Latest news with #StephenAvenueRevitalizationProject
Calgary Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
City adjusts Stephen Avenue construction schedule changed to avoid disrupting summer business
Construction on the Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project is set to begin on Monday, July 21, after last week's brief but tense delay. Article content The updated timeline follows a wave of concern from business owners along the iconic downtown corridor, with the date originally set for July 14. Article content Article content The city hit pause on its long-awaited infrastructure overhaul after more than two dozen local businesses voiced frustration over a lack of consultation, threatening to pursue legal action if the city didn't listen to their demands. Article content Article content Timing was also a key concern, with the original construction date set just after the Stampede and in peak season for foot traffic in the area. Business owners feared that the planned 3-metre pedestrian access paths would divert potential customers away and would complicate the process of bringing inventory into their businesses. Article content Article content Now, after additional meetings with local business owners, the city has rolled out a revised plan that aims to strike a better balance. Article content 'Calgary's economy is growing, and as we invest in the future of our downtown, we remain committed to minimizing disruption to local businesses,' said Michael Thompson, general manager of infrastructure services with the City of Calgary, in a news release on Wednesday. Article content 'This updated construction plan reflects that balance by supporting summer patio operations while keeping the revitalization project on track,' he said. Article content Article content The new plan will begin with work on the east side of the 100 block S.E., between 1 Street S.E. and Centre Street. Then, starting on Sept. 2, more work including critical utility upgrades will expand to the west side of the street. Article content According to the city, the updated plan will allow most restaurant patios to remain open through the busy summer months. Article content The city now anticipates substantial completion of the block by June 2026 — just in time for next year's Stampede — with utility work along Centre Street continuing late into next year. Construction will come to a halt again next summer during July and August to reduce further disruption. Article content The project as a whole set to include several updates to underground infrastructure, including work on its electrical systems, stormwater pipes and century-old water mains. Article content At street level, Stephen Avenue will receive a full makeover aimed at improving accessibility, aesthetics and flexibility for outdoor businesses. Visually, Calgarians can expect to see upgrades to surfaces, foliage and additional site furnishings. Article content The project dovetails with other major downtown investments including renovations to the Glenbow Museum, Arts Commons and Olympic Plaza.
Global News
3 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Concerns surround century-old Stephen Avenue water main as repairs paused
There are concerns that a more than 100-year old water pipe under Stephen Avenue is degrading, according to Calgary's mayor, as the project to repair the pipe is paused after a group of businesses threatened legal action. Work on the Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project was set to begin on Monday, the day after the end of this year's Calgary Stampede. The project was set to see phased upgrades along the entire stretch of 8 Avenue, starting between Centre and 1 streets southeast. Construction would've included replacing underground utilities including a 1910-era water main, surface upgrades in the centre of the avenue, and new soil cells for tree growth. 'There's concern that there continues to be degradation of that pipe,' Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek told Global News. 'We want to get in there and look at it and see what kind of a fix needs to be done or if it's a replacement.' Story continues below advertisement According to the City of Calgary, the pipe is currently functional, but the infrastructure is aging and has been identified for potential lifecycle replacement as part of a broader revitalization plan. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'There is urgency in this,' Gondek said. 'But that urgency also has to be balanced with an entire avenue that's got businesses reliant on our visitor economy that is strongest at this time of year.' It was revealed on Friday that city officials had put a temporary paused on the project, after a coalition of business owners in the area said it would pursue legal action against the city over the project's timeline and potential impacts to their bottom lines during the construction schedule. 'We were pleasantly surprised,' said Annabelle's Kitchen owner Leslie Echino, one of the businesses calling for a pause. 'I think it's meaningful the city wants to work with us, and communicate and open up those lines of communication with us as business owners.' Work was scheduled to be 'substantially complete' by next summer ahead of the 2026 Calgary Stampede, but would've included closures along the block. For Echino, who found out about the plan in April, the construction raised similar concerns to the ongoing work in Marda Loop, and currently the subject of a lawsuit from businesses in that neighbourhood against the City of Calgary over impacts. Story continues below advertisement 'I drive everyday through Marda Loop and I see what's happening there today and yesterday, and it's a travesty,' said Echino, who has a second Annabelle's Kitchen location in that neighbourhood. 'We're very nervous about that happening downtown.' She added the businesses understand the infrastructure needs to be repaired, and they hope it can be done quickly. Gondek noted the businesses concerns are 'valid' due to the construction starting during the busy summer months and high tourist season. She also questioned whether the planned beautification work along the block was necessary as part of the project. 'For us to have certainty and predictability of how long that closure is and the work that's going to be done, is a better scenario than saying for 16 months we're not sure what we're going to be doing.' According to the city, officials are re-evaluating the project's next steps 'and working closely with impacted businesses to determine the best schedule going forward.' An updated timeline is expected to be be shared publicly when details are finalized.
