ByWard Market revitalization

The long-awaited Market revitalization plan was approved in early May, in a unanimous vote of the City Council’s finance and economic development committee. Assertively named “A New Direction for the ByWard and Parkdale Markets,” the plan proposes a new gov­ernance model for the Market and a re­design of the public realm, with a first project that will see George Street Plaza overhauled as an Ottawa 2017 Legacy project. The plan does not include a car-free area for the market, as many residents hoped and many business owners opposed.

The plan was presented to the com­munity at the April 11 LCA meeting by Court Curry for the City of Ottawa.

First, the plan recommends the cre­ation of a not-for-profit Municipal Ser­vice Corporation (MSC) to operate the ByWard and Parkdale Markets. The City will continue to own the proper­ties and hold responsibility for their lifecycle. City Council will appoint the MSC Board of Directors and will set powers and duties. The MSC must have a self-sustaining financial busi­ness plan and report to council annu­ally. This recommendation is meant to reduce regulation and to allow Market management to be more nimble and in­novative, in a context where bars, night clubs and restaurants have come to dominate and define the ByWard Mar­ket, and where resident needs are los­ing out to tourist needs.

Asked whether there is a plan to limit the number of bar and nightclub licenses, Curry said that “bars and night clubs will continue to be permitted so long as they comply with the provisions of the City’s Zon­ing By-law. Activities are proposed to be undertaken to ensure that property owners are complying with the provi­sions of the Zoning By-law. The regula­tion of the provision of liquor licenses is the responsibility of provincial au­thorities.”

The second recommendation is a $1M project to redesign a section of George Street as a permanent public plaza in front of the ByWard Market, an open space offering a great visual of the Market building façade when stepping out from the new LRT station. George Street Plaza will be a gathering place, with flexible space for programmed events. The preliminary design concept shows elements that seek to capture the tradition and character of the market: illuminated crate seating and planters made of cor-ten (a corrosion-resistant steel alloy), public art, a mist fountain and a horse fountain, milk can bollards, new curbs and pavers. This will no lon­ger be a permanent vendor space.

In answer to residents’ and busi­ness owners’ concerns about the new public space becoming a homeless or illegal activity camp-out, like the Wil­liam St. plaza and many other market areas, Curry said that “Crime Preven­tion Through Environmental Design principles were used in the design process. City staff are also developing a security plan for the plaza that will include patrols by staff and community police partners.” Asked if the existing vendor stands would move elsewhere or would have to go, Curry responded that some vendors will require reloca­tion for the plaza redevelopment to proceed. “It is hoped that the vendors will stay and take up another vacant stand space in the ByWard Market.” Others voiced the need to support local farmers and artisans, who are being un­dercut and squeezed out by resellers.

Heritage advocates pointed out that ByWard Market is a Heritage Conserva­tion District, but the plans are not going to the Built Heritage Sub-Committee for review or approval; they would like to see an Interpretation Centre built into the plans for revitalization.

A public consultation was held on May 11; construction is planned for September 2016 and will be completed by July 1, 2017. Overall, the proposal was well received by the community, and we will report on any changes in our next issue.