Dozens of businesses, from large-scale operations like car dealerships and clothing retailers to smaller enterprises such as hair salons and home decorating centres, have relocated from Lakeshore Drive or closed completely in the last five years.
Most recently, North Bay Chrysler has re-branded to Farquhar Chrysler and moved to a new state-of-the-art facility on Trout Lake Road. Stewart's Decorating Centre has merged with Trout Lake Paint and is operating out of a Regina Street location.
The West Ferris area has been hit hard by the relocation of several businesses to the new McKeown Commons complex that once seemed to have some drawing power for the North Bay Mall. There has been a revolving door of retail shops in the mall itself, and with the main attractions grouped at the north end, not much reason for shoppers to venture any farther.
The closure of the TD Canada Trust branch has made life more challenging for seniors, people with mobility issues, and those without reliable transportation. The same can be said for those West Ferris residents whose places of employment have moved across town.
Some of the gaps in the business district are being filled, but it is telling that the area has become a haven for payday loan outfits who prey on people who are having a hard time making ends meet, in essence profiting off of the economic downturn itself.
There are success stories, to be sure. East Side Mario's has thrived in their Lakeshore Drive location for decades. The City's attention in recent times has been focused on extending services to areas surrounding the south end of Lakeshore Drive. Pinewood Park Drive has had sewers installed and will see the work extended if either of the rezoned sites available to the casino proponent is chosen.
What could be even more damaging to the area socio-economically, is the potential closure of West Ferris Intermediate and Secondary School, a point driven home in a recent personal address before the ARC committee exploring the viability of various school closures and builds by Mayor Al McDonald.
North Bay Toyota relocated to a larger, newly-built facility on McKeown Avenue and Northern RV moved their operations up the hill on Highway 11 North. The relocated car dealerships were looking to expand their physical selling space and had outgrown their Lakeshore dealerships.
The list goes on as far as businesses leaving West Ferris, but more to the point, why is this happening?
Has the economic decline reached such a magnitude that it is worthy of being labelled urban blight? Or even the beginning of urban decay?
Frank Castiglione, owner/operator of Sports Cut moved his business from Lakeshore Drive to Worthington Street just before the larger retailers started moving to McKeown Commons. He has since opened a second location on Shirreff Avenue.
Explained Castiglione, "I had no parking. [Lakeshore] was just too fast, people would be flying by and the visibility just wasn't there. There was little walk-by traffic. Things were shifting toward this end of town. That end was slowly dying out. My business had plateaued.
"I was able to build my business on Lakeshore, but that was it, I wasn't getting any more people. Downtown is more central, I have better parking, and way more walk-in traffic."
Castiglione added that he had many customers complain to him about difficulties pulling in and out of the Lakeshore location, so it was then that his mind was made up about making the move over the bridge.
Patti Carr, Executive Director of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce said in a phone interview that "there was an outflux of businesses that moved up to the McKeown area, but there's no room left up there.
"McKeown is the big, booming area and gets a lot of traffic[...]but I think there are still opportunities for businesses in the Lakeshore area. We're tapped out at the north end, Trout Lake Road has only a few, so downtown and Lakeshore is the big push now."
Carr said she believes that the Lakeshore area continues to be viable, and can be built up again. With strong draws such as Giant Tiger and Shopper's Drug Mart, the North Bay Mall should have an easier time attracting retailers, she added.
"The ARC committee really has to look at how the school closing would impact economic activity on Lakeshore. I would suggest if they amalgamate two at the north end, that's fine, but not taking out the one at the south end because it is a great residential area, that's really the only place you're seeing new home builds. Businesses will be needed to support the growing population in that area," said Carr.
"There are opportunities right on Lakeshore Drive, and I think there are still some big names that can support the area, said Carr, adding "North Bay is not that big. In the case of Stewart's moving, it's only a five-minute drive to their new location."
Asked if this was the death of Lakeshore, business-wise, Carr responded, "I don't think so. We have some solid businesses down there. I think places like Mazda have done well to fill in some of the gaps before the mall. I think it can come back," said Carr.
What combination, in part or in full, does aging infrastructure, declining population, high hydro and fuel costs, or a demographic shift toward an aging population play in the economic decline of the West Ferris area? Have your say in our comments section below.