Calgary Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Calgary Herald
City halts Stephen Avenue construction plans amid business pushback
The City of Calgary has put a pause on major construction planned for Stephen Avenue, following concerns from local businesses along the historic downtown street. Article content The Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project, slated to begin construction July 14 immediately following the Calgary Stampede, will now be delayed as the city reviews how to reduce disruption for businesses. Construction on the project, which was set to be completed by the end of 2026, will be postponed at least until the fall. Article content Article content Article content The original plan involved an overhaul of underground infrastructure, including a century-old water main beneath 8th Avenue, as well as updated surfaces and landscaping. Work was set to begin between Centre Street and 1st Street S.E., eventually extending block-by-block in 15-month phases. Article content Article content 'We've been here for 31 years, and business is already slow. With this project the city is doing, they're gonna kill us. I don't think we could survive through this construction,' said Faouzi Salem, owner of Falafel King on Stephen Avenue. Salem said he had not received any information about the project until the July 14 start date was set and was doubtful about the city's plan to maintain customer access, which involved temporary fencing and three-metre-wide access paths. Article content Article content 'The City of Calgary has to come up with a solution to protect the businesses, to at least take care of us, because we're going to lose a lot of revenue,' Salem said. Article content The City of Calgary released a statement about the delay on their website earlier today. Article content 'We have continued to hear from some business owners that they remain concerned about how construction will impact their business operations. In response, we will be delaying construction while we continue to explore options that would help further reduce business impacts during construction,' the statement read. Article content The delay comes just over a week after a group of over 25 business-owners in the area publicly warned they were prepared to seek legal action against the city.
Global News
6 days ago
- Business
- Global News
City of Calgary delays Stephen Avenue revitalization project amid business concerns
The City of Calgary is postponing construction work along Stephen Avenue after a group of businesses threatened legal action last week. Work on the Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project was set to begin on Monday, the day after the end of this year's Calgary Stampede. But a coalition of business owners in the area said it would pursue legal action against the city over the project's timeline and potential impacts to their bottom lines during the construction schedule. 'We've been working with Stephen Avenue businesses over the last several months to develop a construction plan that minimizes business impact,' the city said in a statement. 'However, we have continued to hear from some business owners that they remain concerned about how construction will impact their business operations.' Story continues below advertisement According to the city, construction will be delayed while officials explore options that would help further reduce business impacts during construction. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong, who spoke alongside the businesses threatening legal action, said the goal was to have the first phase completed before the opening of the Glenbow Museum. He noted administration is looking at different phasing options for the project, and a potential fall start date for construction. 'There's a time crunch to get it done,' Wong told Global News. 'If we don't start the work until September, it just means we're going to have to double up the timeframe, maybe into the evenings and weekends, which adds up in costs.' The project was set to see phased upgrades along the entire stretch of 8 Avenue, starting between Centre and 1 Streets southeast. Construction would've included replacing underground utilities including a 1910-era water main, surface upgrades in the centre of the avenue, and new soil cells for tree growth. The revitalization project will eventually include future phases that see work extending the entire length of 8 Avenue to the Mewata Armoury, but those phases remain unfunded. 'In front of the Glenbow Museum and Telus Convention Centre, we have utilities underneath that are turn of the century old, the last thing we want to do is have a water main break and basically shut down that block,' Wong told Global News. Story continues below advertisement In a statement, the Calgary Downtown Association said the work slated for Stephen Avenue remains critical. 'We will continue to support and advocate for our members in mitigating construction impacts on their business and what's in the best interest of downtown,' the statement read. 'This planned work is critical to updating utility infrastructure, such as the over 100 year-old water pipes.' The City of Calgary noted its commitment to businesses 'has always been to minimize disruption through thoughtful planning and clear communication, while balancing the need to complete critical infrastructure replacement work.' The threats of legal action followed a $27 million class action lawsuit filed by a group of Marda Loop businesses against the City of Calgary in June for damages caused by a multi-year construction project in that neighbourhood. A city spokesperson said there is also an effort to align work with other downtown projects like the Glenbow Museum and the Arts Commons/Olympic Plaza Transformation.
