By Lindsey Neely
With more trees, expanded sidewalks, outdoor cafes and room for artisans and street vendors, Preston Street’s Little Italy district is set to become one of the classiest neighbourhoods in Ottawa.
A multi-million dollar redevelopment plan is in the works to change the look of the area in addition to a major overhaul of the sewage system.
The idea is to make the street “more pedestrian friendly,” says Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes. “We want to give it a really European feel.”
Holmes also hopes the redevelopment will draw some of the thousands of tourists who visit Dow’s lake for festivals throughout the year.
A final design is still in the works and public input meetings still need to be held, but groundbreaking for what will be a two- or three-year project is set for spring 2006.
This year’s budget allotted $300,000 for preliminary work on sewers and further studies and designs for what will work best in the area.
“The new sewer system is what prompted the idea to re-vamp the area,” says Lori Mellor, the executive director of the Preston Street Business Improvement Area (BIA). “We figured that as long as the road was going to be torn up, we might as well use the opportunity to do some of the changes that we’ve had in the works for a long time.”
Outside of the major infrastructure, much of the redevelopment costs fall onto the BIA. The city pays one-third of the costs, while the BIA is responsible for the rest.
“We pay for everything from new lights to sidewalks to benches and bike racks,” says Mellor. “We’re still trying to tally the final cost, but it will definitely be worth it in the long run.”
Area resident Jess Santos
says the renovations couldn’t come any sooner. She says she loves living in the Italian district, but sees much room for
improvement.
“There are tons of really, really nice restaurants and shops on Preston that a lot of people probably don’t know about because they like going to nicer-looking areas like Sparks Street or the Market,” says Santos. “If they put a bit of work into this area, way more people would definitely come here.”
But for all the added business the renovated area is expected to bring, business owners, the BIA, and the city all recognize the damage that two or three summers of construction could inflict on many business’ bottom lines.
Limited traffic access, reduced parking, dust and loud construction are just some of what Mellor describes as the “necessary evils” that will accompany the renovations. It seems everyone who has a stake in the renovations has a different suggestion for how to minimize those inconveniences.
Holmes says the planning committee is using major streetscaping projects from other parts of the city — namely Westboro and Old Ottawa South — as examples. “We’ll be doing our best to avoid the pitfalls experienced by other areas,” she says. She also notes that the city is considering limiting the reconstruction phases to the spring and fall to avoid major work during the tourist-heavy months of July and August.
Ristorante Allegro owner Robert Lemmo says he thinks the renovations are a great idea, but says that less street access will mean fewer customers. However, he suggests the city and business owners could split the difference on lost revenues by lowering property taxes during the renovation period.
“The city could bear a little bit of the burden of the loss of business and then recoup those taxes once business starts rolling again,” says Lemmo.
Even if city hall isn’t receptive to Lemmo’s suggestions, Mellor said that she and the BIA are looking at every strategy to keep business running as usual. “We’re looking at ways to divert the traffic, as well as other places people can park — like the Adult high school or the Ministry of Natural Resources in the South end. We’ll be doing extra marketing. We’ll use a horse and buggy to get people here if we need to. We’re definitely not going to let it slip.”