Latest news with #pedestrianzone
CBC
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
No cars on King William Street for next 2 months to make way for 'energy and creativity'
Soon, King William Street's "iconic restaurant row" in downtown Hamilton will be open to pedestrians only. The City of Hamilton initiative will see it closed to vehicles between James and Hughson Streets beginning on Wednesday until the end of Supercrawl on Sept. 14. "With the energy and creativity of our residents leading the way, this is a proud moment for our city," said Mayor Andrea Horwath in a news release last week. "I can't wait to see King William Street come alive as a dynamic public space where neighbours connect, local culture shines, and our small businesses thrive." The street will become the "heart" of the Hamilton Fringe Festival, which runs from July 16 to 27, 2025, the city said. It will also be a feature of Supercrawl, the arts and music festival, taking place Sept. 12 to 14. Throughout the summer, seating, pop-up vendors and activities will be set up on the street to create a "welcoming atmosphere" alongside restaurant patios, the news release said. Pop-up performances will also take place, including by local musicians and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the 73 'Til Infinity dance series.
CTV News
09-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Survey shows Calgarians mostly support pedestrian-only 17 Avenue pilot
A popup patio is shown outside of Lulu Bar in the 500 block of 17 Avenue S.W. (City of Calgary handout) A new survey suggests there's strong public support for turning a stretch of 17th Avenue S.W. into a pedestrian-only zone on weekends in the summer months, but the plan is raising red flags for some local businesses. The proposal, called the 17th Avenue Open Street pilot, is being promoted as a summer-long initiative inspired by similar projects in cities like Montreal, Edmonton and Victoria. It would see cars banned from 17th Avenue S.W. between 4th Street and 8th Street from Friday evenings to Sunay days in July and August. More than 40 local businesses and 1,500 Calgarians responded to a survey about the idea conducted by the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA). Released on Wednesday, results show a majority of local businesses (54 per cent) support the open streets pilot, while 36 per cent remain opposed. Among the general public, support is even stronger, with 82 per cent in favour and only 15 per cent against. The survey also found that 77 per cent of respondents said they would visit 17th Avenue more often if portions of the street were closed to cars. Notably, 75 per cent of annual spending on 17th Avenue comes from visitors who live within two kilometres of the corridor, and walking was the most common mode of transportation for visitors. Supporters say the benefits of open streets include reduced vehicle noise and pollution, more room to walk and expanded space for patios and retail activities — all key factors driving public and business support. '17th Avenue is more than just a road, it's a place where people live, work and play,' said Peter Oliver, BNA president. 'The goal here is to support the local economy, local businesses and make the street more accessible and more inviting. Creating safer, more vibrant spaces is essential for this community.' Frank Lonardelli, CEO of Arlington Street Investments, says he supports the pilot as 17th Avenue's largest property owner, but says the City of Calgary should take it a step further. 'We're huge proponents of the program, but I don't think it goes far enough,' Lonardelli said. 'It should be expanded to the entire summer.' Lonardelli, who owns several properties along the corridor, believes the change could help elevate 17th Avenue's profile as Calgary's 'cool street.' 'Every major city in North America has a street like this, where people live, work, shop and hang out,' he said. '17th Avenue is that place in Calgary. This kind of vibrancy is what people expect from an up-and-coming city.' Some pedestrians agree Jen Baxter, who was walking the avenue with her family, says as a mom, she loves the idea of being able to 'walk freely between shops.' 'If parents feel safe, they're more likely to visit local stores and restaurants,' she added. Catalina Rodriguez, a nearby resident, added that a pedestrian-focused space encourages more personal connections. 'Walking down the street helps people get to know each other better and discover businesses in a new way.' Longtime shopper Jim Bennett also sees potential in the project, but highlighted challenges around parking and traffic. 'Parking and traffic have to be part of the plan,' he said. 'Many people live nearby and need access, so alternate routes and parking options must be well thought out.' 17th Avenue BIA urges caution The 17th Avenue Business Improvement Area (BIA) — which represents more than 730 businesses on the corridor — says it wasn't consulted about the pilot, and is now urging the city to slow down. 'We've never been opposed to pedestrianizing,' said Tulene Steiestol, BIA executive director. 'But it's that old adage: Do it right, or don't do it at all.' Steiestol says the stakes are high. 'This isn't just about vibrancy, it's about the survival of small businesses,' she said. 'We have restaurants with record-high overhead, we have professional services — chiropractors, dentists — who rely on clients driving in, we're talking about businesses still clinging on by a thread after COVID.' Steiestol says the group didn't hear about the BNA's survey results until CTV News informed them about them. 'It feels like a battle of surveys,' she said. 'But our role is to unite 730 businesses behind one microphone, and many are worried this plan hasn't been thought through.' The BIA points out that 17th Avenue already sees 10,000 vehicles per day, and any road closures could choke off access to both local customers and visitors from other parts of the city. 'There's still trauma from the anti-vaccine protests, from years of construction,' Steiestol added. 'This summer is the first time in nearly seven years that businesses haven't been dealing with major disruptions.' Retailers echo concerns Cornelia Wiebe, owner of Leo Boutique and a candidate for Ward 8 city council, says she also hasn't heard support from fellow merchants. 'In all my years here, I've never heard a business say, 'Let's close the street and see if that improves our bottom line,'' she said. 'Most of my customers drive here. They need parking.' Wiebe adds that while 17th Avenue has improved with patios and upgraded sidewalks, the idea of a full closure feels like it came from outside the business community. 'This is the first real summer we're open for business since construction ended,' she said. 'This doesn't feel organic. I don't know that the business community is looking for that, or at least not looking for that this summer.' City says no decisions have been made The City of Calgary says the project remains a proposal at this stage, and no final decision has been made. Officials say they will continue to gather input from stakeholders – including the BIA – before moving forward. The BNA says it plans to share its survey findings with the city in the coming weeks. 'We see this as a great opportunity,' said Oliver. 'But we understand — it needs to be done in a way that works for everyone.'
