Ottawa's Byward Market

[citydwlr]

Came across a blog post from Jon Willing at the Ottawa Sun regarding the Market's future:

The Wish List For A Refreshed Byward Market

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Here’s what those numbers mean in the diagram:

1 Market Square – Flexible space with parking garage below.

2 Reconfigured parking, outdoor market on York St. The central aisle is wider and tree planting will create a sense of boulevard improving the view and access from Major’s Hill Park.

3 Existing patios on the north side of York St. Create an anchor focal point at the intersection of William and York, maybe a kiosk or art display.

4 Outdoor market layout as existing. Open two crosswalks connecting the side market entrances to the west sidewalks.

5 William St. to be pedestrian and continue the pedestrian only corridor south past George and north of York.

6 George St. market entrance plaza: Reorganize the market tents and cafe seating to leave the market entrance visible from William and George.

7 William St. to be partially reopened to traffic for garage exit and service. Street to be shared with patios, trees and plantings.

8 Byward Market St. becomes two ways, like William St. on other side of a new market building.

9 Enhance pedestrian experience on Clarence St. when parking garage entrance is eliminated.

...

[Urbanarchit]

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[movebyleap]

Liz Bernstein: Redevelop the ByWard Market for 2017

Canada will be celebrating its 150th birthday in 2017. Ottawa, as the nation’s capital, will play a role in hosting the celebrations and the city’s many expected tourists. The Byward Market, arguably the city’s heart, will be thrust on a national platform.

But what will the visitors see? A Byward Market of cars and parking lots, or a vibrant, people-centred historic market? On July 8, Ottawa’s City Council will be taking an important step in deciding what the ByWard Market will look like in 2017.

The Term of Council Priorities for 2015 to 2018 are coming to a vote. Once approved, these priorities will form the basis of the city’s Strategic Plan. And included in the proposed council priorities is a section on the redevelopment of the ByWard Market.

These redevelopment plans imagine the Market Building dedicated to selling fresh food year-round, and a pedestrian-friendly market, with streetscapes that invite people to stay and enjoy the local, fresh produce stands, have a meal on a patio, or just people-watch on a bench.

Specifically, the ByWard Market building needs restoration and upgrades and the surrounding buildings and streets (William, George and ByWard) are in need of cleaning and streetscaping. By 2017, William Street should be pedestrian only. Pedestrian crossings need to be installed across from both side doors of the ByWard Market building. In the longer-term, York Street should be converted from the parking lot that it is now to a market gathering place. As visitors to the city descend the steps from Major’s Hill Park to the ByWard Market, the first thing they see should not be a parking lot. But by Canada’s 150th birthday, minimally, the York Street parking should be reconfigured to allow space for a larger centre island with marked pedestrian crossings and a sitting area.

But why should the focus be on redeveloping the ByWard Market? It’s not just because of its proximity to Parliament Hill, nor is it solely because the market is a tourist and business hub. Revitalizing one of Canada’s oldest and continuously operated markets for Canada’s 150th birthday makes sense. Lt-Col. John By, himself, designed the street plan for the ByWard Market in 1826. Lt-Col. By planned for extra wide streets at George Street and York Street to accommodate public markets and gathering places. The ByWard Market was always envisioned as a gathering place for Canadians.

Ottawa’s council has been presented with longer-term redevelopment plans for the ByWard Market. These plans imagine a market that favours underground parking and new market buildings to replace the present above-ground, multi-level parking. It favours the levelling of sidewalks so that streets are shared with cyclists, pedestrians and fewer and slower-moving cars. It favours the planting of trees, and creation of public spaces and focal points with benches and fountains.

But with 2017 and the 150th birthday celebrations fast approaching and with a construction moratorium for 2017, to realize the vision of a revitalized ByWard Market, the Term Council Priorities must be approved on July 8 and the work of building the new market must start now.

But in addition to approving the Council Priorities for the ByWard Market, sufficient funds must be budgeted to get the work done. Unfortunately, so far, the city has only proposed/committed approximately $1 million. The city, however, has also requested funding from the new federal Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program. This program will provide funding to communities so renovation and expansion projects can be completed for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations.

The ByWard Market redevelopment plan has the support of the community and local businesses. It will, hopefully, be approved by as a Term of Council Priority, and will also, hopefully, receive the Canada 150 federal funds.

Still, even with the federal funding, additional funds are needed to get the work done by 2017. What is needed is a $10 million budget. And we can get there with additional support from the city, the province and with private-public partnerships.

Given the importance of the ByWard Market to our city, $10 million is not very much money. To put it in perspective, the City of Ottawa spends much more than $10 million, each year, just to widen roads in the city’s suburbs. This comparatively small investment will contribute enormously to the revitalization of the city’s number one tourist attraction.

