Downtown Oshawa Intelligence Report 2014

Downtown Oshawa
Intelligence Report 2014
If this document is required
in an alternative format,
please contact Service
Oshawa at 905-436-3311 or
email service@oshawa.ca
> Quick Stats
> Social Activity
> Culinary Trends
> Development
> Pedestrian Activity
> Maps
QUICK STATS
Employment
Over 5500 people work in Downtown
Oshawa, including the municipal
government, the regional courthouse,
3 provincial agencies, and 2 federal
agencies.
Student Population
The Downtown currently enjoys 2500
UOIT students taking class full-time,
while 4300 students take at least one
class from a Downtown Oshawa faculty
member.
Pedestrian Traffic
For 2014 lunch rush grew by 16%,
while morning rush grew by 6%. The
downtown’s busiest intersection King &
Simcoe experienced 1885 people during
the lunch rush, up by 132 people from
the previous year.
SOCIAL ACTIVITY
Downtown Social Activity
More people than ever are coming downtown to enjoy sporting
events, concerts, and cultural activities. Annual events are becoming
more interesting and more frequent, featuring everything from art
and culture to craft beer. A decided advantage for “night time”
businesses and event operators is the Municipal Parking System more than 3,000 parking street and structured parking spaces are
readily available, and are free of charge after 6pm and on weekends.
General Motors Centre
The busiest month on record
was achieved in February 2014
with 55,000 fans. Featured
that month were four sold out
concerts (Jason Aldean, Dean
Brody, Elton John and Hedley),
five Oshawa Generals games
(OHL Hockey), and three
Durham TurfDogs games (CLL
Lacrosse).
The GM Centre hosted a total
of 294,137 guests throughout
2013. Accolades include:
Venues Today Ranked 1st in its size category
Canadian Music and
Broadcast Industry Awards
- Canada’s 2014 Major Facility
of the Year
SOCIAL ACTIVITY
Regent Theatre
UOIT Regent Theatre is a 600 seat lecture hall for day and
evening UOIT classes, but also is home to UOIT’s Distinguished
Speaker Series, Classic Movie Nights, The Ontario Philharmonic
Orchestra, frequent concerts (including tribute bands and
comedians), conferences and symposiums, and main stage
events featuring bands like Hedley, Jim Cuddy Band, Randy
Bachman Band and 54-40.
Robert McLaughlin Gallery
The Robert McLaughlin Gallery is the largest gallery in Durham
Region, featuring a permanent collection of over 4000 works,
and four galleries of diverse and changing exhibitions. The
RMG holds a significant collection of Modern and Contemporary
Canadian art, and the largest collection of works by Painters
Eleven in Canada. RMG holds regular events including
exhibitions, RMG First Fridays and OPG Second Sundays,
which generates pedestrian traffic at off-peak times.
Music Clubs
Dedicated “live music clubs” have emerged in Downtown
Oshawa. At The Moustache Club and Wasted Space food
has become secondary to the priority of great music. These
establishments are off-beat, creative, and offer a physical space
for local and travelling talent. These clubs produce another
50 events a month, including bands such as The Strumbellas,
Protest the Hero, and Trish Robb.
Events
Annual events in Downtown Oshawa draw huge crowds, such
as Space Invaders (art), Autofest (classic cars), Bikes on Bond
(motorcycles), The Craft Beer Festival, Ciders and Seasonals
(cider craft beer fest), Santa Claus Parade, Pride Parade, and
Fiesta Parade (international).
Ontario
Philharmonic
RMG
First Fridays
Remembrance
Day
Pride Parade
Oshawa
Generals
Bikes on Bond
Craft Beer
Fest
Fiesta
Week
CULINARY TRENDS
Downtown Culinary Trends
There are more than 60 restaurants and cafes in Downtown Oshawa
- the greatest concentration in north and east GTA. Featured below
are 12 examples that can provide insight into the emerging foodie
scene.
Tutto Market Cafe
Tutto is a casual, Italian
inspired market cafe that
features to-go products such
as fresh fruits, salads and
artisan sandwiches, full takeout meals for the home, hot
foods ready for lunch and
a fantastic dessert counter.
Pay, grab your food, sit down go off peak.
Spicy Affairs Indian Cuisine
At the family run business
of Spicy Affairs the Chef’s
mentality is “whatever the
customer wants”.
They
completely modified the menu
to accommodate a local vegan
customer, and have been
well rewarded by a growing
Durham vegetarian scene
since. Also, business and
government people crowd at
lunch for the low price point
and super fast service.
Berry Hill Food Company
Berry Hill endeavors to deliver
upon life’s simple pleasures:
pastries baked fresh daily and food
made from scratch.
Saturdays
feature unique forms of eggs
benedict and Fridays a hefty and
homemade pot pie-day. Berry Hill
is also the home to one of the best
direct trade coffees, fresh roasted
in Durham Region.
Avanti Trattoria
This restaurant is highly finished,
but features a casual ambiance.
