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Should clubs pay a sidewalk rental fee?
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| Cosmic Fur |
http://www.thestar.com/article/210007
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Venues should pay for the public space they use to frisk patrons and pile up crowds to create buzz, councillor says
May 03, 2007 04:30 AM
John Spears
city hall bureau
Nightclubs that line customers up on the sidewalk for hours at a time should have to get city permits and pay for the use of the pavement, says Councillor Adam Vaughan.
Vaughan (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina) has asked for a report on how to require clubs to obtain permits for the long and sometimes rowdy lineups that form outside.
The report should also outline "a process for polling neighbouring properties prior to permit issuance," he writes in a letter to the works committee, which agreed to get the report.
In an interview, Vaughan said many bars and nightclubs deliberately create lineups on the sidewalk to make themselves look popular.
The lineups also keep customers outside until they can be frisked, he said.
"As a regular characteristic and practice of their business, they use public facilities for marketing, for security and for queuing people so they can maximize their interior space and up their alcohol sales," Vaughan said.
"Well, I'm sorry. You can't use the public space for private gain that way without the city getting its fair share, and also regulating it so it's done in a responsible way."
That means lineups shouldn't take over the entire sidewalk, forcing pedestrians into the street, he said. Nightclub lineups aren't like the temporary queues that sometimes form outside theatres, he said.
Theatre lineups only last a short time and the theatres have a lobby where customers can mill around before the show or at intermission, the councillor said.
"There's no intention on my part to start charging the film festival or the Royal Alex or the Tarragon Theatre."
While fruit stores, restaurants and newspaper vending boxes are all charged fees if they occupy sidewalk space, nightclubs don't pay for the space their lineups occupy, he said, adding that they should pay market rent for that space.
The fees should also cover the actual costs incurred by the city of providing policing and licence inspectors in the area.
"These businesses have an impact beyond their four walls – a deliberate impact – and it's time we started to regulate that impact," he said.
Flirt Lounge manager Reagan Sampson said Vaughan's proposal "is the city's way of getting into our pockets.
"It's another way for the city to try to force us out."
People can wait for up to an hour outside the Adelaide St. W. club on a busy Saturday night but usually stay on their best behaviour so they will be allowed inside, Sampson said.
What's more, he said, the lineup is enclosed with a rope so pedestrians can use the sidewalk.
"I don't know the city's intentions – I'm not sitting in any boardrooms – but they're making it very tough for us to do business downtown," Sampson said.
Vaughan said he also plans to ask the city's licensing and standards committee to devise limits on the concentration of bars and nightclubs in areas like the Entertainment District.
With files from Meghan Waters
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I agree fully with this as I've had to wait in these lineups numerous times just because promoters wanted to create more hype for their ty clubs. |
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| Time2Burn |
| All I get from this is that Adam Vaughan is a dick. |
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| Import |
| quote: | Originally posted by Time2Burn
All I get from this is that Adam Vaughan is a dick. |
Hah exactly what i was thinking. I agree lineups for no reason is annoying, but theyre using it for the usual war on clubs :rolleyes: |
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| smuncky |
| the real question is, will jayxl pop up in here? |
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| Import |
| quote: | Originally posted by smuncky
the real question is, will jayxl pop up in here? |
Id hope so, i liked the bitching that got stired up, it made for more intresting reading then "OMG tiesto maybe in april?" :rolleyes: |
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| Time2Burn |
| I wonder if politcians have to pay for campaign signs they plaster up everywhere in the city when they have to promote themselves. Adam Vaughn has declared war on clubs and will come with with any arguement to support his agenda. |
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| Abercrombie |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cosmic Fur
http://www.thestar.com/article/210007
I agree fully with this as I've had to wait in these lineups numerous times just because promoters wanted to create more hype for their ty clubs. |
+1 |
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| EvilTree |
If this applies to clubs, it must apply to all businesses that use public sidewalks in any form, incl. selling products and advertising.
Chinatown folks are going to be mad |
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| Cro_Addict |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
If this applies to clubs, it must apply to all businesses that use public sidewalks in any form, incl. selling products and advertising.
Chinatown folks are going to be mad |
| quote: |
While fruit stores, restaurants and newspaper vending boxes are all charged fees if they occupy sidewalk space, nightclubs don't pay for the space their lineups occupy, he said, adding that they should pay market rent for that space. |
seems like they already do.... |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cro_Addict
seems like they already do.... |
Ok then. Fair is fair |
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| Cro_Addict |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Ok then. Fair is fair |
It sucks for the clubs. And it does seem like a cheap shot.
But, the only reason why I would agree with this, is because I hate standing in line for 30 minutes or 1 hour, and then get in and there is only like 50 ppl in the club...its soo annoying. |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Cro_Addict
It sucks for the clubs. And it does seem like a cheap shot. |
How is it a cheap shot?
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But, the only reason why I would agree with this, is because I hate standing in line for 30 minutes or 1 hour, and then get in and there is only like 50 ppl in the club...its soo annoying. |
So you're against it because the club is inefficient? |
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