Sparks Street Mall lies empty and barren, except for the small rush at lunchtime when those who work at office buildings around the street come out for a bite to eat.
Even this amount traffic from government workers has diminshed because of ongoing construction on the Wellington Building.
Many federal public service employees have moved to other offices in Centretown, costing tenants on Sparks even more business.
It’s another blow to a street that has seen a steady decline in pedestrian traffic in the last decade.
Businesses on the street say they lose 30 per cent or more of their business in the winter months and the construction has only worsened the situation.
This is in stark contrast to the summertime when tourists roam around, when there are sword swallowers performing on the street, where people stop to gawk and many sit on the outdoor patios, some smoking hookahs and watching belly dancers late into the night.
But this is not the case during other times of the year.
The National Capital Commission and Ottawa’s Public Works Department each own buildings on Sparks and need to do more to promote North America’s first outdoor pedestrian street by including it in year-round festivities and diversifying its use.
The BIA should also take action to let customers know the street is open for business.
While Public Works has said it is revitalising the street by repairing heritage buildings, this is costing businesses on Sparks money with the loss of those who work in the buildings and through the confusion of pedestrians who assume the entire street is under construction.
Other improvements don’t have to be as extreme.
Businesses could put up signs on the main intersections of the street saying they are open for business, just like Bank Street businesses did during construction there.
The NCC could also incorporate Sparks Street into the annual Winterlude festival.
While Winterlude activities take place just a few metres away in Confederation Park and along the canal, there is barely any activity on Sparks Street.
If the street’s landlords want to stem the tide of tenants leaving the area (there are more than 10 empty stores in the small five block radius) then incorporating it into other festivities is key.
The owners of the website NCC Watch argue the street has not been the same since the streetcar network was removed and it became a pedestrian-only zone in 1966.
However, pedestrian streets have their own charm. In Europe, many cities have introduced pedestrian-only areas since the 1960s.
One of the most notable ones is Strøget in Copenhagen, Denmark. The series of streets, which make up the longest pedestrian quarter in Europe, is a major tourist attraction.
Part of Strøget’s success is its mixed offering of entertainment, food and tourist sites, as well as its proximity to other tourist draws such as the Tivoli amusement park.
Closer to home, Toronto’s Distillery District has enjoyed a revival since its purchase by Cityscape Holdings Inc. in 2001.
Like Strøget, the area serves a multitude of functions and has many different attractions including restaurants, theatres, breweries, galleries, cafés and even some residential spaces.
Hollywood is especially fond of the district and there have been over 800 movie and television productions filmed on the street.
In order to improve Sparks Street, its owners have to move beyond repairing buildings.
If the street is going to thrive again, then its landlords and the BIA have to capitalize on its unique location across from the Parliament Buildings.
They need to incorporate the street into more year-round festivities and open it up for mixed uses including residential spaces.