Avanti Trattoria has an Italian
inspired menu, offering a wide
variety of items from traditional
pasta dishes such as lasagna and
chicken parmesan to creative daily
specials and wood fired oven pizza.
Too, they have a broad selection
of wine. This is one of the largest
restaurants in Downtown Oshawa
and is the most capable of drawing
patrons from the extreme north
end of town for an evening out.
Table by Carol
The Table has led the recent
emergence of foodies, with hyper
locals foods, fresh soups daily and
a 75% vegetarian and gluten free
menu. The Euro-styled communal
harvest-tabled patron area is
unique and goes far in creating a
sense of community.
CULINARY TRENDS
Buster Rhino’s Southern BBQ
Aside from being coined one of
the top BBQ places in the GTA
by Toronto Life, Buster Rhino’s
has also taken the Ontario craft
brew market by storm. In the
last 6 months alone, Buster
Rhino’s has featured more
than 114 Ontario craft beers
and regularlyhosts sold-out Tap
Takeovers with special guest
brewers.
In 2014 Buster’s
closed the street twice for very
successful craft beer tasting
events.
Fazio’s Restaurant & Wine
Experience
With its welcoming neutral
decor, warm and relaxing
surroundings, the art of fine
dining is experienced with a
casual feel. Fazio’s focuses
on great Italian dishes and is
ideal for entertaining family and
friends, a romantic dinner for two
or a corporate function. It has a
private room accommodates
40 people and a spot in the
extensive basement-wide wine
cellar that is occasionally open
for a special dining experience.
Quick Eats
A number of quick eateries have splashed onto the scene in Downtown
Oshawa. These are very popular with the student population:
Jimmy Guacos Border Town Burritos is a rising star amongst Oshawaborn franchises, espousing clean eating, limiting additives and heavy
on fresh ingredients.
Smoke’s Poutinerie has shown that they are not shy when it comes
to a goal of global domination by way of poutine. The Oshawa store
has set record-breaking sales with the company.
A cult favorite and independent business, Viva Burritos, serves
authentic Mexican-inspired favorites from burritos and tacos to tortilla
soup and homemade salsas.
The Patty Shack serves 14 different flavours of wings and something
like 40 toppings for the gourmet burgers, which are all hand-made
to order.
DEVELOPMENT
Downtown Development: Institutional
Downtown Oshawa’s growth over the last decade has been driven
by institutional, commercial and residential investment. One of the
greatest positive impacts was driven by the university. Municipal
incentive programs - loans, grants, tax rebates and no City DCs have helped promote growth.
University of Ontario Institute of Technology now occupies 5
buildings downtown and a floor in the CIBC Tower. The Downtown
Campus of UOIT is home for the Faculty of Social Science and
Humanities, and the Faculty of Education.
Downtown Development: Institutional
More examples of institutional investments are seen with the new
courthouse, City Hall expansion, and the development of the
General Motors Centre.
Durham Region
Courthouse was
developed on a former
brownfield site. It is
450,000 square feet.
This courthouse was
built as a consolidation
of 7 courthouses across
Durham Region.
The GM Centre has
flexible seating and can
host events from 1,500
to 7,600 people. Over
294,000 guests came
through the GM Centre
doors in 2013
The City Hall expansion
includes a new Council
Chamber and offices
for City Councillors,
Licensing and Finance
staff, and is home to
Service Oshawa.
DEVELOPMENT
Commercial Development:
The Holiday Inn Express
and Conference Centre
is under construction
downtown.
The 120 room hotel is
expected to open just in time
for the Pan Am Games in
2015.
Downtown Development: Commercial
In addition to the hotel development, a large brownfield site on the
eastern edge of downtown was recently developed by the Rice Group
to accommodate a Costco, No Frills, Dollarama, Panera Bread, Beer
Store, BMO and many other commercial tenants.
Renderings of the
Downtown Holiday
Inn Express
& Conference
Centre.
The Costco plaza
by the Rice Group
was developed
on former factory
lands.
DEVELOPMENT
Downtown Development: Commercial
Many downtown commercial buildings have been improved in recent
years with the help of the city’s downtown incentive programs. These
programs feature a wide variety of economic tools, such as grants
and loans for facade improvements, building code upgrades, upper
storey residential conversions, and increased assessment rebates.
All downtown projects are presently exempt from city development
charges, parkland dedication fees, and the provision of parking for
commercial development.
Downtown Development: Opportunities
Downtown Oshawa has become one of the best investment areas
in the GTA, because of the affordability and the depth of opportunity.
Three redevelopment opportunities are immediately present: the
roller rink, the former Genosha hotel and a 70,000 SF field along
Richmond Street. Contact the city’s Economic Development Office
for more information at: business@oshawa.ca.
DEVELOPMENT
Downtown Development: Residential
Probably one of the best investments in Downtown Oshawa at
present is in residential development. Demand is growing from the
general, student and baby boomer populations for apartments.
Planning is underway for several hundred new apartment units for
the first quarter of 2015. The recent acquisition of a large brownfield
tract by the Medallion Corporation could accommodate thousands of
new residential units.
