#7 Skip It: The Westminster Quay in downtown New Westminster
There was a time when the Westminster Quay was a jewel in this royal city's crown and a vibrant destination with an eclectic mix of shops and weekend activities. Legend has it that business owners fled when kiosk rents soared in the 1990's.The Quay is a prime candidate for an image make-over. It puzzles me that no one (including city councillors and private business people) has succeeded in exploiting the potential of this buried treasure.
In addition to its location on the banks of the mighty Fraser, the City of New Westminster employs experienced gardeners who plant and maintain stunning hanging baskets and equally stunning flower beds along a kilometre-stretch of boardwalk. The playground, with its signature submarine, has stood the test of time -– it looks as much fun today as it did 20 years ago when my children played on the swings and round-about. The New Westminster Skytrain station is a stone's throw away.
And yet, even with all this, the market itself is drab and lifeless. Except for a few fast food joints and a pricey vegetable store, there’s nothing that says, “hey, check me out -- I'm not just another pretty boardwalk -- I also offer a great place to shop for groceries, buy that special-something birthday gift, pick up the dry-cleaning, savour a latte and sample some yummy west coast cuisine.”
Surely it's just a matter of time before someone with some marketing savvy recognizes the untapped wealth of this prime piece of waterfront property (before a condo developer gets their hands on it). The current landlord should be encouraged to lower rents through tax incentives (raise or lower taxes depending on occupancy). And, why doesn't the city invite local food producers to host a year-round weekend farmers' market on the boardwalk or in Hyack Square.
Bring on the Stacys and Clintons of the "What Not To Do To Market Yourself" –- this battered jewel needs a makeover.
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