By John Chenier
When the new management group assumed control of the ByWard Market in January, there is little doubt they were expecting a different scenario than the one currently unfolding. It was meant to be the start of a new chapter in the long history of ByWard. More and better space for programming was to go with a new mandate to steer the Market back to the future; promising a better tomorrow for the three main user groups — local residents, others from Ottawa, and the thousands of tourists who visit every year.
A key part to the launch of the plan was the opening of the Confederation Line. Not only would this deliver more people down to the market, but the new LRT station at the corner of William and Rideau will form the gateway into the market. People would emerge from the site of the big sinkhole (Is that delivery van still down there somewhere?) onto an open, landscaped plaza lined by attractive patios.
The delay in the LRT opening has changed all that. The official launch of the “New Market” is still planned for April 30th. However, for market merchants, the three peak seasons of pedestrian traffic of 2018 — Spring, Summer and Fall — will be hampered by the absence of the LRT and the downright ugly, uninviting main entrance.
True, there are several gateways to the market. The entrance down the cascading stairs beside the US Embassy opening up into the York Street Plaza is definitely attractive. Not so, is the stop-go drive-in from the north along Dalhousie. But the main entrance to the market is off of Rideau Street, especially for those arriving by public transit or crossing from the newly refurbished Rideau Centre.
The delay, combined with the uncertainty of new management with new direction, is also having an effect on the mood among market merchants. Some doubt that the new start date of November will be met and are getting ready to write off a bountiful Christmas season, as well. There is also a rumour that when the LRT is up and running, construction on Rideau Street will continue for at least another year.
Until you actually make the journey from Rideau Street into the market area, it is difficult to appreciate the attitude of shop owners. The view looking south down William Street is the shiny new façade of Simons. The view from there looking north – at the pathway into the market — isn’t quite so appealing.
It seem a long time ago that the merchants were told this would be short-term pain for long-term gain. Unfortunately, the short-term keeps getting longer. Meanwhile, as the photo shows, the fencing put in place to make the area seem somewhat attractive is well-past its best-before date.
The setting does little to dispel the negative stereotype as a seamy, marginally safe/unsafe place that many people hold of the market area. The passageway looks uninviting even at midday. Imagine how it appears in darkness when there are fewer people around?
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done at this late date other than for the market merchants to grin-and-bear-it — and watch the promise of another season turn into hope for the next.