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Companies in Gastown are involved town’s plan to close down Water Avenue subsequent month in preparation for a pedestrian-only summer time experiment may backfire.
On Wednesday, council authorised the plan to start street enhancements alongside Water Avenue from Maple Tree Sq. to Cambie Avenue. Maple Tree Sq. is the place Water, Carrall, Alexander and Powell streets meet.
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Work is predicted to start in March, after which that part of Water Avenue might be largely closed to visitors till the tip of August as a pilot undertaking.
“Our No. 1 concern is the impression on enterprise,” stated Gastown Enterprise Enchancment Affiliation govt director Walley Wargolet.
“(The town is) utilizing our companies as a take a look at bucket. I’m frightened about that.”
In accordance with Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, the pilot undertaking is a part of town’s efforts to make Gastown “a extra vibrant, clear, protected and people-friendly vacation spot for everybody.”
Preparation works will embrace repaving a big part of Water Avenue with bricks.
Through the pedestrian zone pilot, sections of Water Avenue might be closed to automobiles to permit for public seating, neighborhood activations, expanded patios, merchandise shows, artwork installations, particular occasions and biking.
“Reworking Water Avenue into an activated pedestrian zone this summer time presents an thrilling alternative to showcase the colourful companies and points of interest that Gastown has to supply,” Sim stated.
The town has put aside $35 million to enhance Gastown, with $10 million of that money already spent.
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Wargolet stated avenue dysfunction points alongside Water Avenue have improved 100 per cent because of the enhancements to date.
“The final yr has been an actual turnaround,” he stated. “The vibrancy on the road has been improbable.”
Nonetheless, Wargolet stated earlier experiments with closing procuring districts to visitors in Montreal and San Diego failed, with retail companies struggling.
“The one query we will’t get a solution on is, what are you making an attempt to unravel right here?” he stated.
“What are you making an attempt to repair? We began down this path in want of infrastructure and sustaining the neighbourhood after which this concept (pedestrian-only) got here out. Making a very nice house the place folks wish to hang around could possibly be superior. But when it has a destructive impression on enterprise, then this might be a failed experiment and solely time will inform us that.”
In accordance with town, the long-term plan for pedestrianizing Water Avenue might be primarily based on suggestions from impacted teams. The result of the pilot might be reported to council in fall of 2024.
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dcarrigg@postmedia.com
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