jay2028
Active Member
That plan was more of a focus on roads and less on the buildings this plan is more of a focus on the building and less on the roads.
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- Thread starter urbottawa
- Start date
Yes. Watson had a $129 million plan approved and ready to go when he left office with the expectation it would be largely done by the 200th. Sutcliffe shelved it and has now came back with this far less ambitious plan, and it doesn't seem like anything will be done for the 200th (the City's 200th being this year and the Market's next year).
Bluejay
Active Member
Big real estate listing coming out soon for the parking garage at 41 George including the storefronts along ByWard Market Square. A few developers are already licking their chops.
jay2028
Active Member
People on Ottawa/R will lose it over this.
God I hope the NCC buys it.
William Street that was supposed to be pedestrianized before the 200th, and was funded, but the Mayor said no because loosing parking spots would kill businesses.
HeIsTheOne99
New Member
I mentioned this on a post on the Ottawa subreddit, but I just don’t see much of a missed opportunity here. The street would do well to be pedestrianized, and less cars in the ByWard Market is always a plus. But if the city’s only plan is to put in some stone and some benches, on a relatively tiny stretch of street, then it’s not really going to benefit anyone
I’d rather that they spend the money on another project with higher benefits, such as the removal and rebuilding of the area at Mackenzie Avenue, where the foot traffic has always been consitent throughout the year
I’d rather that they spend the money on another project with higher benefits, such as the removal and rebuilding of the area at Mackenzie Avenue, where the foot traffic has always been consitent throughout the year
pgagnon
Active Member
Mmm not entirely sure about that. Have you seen the other side street parallel to this one that was closed to cars? Its colourful and always busy - packed with people looking for a place to rest, take a seat and take in the market. That's one of the things the market is missing most - places to sit and enjoy. It's like outside of businesses or private restaurant patios we don't want people to linger in the market.
HeIsTheOne99
New Member
The other (pedestrianized) part of William Street? It gets a lot of foot traffic because it acts like a “passage” between the Rideau Centre and the Byward Market, but other than the restaurant that takes up a bunch of the space with its patio seating, it’s mostly just homeless people
Again, I’m in favour of pedestrianizing the ByWard Market. But changing some tiny stretch of road is not going to be the miracle change that people think it is
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bubble
New Member
They've been pedestrianizing it every summer for years and it's always packed with people. It benefits all those people and I can't imagine at least seasonal pedestrianization costs enough to stop them from doing other work elsewhere? It's literally just businesses in the area whining about losing a few parking spaces that have stopped them doing it this year. So I don't see why it has to be one or the other.
HeIsTheOne99
New Member
During seasonal events, yes. Lots of activities were on that stretch of road during Canada Day last year! But I also went several times during the summer months, and a lot of the time the street was closed off but still empty, with very minimal foot traffic
I don’t care about the parking spots either. The issue is if the City of Ottawa wants to spend money to convert a stretch of road and do nothing with it (outside of major events throughout the year), versus spending the money on other improvement projects across the ByWard Market
Ottawacurious
Active Member
Let's get another subcommittee to discuss it, make recommendations, and do nothing again. 
I agree it needs more than pavers and benches. I want to see more water features, art installations, trees, and the Watson Public Realm plan had all of that.