‘If we were to do something, would we trial it for one day? Would we trial it for a weekend? It would have to be a bit of a test’

Article content

As snow melts and shovels are put away, many Calgarians will flock to patios and shops on 17th Avenue, while still being able to park — and drive — on the street.

Based on the results of a survey conducted last year and the amount of stakeholders within the 17th Ave. Business Improvement Area (BIA), it is unlikely Calgarians will see a “car-free zone” on 17th Avenue this summer, according to BIA executive director Tulene Steiestol.

Advertisement 2

Article content

Article content

Social media conversations about a car-free zone of 17th Avenue in recent weeks have alleged that noise of vehicles, particularly those with aftermarket exhausts, are making people turn away from patios along the road, said Steiestol.

Shutting down the road to noise isn’t going to mean that businesses are driving traffic, she said, highlighting that their primary focus is the success of businesses within the corridor.

Steiestol said that talk of a closure to vehicles along 17th Avenue has come up many times over the years, but a flurry of social media posts and comments in 2023 rekindled the talks of a potential car-free zone.

“We received a couple of phone calls and emails from members of the community, and especially our business community, going ‘did we start this?’ as a business improvement area, and we didn’t.”

One of 15 BIAs that cover about 6,000 businesses in the city, the 17th Ave. BIA has more than 720 businesses under its wing.

The survey, conducted last summer, asked businesses within corridor for feedback on the idea of a road closure. It was sent out through their business newsletter, which about 400 were subscribed to.

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

“What was overwhelming, is that they just said no,” Steiestol said.

Of the 23 survey responses they received, seven were in favour of a possible road closure, and 16 said no.

Equal footing needed between restaurants, retail: restaurant owner

Inglewood has experimented with “car-free Sundays” in previous years. Steiestol said for 17th Avenue, any closure would need to have a compelling reason for people to come down, like an activity or event.

Trolley 5 Brewpub owner Ernie Tsu said a car-free zone would definitely benefit restaurants, but there needs to be equal footing for retail as well.

He mentioned parking as being “massive” for every business, whether it be hospitality or retail.

“There is a lot of parking down here, but not enough to take away all of the street parking. That would be a detriment, I think, to businesses,” said Tsu.

Peaseblossoms Flowers on 11th Street is a member of the 17th Ave. BIA, and owner Marika Styba said her business has seen a 60 per cent reduction in parking nearby due to mobility improvements and bike lanes.

When construction on the street began, Styba said she lost 25 per cent of business, followed by about 10 per cent losses in subsequent years.

Advertisement 4

Article content

“I basically went from two full-time staff, and I now have (one) part-time staff person — I’ve had to fill in the gaps,” she said. “It’s quite depressing, because I’m constantly having to look for other opportunities outside my neighbourhood.”

17th Avenue SW construction
Crews work on a stretch of 17th Avenue between 7th and 8th Street S.W. in Calgary on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Brent Calver/Postmedia

She’s had to get creative by doing deliveries of online orders, along with attending the Bearspaw Farmers Market in the summer.

“It burns me that I have to pack up my shop and drive to another municipality to get enough business to stay afloat.”

Also on 11th Street, Nikos Pizza owner Nick Doikas experienced a 65 per cent drop in in-store sales. Overall, he said his revenues have actually grown due to delivery platforms like Skip the Dishes.

’17th Avenue is a place that people want to come’

Traffic volumes along 17th Avenue varies from 10,000 vehicles per day at the east end near Macleod Trail up to approximately 25,000 vehicles per day further west, said Tony Churchill, acting manager of mobility operations with the City of Calgary.

“Quite a variability there, but those are pretty typical of high-volume arterials,” he said.

Like a lot of other main streets, 17th Avenue has many different functions, said Churchill, such as “a place for people to come to and spend time at.”

Advertisement 5

Article content

As a connection through downtown, the road also has to accommodate transit, movement of goods, people, and parking, Churchill said.

“There’s a lot going on on that road right of way, and it’s hard to manage.”

Steiestol said that if road closures were to come into play, programming needs to match the inconvenience, and the impact it would have on businesses and their revenues.

“If we were to do something, would we trial it for one day? Would we trial it for a weekend? It would have to be a bit of a test.”

11th Street SW
Pedestrians stroll in front of businesses on 11th Street S.W. in Calgary on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Brent Calver/Postmedia

She noted concerns like what it would mean for transit users, detours, and residents of the Beltline, who would be impacted by heavier volumes of traffic by road closures.

Churchill echoed many of the same points, and also mentioned the need for delivery drivers to be able to stop, pick up food, and deliver to residences.

“Definitely we know that 17th Avenue is a place that people want to come, and so we have to make sure that they can do that in a variety of ways,” he said.

Steiestol said, “There’s not a one-size-fits-all, because it is so complex with the diversity of who is truly impacted — the community at large and also the business community.

Advertisement 6

Article content

“A photo that looks great on Instagram of a road closure, with people actively out and enjoying the sunshine and great weather; what does it actually mean though, to the bottom line of the businesses on either side of that street?

“If it’s not 17th Avenue, is there somewhere else in our corridor where this really could work?”

She mentioned that because 11th Street has already lost some parking with the addition of bike lanes, they are discussing if it would be more of a “natural” fit.

“Their businesses are already down, they’re really feeling the pinch, but could we turn that into something where there is some kind of programming that is actively supporting them, and driving more people, more awareness?”

11th Street SW
A bike lane is shown in front of businesses on 11th Street S.W. in Calgary on Sunday, April 7, 2024. Brent Calver/Postmedia

Article content

Car-free portion of 17th Avenue would be a no-go for many businesses
Tagged on: