ByWard Market businesses say park for parking a bad trade
Site of summer's Inspiration Village to become permanent park featuring large Ottawa sign
The Ottawa sign in the ByWard Market was a popular backdrop for photos this summer, but some nearby business owners aren't smiling about a plan to make it a permanent feature of the revitalized York Street Plaza, and take away precious parking spots in the process.
The strip at York Street and Sussex Drive, home to this summer's Inspiration Village, is being transformed into a permanent outdoor gathering place complete with planters and seating — and the large red and white Ottawa sign — all for $120,000.
Pleased to unveil the great new design for the York St Plaza which will feature our OTTAWA letters! <a href="https://t.co/FASU0gkSHI">pic.twitter.com/FASU0gkSHI</a>
—@JimWatsonOttawaTo make way for the new plaza, 22 parking spaces will disappear.
Cynthia Ryan, who manages the jewelry stores Masala on York Street and Jade on Sussex Drive, said the park plan was an unpleasant surprise.
"Why have we not heard about it?" she asked. "Who's making these decisions without local businesses having any input?"
Ryan said despite the Canada 150 crowds, this past summer was the worst in 20 years for her stores, and she was looking forward to getting the nearby parking spots back once Inspiration Village packed up and moved on.
'We have enough sitting and parks'
Christine Shaikin, manager of The Modern Shop on York Street, said she's pleased the sign is staying in the Market but questioned the need for the park around it.
"We're not San Diego. We're in a country where it's cold and there's snow," Shaikin said. "We have enough sitting and parks. We can go up the stairs and there's Major's Hill Park."
Shaikin also blames her business's difficult summer on Inspiration Village, which she said disappointed tourists.
"As businesses we suffered, really suffered this summer with that un-inspiring village," she said. "The fact they've removed it, business has already improved. But I think they should not do that park. Just put the sign there and give us our parking back."
Some businesses optimistic
Mandy Gosewich, owner of Stunning! fashion accessories, was more positive about the park plan despite the loss of parking spots.
She said visitors to the Market are better off taking public transit or parking in a nearby garage rather than on the street, where tickets on windshields at the two-hour meters are a common sight.
"The parking guys are like bees and the cars are like honey," Gosewich said.
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