The Third Avenue Boardwalk was ready for its close up on Seafest Weekend!

The Old DQ building location used to the be the start point
for the Third Avenue Boardwalk, but with its demolition
the tour now starts one block to the west

It's probably the backdrop to any number of Seafest snapshots over the weekend, or tourist photos and videos from Cruise ship visitors and others in this early part of 2023.  

Yet it's probably not a tourist theme that gets much in the way of promotion from local officials.

We are speaking of ...  The Third Avenue Boardwalk! 

A downtown safari which provides for a glimpse at the seemingly stagnant level of attention to the appearance of the city's Main Street in its downtown Core.

We start the tour at the Totem Theatre location and walk our way to the West to offer up the vista for the moment of Prince Rupert's face for it's once bustling commercial conduit.

It's not all weathered plywood along the eight block stretch of the downtown core, at least one property owner has made the effort for a stylish accent use of plywood.

There are however,  a few spots along the block that could use some plywood and lots of it.

The First of the areas that could use a trip to RONA or Home Hardware, the site of the long lost Belmont Hotel, consumed by fire over  a year ago, the site has remained an unsightly heap since the fire of May 2022.

Across the street, The Old Empress is redefining the concept of the Open Structure and endless construction timelines.

City Council last gave some attention to the topic in March, the usual we have to have something done about this conversation bringing reassurances of action underway ... though the progress seems less obvious to those walking the eight blocks of the tour.

March 9 -- Comments on state of Downtown core area begins update, with mayor Pond noting the City is "Active on Downtown Appearance files"

With the Tourism season about to hit the peak period of July and August and City Council meeting tonight  ahead of a less frequent appearance schedule coming from July to September. 

It may be time for an update on just how active the City has been on those files ...

Either that, or provide some talking points for the tour guides on the Olde Time Trolley  to incorporate into the visuals they are presenting to those getting their first impression of the place.

More notes on past Council Discussions can be explored here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.