President of Bayside Builders now President of Downtown Summerside, Inc!

NEWS

Last updated at 5:54 PM on 18/01/10   Local developer Peter Brown, president of Bayside Builders, took over as interim president of Downtown Summerside Inc. in December. Brown's vision for the downtown area includes more housing development to draw people who will eventually build up the business sector. Stephen Brun/Journal Pioneer More people, more business seen as keys to downtown's future  Peter Brown takes over as interim president of Downtown Summerside Inc. STEPHEN BRUN  The Journal Pioneer SUMMERSIDE - If you bring them here, they will build it.  That's Peter Brown's philosophy when it comes to drawing new residents and businesses to Summerside's downtown core.  Brown took over the volunteer position of interim president of Downtown Summerside Inc. after the resignation of Nelson Snow in December.  "My motivation is to get more people living in the downtown area while the city's motivation is getting people to work downtown," said Brown. "If you bring the people here, they'll create the jobs. We're hoping to have some sort of balance in working toward both those aspects." He would prefer to see condominium development to help attract empty-nesters and retirees to the downtown area.  Brown is president of Bayside Builders, but said his ideas aren't motivated by his business agenda.  "There are so many useable buildings in the city and many businesses have second storeys that are underutilized," he said. "We could have six to eight additional development companies come into Summerside. There is some value in the bones of these older buildings and you can marry that with new development." While there are opportunities for younger people in sectors such as e-health that already exist in Summerside, Brown said, he'd also like to focus on making part-time residents permanent fixtures in the city.  During Snow's eight years as Downtown Summerside's president, businesses grew from 203 to 218, and employee numbers rose from 1,976 to 2,206.  But some businesses and employees have also left during that time. And while the west-end boardwalk, and Credit Union Place have been completed, other projects like the revitalization of Water Street have not.  "We need the business community to invest and buy into the base we've created," said Brown. "It's frustrating for business people because the customers aren't there." Brown will remain president at least until the organization's annual general meeting in April.

18/01/10