its doors, but it’s by no means the only one.
The tack and craft store next to the Sears outlet, the used book store in the next building to the west, and even the promising North Country Market are all part of the deadpool. The end result is not just fewer options for local shoppers, but also an ever-growing number of eyesores, chief among them the shuttered SAAN building at the top of Main Street.
There are no easy answers when it comes to economic development — specifically in regards to retail. That’s especially true when there is no single reason why businesses fail in the first place.
It’s not as if waving a magic wand and clicking our heels three times will make a new business appear and thrive. Tax rates, rental rates … they all need to be massaged and manageable. And don’t forget our proximity to the Edmonton region.
We do agree with mayor Ralph Leriger insomuch as we don’t buy into a “doom and gloom scenario” for Westlock. We concur the soon-to-be-opened Tim Hortons and expansions at the Terminals and seed cleaning plant show growth.
But can we do better? Can we fill some of those vacant buildings? Can we inject new life into our retail community? The answer should be yes.
We’ve been down this road before, in a way. From 2008 to 2009, residents worked on compiling the now four-year-old, 80-page EnVision Westlock report. Its goal was to set in motion a 30-year sustainability plan, seeking environmental, governmental and, yes, economic successes. Also in 2009 came the 82-page report Retooling Downtown Westlock, Alberta which was prepared by renowned architect Avi Friedman at a cost of $60,000. The last time we published an article on any town action in regards to that document was in 2011.
Granted, town council faces some tremendous budgetary pressures this year, so the chances of seeing any significant dollars flowing into economic development initiatives appears slim.
But regardless of the town’s bottom line, this issue needs to move to the front of the line for 2014. If a plan for drumming up new businesses already exists, the question begs: Why aren’t we following it? And if a solid plan with some achievable goals doesn’t exist, let’s get working on one.
