The Sparks Street Mall management board says it is looking into redeveloping the area between Bank and Elgin streets. According to executive director Sharon McKenna, it will be part of a larger plan to redevelop the street as a whole.
“Redevelopment is a long process,” says McKenna. “We’re just looking into the options of what we can do right now.”
While it’s too soon to talk about specifics, McKenna says the redevelopment of the first three blocks would include resurfacing the street’s granite tiles which should not interfere with the local businesses.
Over the years, the pedestrian shopping area has been highly criticized because of the lack of foot traffic and business after the work day ends.
The topic of revitalizing Sparks Street surfaced during last month’s municipal elections when Mayor Larry O’Brien suggested holding a national design competition to redesign the street. The idea was supported by the National Capital Commission, which owns about 17 per cent of the properties on the street, according to NCC media relations officer Mario Tremblay.
It is just one of the many suggestions that have been proposed over the years. Other ideas have included opening the street to cyclists and reintroducing a streetcar line. Last April, the Sparks Street BIA agreed to spend $10,000 to hire expert assistance to help study the possibility of the streetcars.
The redevelopment will follow the goals set out by a 2004 NCC study of the area. The study recommended two key goals: to have more people living on Sparks Street and to preserve the heritage buildings.
Currently, the buildings on the north side between Bank and Metcalfe streets have been sitting empty since March as they are undergoing asbestos removal and repairs. The stores that were originally there were forced to relocate farther down the street.
More construction will occur when an 18-storey mixed condominium and hotel building finally breaks ground near Sparks Street and Metcalfe Street. The lower floors will house the luxury hotel with condominium suites on the eight to 18th floors. It is expected that the new building will bring more business and foot traffic into the area.
Local business owners Eric Schwartz and Albert Gabbay say they are not too concerned over the construction as their Sparks Street businesses have experienced them before.
Schwartz, owner of Ottawa Leather Goods, says there’s nothing wrong with the street itself. He believes that more business promotion should be done to give the public more reasons to come.
But, Schwartz did say that he would support redevelopment as long as the plan has the big picture in mind.
“Redevelopment means how do we make the street more beautiful, how do we bring people to the street, and finally, how do we bring new, exciting and vibrant stores to the mall?” says Schwartz.
He believes that the danger of going out of business does not only exist on Sparks Street – it can happen anywhere. According to Schwartz, it’s all about how you do business that will attract paying customers.
For Gabbay, the owner of Albert Opticians, an empty street is not a big concern.
“For me, Sparks Street is the best street in Ottawa, especially for the small, independent (stores),” says Gabbay. “These small independents wouldn’t even be looked at by the big [mall] corporations, or allowed to set foot in their facilities.”
According to Gabbay, last year was the best for his 31-year-old business, which sells high-end eye glasses. He attributes the longevity of his business and the success of those who still remain on Sparks Street after many years, to the niche markets they serve and loyal costumers.
“If you went door to door and offered every business an opportunity to break their lease with no penalties and asked if they would leave Sparks Street, I bet you not one merchant would leave,” says Gabbay.
Instead, Gabbay would like to see more of a tenant mix. It’s something he says the street can’t achieve because there are too many small building owners who are quick to lease any free space they have.
Gabbay says another problem is how quick the media is to criticize the street.
“Sparks Street will never die,” says Gabbay. “It’s too nice and beautiful.”