Scott Cluney, Executive Director of Downtown St. John’s, explains that, “This new program can provide a reimbursement of up to $3000.00 per approved site, contingent upon matching dollars from the applicant, towards the costs of eligible renovations. This amount could increase to $4000.00 if a particular property / business is located on a corner with two street facing facades directly adjacent to a sidewalk.”  Cluney clarifies that eligible renovations include: design consultants fees, restoration of exterior finishes and repainting, signs that are uniquely designed to integrate into building architecture, repair and replacement of store front windows and doors, exterior lighting, removal of materials that cover architectural details, and the addition of new architectural details.

The purpose of this program is to continue the revitalization of the Downtown Commercial Core by improving the physical appearance of the buildings and therefore making Downtown St. John’s a more inviting and interesting place to work, shop, and visit.  Cluney says, “This new program will also be key in assisting building owners attract and retain tenants and help build civic pride among the local business community.  In addition, the Façade Improvement Program will increase the overall marketability of Downtown.”

To reap the benefits of this initiative you must fill out an application and meet the qualifications set out in the program guidelines. Applications and a complete list of guidelines are currently available on-line at www.downtownstjohns.com  or in the Downtown St. John’s office located at 155 Water Street, suite 202. 

Applications will be accepted on a first come first serve basis beginning June 4, 2012 and must be dropped off in person to the Downtown St. John’s office at the above address.  No emailed or faxed applications will be accepted.

The Façade Improvement Program is an excellent opportunity to help polish the jewel of the City that is Downtown St. John’s while enhancing your property and/or business at the same time.  Your involvement is crucial for the program’s success! 

For more information you may contact Scott Cluney, Executive Director Downtown St. John’s by calling 579-4139 or by email at scott@downtownstjohns.com . 

To download a copy of the 2012 Downtown St. John’s Facade Improvement Program Brochure and Application click on the link below.

5page pdf

The Downtown St. John’s Parking Study and the summary of the proposed amendments to the Municipal Plan and the Development Regulations may be viewed in the attachments below. Enquiries on the Downtown Parking Study and the summary of the amendments may be referred to the City’s Department of Planning at (709) 576-8220 or by e-mail: planning@stjohns.ca
Any person wishing to comment on the summary of the amendments prior to the public meeting may send their written comments in writing to the City Clerk’s Department as follows: (by mail: City Clerk’s Department, City of St. John’s, P.O. Box 908, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5M2; by fax: (709) 576-8474; or by e-mail: cityclerk@stjohns.ca). Written and verbal representations may also be made at the public meeting, which will be chaired by a member of the St. John’s Municipal Council. As information, written representations received will become a matter of public record.

See the notice on the City’s Website http://www.stjohns.ca/csj/PubDetails?id=757

Link to the public notice: http://www.stjohns.ca/pdfs/PublicNotice.pdf

Link to the Downtown Parking Study: http://www.stjohns.ca/csj/parking/Draft_DowntownParkingStudy.pdf

Pictured are Edna Duffett (Board President) holding the certificate, left to right Linda Sharpe (knitter), Lorraine Field (retired staff), June Pollett (knitter), Florence Gosse (retired staff), Carol Matthews (Board of Directors), Cathy Marsh (NONIA staff), Robin Dooley (NONIA staff), Back row: Edward Roberts (Historic Sites), Judy Anderson (NONIA manager).

On Tuesday,  April 24  the Historic Sites Association awarded NONIA, in the provincial catagory, the Manning Award for Excellance in Public Presentation of Historic Places in preserving and presenting this province’s history and heritage. This award has the patronage of the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador. Six awards were presented in the areas of community, provincial, national and international. NONIA was also selected as the Overall Winner of the Manning Awards for 2012.  Judy Anderson manager of NONIA says, “It is a great honour to be recognized for the ongoing part that NONIA has played for 92 years in the history of this province. Our volunteer Board of Directors, our staff and our dedicated knitters are all to be commended for their roles in keeping up the traditions of the Handknits of Newfoundland.”

For further information please contact NONIA  286 Water Street, St. John’s, (709)753-8062, www.nonia.com, nonia@nf.aibn.com, and facebook NONIA Handknits.

Please read the street cleaning information and the schedule which will be mailed to residences in the ‘Downtown’ in the next few days.

You can receive daily e-mail notifications of the streets scheduled to be swept each night. Please click here http://www.stjohns.ca/cityservices/transit/cleaningdt.jsp for details on the street cleaning program and how to subscribe to this automated service.

Please note the main commercial streets of Downtown (Water, Duckworth, George, Harbour Drive) are cleaned on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights, alternating from odd to even sides of the street each night, so parking restrictions are in place during those nights.

All vehicles must be removed from the streets scheduled for cleaning between the hours of 12:01 a.m. and 7 a.m. on the dates specified. Any vehicles not removed will be ticketed.

For more information:
Access St. John’s
Phone: 311 or 754-CITY (2489)

The bylaw states “ The owner of Commercial Property shall keep the street, sidewalk and drainage ditch or curb and gutter abutting or adjacent to his or her property free of refuse, debris, litter, garbage, and any unsanitary, offensive or injurious substance or article of any kind.”

For a detailed copy of this bylaw visit http://www.stjohns.ca/ByLaws.nsf/wByLawNum/1382

Remember first impressions and curb appeal mean a lot to potential customers to your business. A clean sidewalk in front of your business is good for business and helps keep Downtown clean for everyone.

For more information please visit:  http://www.stjohns.ca/csj/NewsDetails?id=741

A Call to Action!

At the next meeting of City Council, scheduled for Monday, March 12, 2012, a motion will be tabled to increase the current Parking Meter Expiration Fine from $15.00 to $25.00. Downtown St. John’s www.downtownstjohns.com does not support this fine increase at this time.

It was agreed by members of Council and Downtown St. John’s during the Downtown Parking Study Recommendation Plan that an expired parking meter fine increase would occur only after the City purchased and implemented an electronic ticketing system. The system would encourage an incentive for early payment of fines through the City within a set period of time and also allow a more convenient method of paying fines online.

Please take action. Tell Council you support Downtown St. John’s and DO NOT raise expired parking meter fines until an electronic ticket writing system is fully functional and in place .

Dennis O’Keefe: dokeefe@stjohns.ca

Shannie Duff: sduff@stjohns.ca

Bruce Tilley: btilley@stjohns.ca

Danny Breen: dbreen@stjohns.ca

Tom Hann: thann@stjohns.ca

Sheilagh O’Leary: soleary@stjohns.ca

Sandy Hickman: shickman@stjohns.ca

Gerry Colbert: gcolbert@stjohns.ca

Wally Collins: wcollins@stjohns.ca

Debbie Hanlon: dhanlon@stjohns.ca

Frank Galgay: fgalgay@stjohns.ca

Brad and Nancy answered the open call to the membership seeking two new Board members for a one-year term. 

Brad is the owner and operator of Coffee & Company at 204 Water Street. Nancy is the Convention Centers Operation Manager with Fortis Properties and the Delta Hotel.

1.   Springdale Street        
2.   Casey Street
3.   George Street  -  Queen Street to Water Street
4.   Queen Street
5.   Adelaide Street
6.   Becks Cove
7.   Bishops Cove
8.   Cochrane Street
9.   Prescott Street
10.  Pilots Hill
11.  Kings Road
12.  Holloway Street
13.  Prospect Street

All vehicles must be removed from the streets noted during this time period.  Any vehicles impeding the operation will be removed and impounded at the owner’s expense.  The impounding fee is $141.25 plus $3.00 for each day the vehicle is held in storage.