ByWard Market revitalization plan comes to committee today

Posted May 29, 2023 10:35:12 AM.
Last Updated Jun 6, 2023 05:04:18 AM.
The City of Ottawa is looking at ways to spruce up the ByWard Market, and we’ll find out what a potential area tax looks like at the Finance and Corporate Services Committee today.
This is as a follow-up to a $129-million revitalization plan approved in 2021, with the staff report titled ‘ByWard Market Strategic Alignment Initiative and Public Realm Plan Update.’
The report makes a number of recommendations, including the dissolution of the BIA and Ottawa Markets in order to make way for the creation of the ‘ByWard Market District Authority.’ The idea is that the new authority would streamline programming and operations in the market.
The city is also looking at implementing a new tax described as a “special area levy to support the mandate of the ByWard Market District Authority.”
Rideau-Rockcliffe councillor Rawlson King says the levy is worth considering and the idea is nothing new.
“It’s important to understand that the BIA, the previous BIA, actually did collect a levy from businesses, ” King says. “It will be important to provide that Market District Authority with tools, financial and otherwise to undertake the work of renewal.”
As for feedback from business owners, David Mangano, owner of The Grand Pizzeria on George Street, say he’s hopeful the new authority would be able to get things done a bit more efficiently and have a bit more power and funding.
Staff recommendations outlined in the report also include $100,000 in one-time funding to enhance the Parkdale Market for its 100th anniversary, converting the parking garage at 70 Clarence Street into a public space and the creation of the York Street Plaza.
A national urban design competition is also being planned for the intersection at Rideau and Sussex, as an entrance to the market.
As for concerns like safety and taking care of vulnerable people in the market, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe tells the Sam Laprade show those issues are not included in this report, as the finance committee doesn’t administer social services.
Sutcliffe says the city is working in partnership with social services to address those issues.
“We’ve been working on some initiatives that are going to help the most vulnerable in the market and address some of the criminal activity in that area as well,” he says. “We want people to know that the ByWard Market is a safe place to visit, a safe place to live, a safe place to work — and a great place to go.”