CTV News
05-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Vancouver council approves amended plan for Granville Street revitalization
A plan to revitalize Vancouver's Granville Entertainment District was passed by city council Wednesday, with a number of amendments. The Granville Street Plan was developed to address neighbourhood issues such as vacant storefronts and 'street disorder concerns,' according to a staff report. 'It's about creating a vibrant, fun space and supporting the local businesses, restaurants, and venues that bring it to life,' said Mayor Ken Sim, in a statement. 'Granville has long been an iconic part of our downtown core, and we're committed to making it thrive again.' Over 20 years, the city's plan would see Granville transformed into a year-round pedestrian zone stretching across the downtown core. It would also be split into three distinct areas: an 'entertainment core' focused on culture and nightlife, a 'city centre' with mixed-used residential developments and a public plaza for events, and a quieter 'bridgehead' area connecting Granville with nearby neighbourhoods. Council first voted to develop a revitalization program for Granville back in 2023, launching an engagement process that included feedback from businesses, residents, community organizations and the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh nations. Some of the amendments added to the plan before it was passed Wednesday involved exploring options for two-way cycling access, and the potential for an 'attended indoor bike parkade.' Another amendment required that staff engage with the city's disability community, to ensure the final designs 'maximize accessibility, including but not limited to ensuring that curbs and stairs are avoided when possible.'
CTV News
10-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Vancouver testing two-way traffic on Cordova while limiting Gastown car-free days to once weekly
The City of Vancouver will open up a stretch of Cordova Street to two-way traffic later this month, as a significantly scaled back version of the Water Street pedestrian zone is set to return for the summer. Starting May 25, Cordova between Gore Avenue and Columbia Street will no longer be one-way eastbound, a move the city says aims to improve vehicle access during Gastown's pedestrian-only days. The city first tested a car-free zone on Water Street last summer, closing a few blocks to traffic through July and August. The feedback was largely positive, according to the city's post-mortem report, with 84 per cent of survey respondents saying they had a good experience visiting the pedestrian zone and want it to return. Water Street saw a 35 per cent increase in foot traffic overall during the two-month trial. Gastown businesses, however, came back with mixed reviews. At the time, some owners reported a sharp decline in customers and called for the pedestrian project to be shut down. The city's report says 59 per cent of businesses who responded to their survey supported the pedestrian zone's return, while 35 per cent did not. 'Those who did not support the pilot felt that Pedestrian Zone decreased the sense of safety in the neighbourhood, discouraged local and regional customers due to more limited vehicle access, and led to a decrease in business revenue,' the report reads. Based on the feedback, council decided in the fall to pedestrianize Water Street again in 2025, but only on the weekends. Additional adjustments in the new plan included making Cordova a two-way street to help vehicle circulation. Then in February, councillors voted unanimously to further scale back the car-free zone to exclusively on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Some speakers at the meeting felt that a small group of businesses had an outsized influence on the decision, given that the public was largely favourable about the project, and noted issues with Water Street being a commuter corridor, while business owners expressed frustration at drops in revenue during the road closure, difficulty in receiving deliveries or getting picked up in a taxi, and safety concerns among staff. At the time, Coun. Pete Fry called the amendment for Sundays only a 'thoughtful compromise,' and Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung said the vision to make Gastown more people-focused is still alive, but it's hard to please everybody and it will take time for all the pieces to come together. In addition to hopefully speeding up traffic around Gastown, the city says two-waying Cordova Street will 'provide valuable insights into a potential future expansion to the Powell Street overpass.' Work is currently underway to convert Cordova Street before the change in two weeks. Sometime in late September, the road is expected to return to a one-way street. The 'Water Street Pedestrian Zone Sundays' start June 15 and end after the Labour Day long weekend.
