What's downtown Victoria supposed to be?

A destination place for shopping, for dining out, for mixing and mingling with your friends and neighbors over coffee, tea, wine or beer?

I thought the city had a plan. But after attending a workshop between the city council and the Victoria Senior Commission, I'm not so sure. The Senior Commission met with with the city council to impress upon it the growing need to provide affordable senior housing in Victoria. The aging baby boomer population is going to need a place to live after downsizing from their McMansions, and a lot of them want to stay in Victoria where they have long established friends and deep family roots.

 I  admire our Senior Commission. They are composed of some very smart and forward thinking people. And, unlike the city council, they do have a bold vision for downtown Victoria, one that is pedestrian friendly, with services like dry cleaning,a small grocery store like Kowalski's, city hall, a library, and housing for seniors, all in a charming and walkable downtown.

The city council complimented them on the quality of the presentation and the information they brought forward. Some developers should be so prepared and articulate.

But frankly, I was surprised to hear some of the city councilors tell the senior commission that the city hasn't got a downtown concept. 

Isn't that what the city's been working on with a consultant for the last several years? I think I must have missed something.

 Am I wrong here? If so, please tell me what I didn't understand.

And, what would you envision for downtown Victoria? I think the city needs some ideas and some input.