With a decade of construction ahead in a downtown core struggling to come back to life, business officials are cautiously optimistic they’re equipped to handle whatever comes their way.
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With a decade of construction ahead in a downtown core struggling to come back to life, business officials are cautiously optimistic they’re equipped to handle whatever comes their way.
In March, Public Services and Procurement Canada told OBJ that work to restore and modernize historic buildings near Parliament Hill will start this fall. The construction will involve the block facing Parliament Hill bounded by Wellington, Sparks, Metcalfe and O’Connor streets, known as “Block 2.”
The two-and-a-half-acre site includes 11 buildings – several of which are designated heritage buildings – as well as two parcels of vacant land. The feds say the redesigned buildings will provide space for the Senate, the House of Commons and the Library of Parliament and will also include renovated retail space on the Sparks Street Mall.
The entire redevelopment is expected to take nearly a decade to complete. It’s in addition to a number of other construction projects underway in the core, including office-to-residential conversions, as well as road work on downtown streets.
Kevin McHale, executive director of the Sparks Street BIA, said businesses in his area are used to the scaffolding and cranes that come with construction.
“I’ve been here now 11 years and we’ve had maybe three years where we haven’t had to deal with some type of major building infrastructure,” he said. “There’s always construction in an urban setting. That’s a bit of a reality for us here.”
McHale expects heavy construction over the next couple years due to ongoing projects, including the Block 2 redevelopment. When the big machinery comes out, McHale said Sparks Street businesses face unique challenges.
“We’re in a unique spot,” he said. “We do have to factor in deliveries for construction materials and all that. You’ve got to come in awkwardly around here, versus just being on a regular street where a couple flag people can shut down a lane for 10 or 15 minutes while they unload the flatbed. It’s a little more complicated here.”
For tourists, he said, the effect is mainly visual. Construction fencing and piles of building materials may not be pleasing to look at, but other than the occasional eyesore or blocked-off sidewalk, McHale said business tends to continue as usual.
In the decade since he’s arrived, McHale said the BIA has built relationships with developers and the city, allowing businesses time to prepare for construction and minimize the impact. When new projects begin, there is often some lead time to figure out ways to keep attracting customers to the businesses in the vicinity.
“It falls on us to figure out how to activate those spaces … and ensure that it’s a minimal impact on the merchants and the visitors,” he said. “We will look at those spaces and see if there is an opportunity for enhancement with displays on construction walls. It could be information, it could be art. Use it as a canvas for spaces.”
While foot traffic is steadily increasing since the pandemic, McHale said it’s still well below 2018 and 2019 levels on Sparks Street. And with many workplaces using a hybrid work model, he’s not expecting things to return to normal at any point in the future.
But as the area comes to life with summer activities, he said there’s a renewed sense of optimism.
“It feels like we have more people coming to play downtown,” he said. “There’s a lot of energy. People are taking advantage of these public realm spaces that they’re seeing in a different way, versus coming down five days a week. They saw downtown as a place to work and I’m hoping it’s now being seen as a great place to relax, shop and have fun.”
A few blocks away, Centretown BIA executive director SabriNa Lemay said her organization’s priorities are similar when it comes to minimizing the impact of traffic on local businesses.
“We’re going to have concerns because any sort of construction limits traffic and causes people to not want to come downtown,” she said. “That being said, I’m not focused on the negative because I think the changes we’re making to downtown are going to make it a more appealing palace to be.”
Lemay said that, when construction is expected to be disruptive, the BIA undertakes intensive efforts to keep foot traffic up, ensuring customers know that nearby businesses are still open.
That includes providing updates on traffic routes and parking to make travel to the area easier.
“We’re marketing businesses more heavily when it’s happening,” she said. “We’re constantly working with developers and the city informs us in advance, so we know what’s coming down the pipeline before it even begins. It gives us an opportunity to prepare for it. We can market our efforts towards what we can do to mitigate any challenges outside of our control.”
Revitalization efforts, as well as the federal government’s plan to dispose of some of its downtown properties, could lead to even more development in Centretown in a few years, she said. But she’s not overly worried that would drive people away.
“This is a really exciting time for us,” she said. “As much as we could see that negative to it and the fear about what it’s going to mean and if people are going to want to come here, there’s a lot of excitement … I think it’s going to be a positive change and we’re going to continue to drive traffic to the area.”