Shown here
is the land
acquired by
Medallion
Corporation
on the
south side
of the GM
Centre and
University.
This 24 acre
property
could inject
enough new
residential
activity to
bring major
change to
Downtown
Oshawa.
P EDESTRIAN ACTIVITY
ic Development Services, City of Oshawa, September 2013
Kaiser Cr
Mary St N
Annual Pedestrian Counts: Morning Rush
Pedestrians
on Downtown sidewalks and streets were
counted during
Brock St W
ON-THE-STREET
Brock St E
“morning
wnton
Oshawarush” on a single occasion between 8:00AM-10:00AM over
the
summer months.
nts during MORNING
RUSHThe gradient densities are shown on the maps.
ummer 2013
Colborne St W
253
Bond
124
St
St
W
741
912
King
901-1100
St
370
St
Athol
209
W
634
191
251-450
Metcalfe St
Simcoe St S
Centre St S
Bagot St
251
165
E
320
251-450
199
205
251-
260
291
269
Bruce St
260
John St
John St
175
Celina St
101-250
St
111
E
Ontario St
Simcoe
King
110
St E
Court St
Queen
789
514
451-700
701-900
343
Richmond
Mary St N
261
W
Centre
St
103
Mary St S
348
195
W
Victoria Sq
Prince St
St N
Bond
St
238
William St E
N
Mcmillan Dr
Richmond
Ontario St
101-250
127
138
199
89
251-450
147
9
184
St
William St W
Albert St
60
Simcoe St N
Centre St N
Colborne St E
P EDESTRIAN ACTIVITY
Annual Pedestrian Counts: Lunch Rush
Pedestrians on Downtown sidewalks and streets were counted
Brock St W
ON-THE-STREET
St E
during
“lunch rush” on a single occasion betweenBrock
11:30AM-1:30PM
wnton
Oshawa
over the summer months.
unts during LUNCH RUSH
mmer 2013
Colborne St W
Colborne St E
301-500
Bond
1501-2000
W
1364
1753
St
275
E
501-900
King
St
871
E
793
St
439
W
807
301-500
201
361
Simcoe St S
Centre St S
Bagot St
391
Metcalfe St
403
406
333
Bruce St
332
John St
John St
346
440
Albert St
St
Celina St
Athol
315
Court St
St
296
Mary St N
938
Mary St S
Queen
939
King
164
St E
N
478
W
901-1500
360
Richmond
Simcoe
S
01-300
285
St
183
W
Centre
5
473
263
William St E
Victoria
Sq
V
i t
Bond
Prince St
St N
177
St
St
Mcmillan Dr
Richmond
177
408
215
142
395
Ontario St
351
William St W
Ontario St
Ont
93
Simcoe St N
Centre St N
Kaiser Cr
Mary St N
c Development Services, City of Oshawa, September 2013
M APS
Park
Colborne St
William St
CORE21
(2013)
King St E
La Quinta
Hotel
(Fall 2013)
GM
Centre
UOIT
Oshawa
Community
Church
John St
John St Islamic Ctr
Seniors of Oshawa
Centre
Court St
Canadian
Automotive
Museum
Albert St
Memorial
Park
Simcoe St S
Bruce St
To Bloor Street
Purchased for Development
by Medallion Corporation (2013)
Drew St
CRA
Canada
Charles St
P
Simcoe Street
United Church
Oshawa
PUC
Metcalfe St
Kenneth Ave
King St E
Oshawa
Clinics
Athol St E
Canada
Post
Bagot St
Ray St
Mary St N
Victoria St Mall
Mary St
Parkade
Mary St S
Art &
Technique
Bond St E
P
Athol St W
Oshawa
Public
Libraries
EA Lovell
Continuing
Education
School
UOIT
Regent
Theatre
Albert St
Simcoe St S
P
St. George’s
Memorial
Church
Centre St S
P
UOIT
4 CORNERS
UOIT
CIBC
Cowan
House
Robert
McLaughlin
Gallery
Ontario St
UOIT
Province
of Ontario
OSHAWA
Durham
Region
Courthouse
(2011)
Bond St E
P
DOWNTOWN
Durham rapid
transit Pulse
turn around ­
Oshawa to
U of T Scarb.
Carriage
House
Bond St W
Centre St
Parkade &
GO Terminal
King St W
Oshawa
City Hall
Ontario St
Armoury
Celina St
McMillan Dr
Centre St N
Parkwood
Residences
P
OSHAWA
YMCA
Richmond St E
Celina St
Career
School
Prince St
LCBO
Simcoe St N
Richmond St W
P
DOWNTOWN
Holiday Inn
Express &
Conference
Centre
(Coming Soon)
Durham
Region
Police
McMillan
Parkade
Mary Street
Community School
Division St
William St
COSTCO
(2012)
Carriage Works Dr
Ministry of
Training Colleges
& Universities
Mary St N
Colborne St
Simcoe St N
wa
ey
ical
ens
Centre St N
Brock St
M APS
City of Oshawa Economic Development Services
Downtown Development Office, downtown@oshawa.ca