The deadline to submit an entry in this year’s annual Downtown Christmas Parade is Wednesday, October 31.

To receive a copy of the Parade Application email us at info@downtownstjohns.com or call 726 8244. Space is limited!

The Annual Downtown Christmas Parade is scheduled for Sunday, November 25 at 1:00 pm.

The old Newfoundland Telephone building in downtown St. John's is destined for a $3.5-million makeover into high-end hotel suites.

Southwest Properties Ltd. - the Halifax-based owners of the remodelled Atlantic Place - has submitted an application to redevelop the building on Duckworth Street.

Once refurbished, it would house 20 hotel suites, complete with kitchenettes. The basement floor along McBride's Hill is likely to become retail space.

Southwest's plan calls for tearing down the seven-storey west wing and expanding the five-storey east wing.

That expansion will consist of two additional storeys and a new section on the west side. Eleven off-street parking spaces will be created on the west side.

Overseen by John Hearn, the St. John's architect who designed the St. John's airport terminal, the building's exterior will have a stucco finish and a parapet around the seventh storey.

Frank Galgay, ward councillor for the area, plans to vote in favour of the hotel, saying it will help revitalize that section of Duckworth Street.

"This is really going to add to this particular area," he said.

"It's derelict. There's been all kinds of graffiti. People have been getting in there and vandalizing the building, and it's become a total eyesore for that particular area.

"As the ward councillor, I fully support the development of it because it's going to enhance the area ... and with the Hebron-Ben Nevis development and the spinoffs for the oil and gas, there's going to be a need for accommodations."

The rest of St. John's city council members are likely to follow suit at tonight's meeting.

The project already has the blessing of the city's planning department and the council's planning and housing committee.

Final approval is contingent on a few items - submission of revised plans and approvals from the city's heritage officer, engineering department and building and property department.

The area is zoned for commercial central mix, which includes hotels.

City development manager Joe Sampson said the overall footprint of the building will shrink by 27 per cent.

It will also continue to be a non-conforming building under the city's regulations - meaning it exceeds the maximum height of four storeys, or 15 metres, permitted under zoning regulations.

The city's rules say such buildings may be "repaired, rebuilt, structurally altered or expanded, provided the degree of non-conformity is not increased."

The refurbished building won't get any taller.

"Viewscapes are not impacted whatsoever by this. In fact, they're slightly improved where they're taking a piece off the west end. But mostly what you'll see more of is ... more buildings," said Sampson.

"The final building elevations will have to go through the city's heritage officer for review."

Earlier this decade, there were plans to redevelop the building into office space. But, there was one small hitch - none of the floors in the east and west wings lined up with each other.

"It wasn't conducive to good office space," said Sampson.

A smaller wing to the far west was torn down and has remained an empty lot.

Excerpt from The Telegram, Monday, October 29, 2007. Article by Moira Baird

The current City policy regarding snow removal in the Downtown states that removals will not be scheduled on Friday and Saturday nights in the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for fear of negatively impacting the bar and restaurant trade.

In light of the severe snowstorms and snowfall accumulations in the last number of years the Board of Management of the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) is considering changes to the current policy allowing the possibility of snow removals on any evening in the BIA including Friday and Saturday nights. This would allow all the downtown area to be generally more accessible to all members and their patrons throughout the winter season.

Prior to the request for a review and/or change of the current policy, the DDC Board of Management is seeking feedback from the DDC membership on the issue.

We ask that you indicate your support changing the current Downtown snow removal policy to allow for the possibility of snow removal within the BIA seven days a week.

As the winter season will soon be upon us, we request that your feedback be provided to the DDC by Friday, November 9, 2007.

The DDC office can be reached by calling 579 4139 or via fax at 579 1636. Via e-mail at sjddc@nf.aibn.com

On December 7 the membership of the Downtown Development Commission (DDC) BIA (Business Improvement Area) will elect six (6) members of the Board of Management.

Deadline for nominations is Friday, November 16, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. Nomination papers are mailed by the City to all membes of the BIA. Nomination papers are available at the City Clerk's office at City Hall or at the DDC office. For more informaiton call the City Clerk's office at 576 8446 or the DDC at 579 4139.

Due to heavy seas the Cruise Ship Queen Elizabeth II due in port today from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm has been cancelled.

For details visit www.vocm.com or for more information call 576 8106.

The American Bus Association (ABA) announced St. John’s Time has been designated as one of the Top 100 Events in North America for 2008 by an elite tourism industry selection committee. “Inclusion in the Top 100 list, published as a supplement to the September/October issue of Destinations Magazine, indicates that St. John’s Time offers excellent entertainment value to both tour groups and individual travellers from around the world”, said ABA.

The St. John's Time is an Aumbrella event July 31 – August 10, comprising of four of the City's major events: The George Street Festival, The Royal St. John's Regatta, the Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival, and the Downtown St. John's Buskers Festival. The concept began two years ago by the City’s Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Culture with the idea of tying together high interest events under this umbrella festival concept, thereby being placed on the festivals and events calendar nationally and internationally.

With the release of the American Bus Association's 2008 Top 100 Events in North America, ABA celebrates 25 years of the Top 100 Events. What began as a way for motorcoach operators to incorporate new product into their itineraries has grown to one of the most sought-after lists by travel professionals, motorcoach operators and the general public.

"The attractiveness of St. John’s Time as a don't-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for St. John’s Time," said Sandy Hickman, Chair of the City’s Tourism Committee. "The real news here is that St. John’s has been recognized as a potential magnet for tourism dollars, at a time when reenergizing domestic tourism is so important to our spirit and our economy. The honour gives St. John’s an important boost in visibility among professional tour planners."

ABA's 2008 Top 100 Events Selection Committee selected St. John’s Time from among hundreds of U.S. and Canadian events nominated by state and provincial tourism offices and convention and visitors bureaus. Judges considered the event's broad appeal, its accessibility to motorcoaches and skill at handling large groups, and a variety of other relevant criteria.

“The annual Newfoundland and Labrador Folk Festival organizers are thrilled to be involved with the St. John’s Time initiative.” Sherry House, Executive Director of the NL Folk Arts Council states, “We look forward to building even more interest in our beautiful city and helping people discover the incredible entertainment presented here.”

The cruise ship Fram is delayed due to weather conditions and will arrive in port today, Monday, October 1 at 11:00 am and remain in port until 5:00 pm.

Due to the same weather conditions impacting the Fram visit, the cruise ship Blackwatch will make an unscheduled stop in port tomorrow, Tuesday, October 2 arriving at 8:00 am and departing at 5:00 pm. The Black Watch will be carrying 760 passengers and 325 crew.

For more information contact the City of St. John's Tourism Information office at 576 2315.