In 2017, Canada will be having a party. And Ottawa will be its main host. Imagine. What kind of host will we be? What will our city look like? And what kind of legacy will this celebration leave the city and its residents? Ottawa’s council can go a long way in answering these questions by passing the Council Priorities and appropriately funding the much-needed work. We can’t just imagine the city. We need to build it.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/nation...arket-for-2017

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by defishel

I'm a bit disappointed by this, actually. So much more could have been done but this doesn't seem like it'll improve the quality of the Market area much.

First, it seems like they're planning for too many vendor stalls in the Market. They want to keep the current configuration but put some vendors on York, but are they also planning to put them inside the new building? I don't think we need that many stalls. Instead they should take those vendors and put them inside the current market building and leave the streets largely open for something else. If the space is too cramped (I feel it is already so) then the new Market building could be used to house the vendors instead. Pedestrianize the side streets so in the summer time they can open their doors during the warm weather. There could be better examples of indoor markets, but I'm thinking of the Mercato Testaccio in Rome.

Hopefully with better waterproofing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OvKUzTmdfY

[acottawa]

I find it odd that there are limited pre-2017 plans to spruce up the market area, which is frankly quite dumpy.

[Urbanarchit]

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[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I find it odd that there are limited pre-2017 plans to spruce up the market area, which is frankly quite dumpy.

As compared to....?

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

As compared to....?

Other parts of Ottawa (Preston, Glebe, Wellington West, Ottawa South, Westboro)

Other market districts in other cities (some have already been identified on this forum).

Other tourists areas in other Canadian cities (Yorkville, Queen's Quay, Distillery District in Toronto, the waterfront area in Kingston, most of central Montreal, Vancouver or Victoria)

The general level of streetscaping, construction, restoration, of a high profile area in any part of the developed world (refugee camp surplus market stalls, industrial-grade lighting, poor paving, way too much surface parking, gas station chic washrooms, etc.)

[1overcosc]

The Byward Market hasn't been updated, is the problem. 40 years ago pretty much all the other Ottawa & Canadian areas you mentioned were just as dumpy as the market is today.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

The Byward Market hasn't been updated, is the problem. 40 years ago pretty much all the other Ottawa & Canadian areas you mentioned were just as dumpy as the market is today.

I agree, that's why I think it is weird that the city and the NCC put the market so low on the upgrade list, despite being important for the tourist sector and the general impression visitors have of the city. I think a lot of it speaks to the city's apparent policy of only doing upgrades as part of a major reconstruction projects.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by acottawa

I agree, that's why I think it is weird that the city and the NCC put the market so low on the upgrade list, despite being important for the tourist sector and the general impression visitors have of the city. I think a lot of it speaks to the city's apparent policy of only doing upgrades as part of a major reconstruction projects.

To be fair, both Kingston and Toronto (2 of the cities you brought up as examples of places with nicer main tourist areas) are largely like this as well.

That said, I do agree with you.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Other parts of Ottawa (Preston, Glebe, Wellington West, Ottawa South, Westboro)

Other market districts in other cities (some have already been identified on this forum).

Other tourists areas in other Canadian cities (Yorkville, Queen's Quay, Distillery District in Toronto, the waterfront area in Kingston, most of central Montreal, Vancouver or Victoria)

The general level of streetscaping, construction, restoration, of a high profile area in any part of the developed world (refugee camp surplus market stalls, industrial-grade lighting, poor paving, way too much surface parking, gas station chic washrooms, etc.)

I agree that the plan is underwhelming and am also puzzled that the Market is not a focal point for 2017.

That said, and at the risk of labelling myself as the defender of all things Market, I think it is nonsense to suggest that the Market is dumpier than places like the Kingston waterfront (littered with parking lots and gas stations), most of central Montreal (it's dumpiness is a big part of its charm) or Toronto. I'll give you the Distillery District, which is much smaller and brand new, and perhaps the area around St. Lawrence Market, which is really not comparable to ours.

I think Canadian cities are generally bad at keeping their tourist areas looking good. Aesthetic elements are not something that we are willing to invest in.

[UrbOttawa]

One thing I wish would happen, that I think would go a long way, would be to get rid of these ugly strip mall signs and replace them with ones that fit the heritage buildings, like the ones on William St.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by phil235

That said, and at the risk of labelling myself as the defender of all things Market, I think it is nonsense to suggest that the Market is dumpier than places like the Kingston waterfront (littered with parking lots and gas stations), most of central Montreal (it's dumpiness is a big part of its charm) or Toronto. I'll give you the Distillery District, which is much smaller and brand new, and perhaps the area around St. Lawrence Market, which is really not comparable to ours.

Kingston's waterfront proper is very much like that; I think acottawa was referring to the Market Square/Princess Street area, which while close to the waterfront, is actually a very different place that is very nice and is the main tourist area.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Kingston's waterfront proper is very much like that; I think acottawa was referring to the Market Square/Princess Street area, which while close to the waterfront, is actually a very different place that is very nice and is the main tourist area.

Fair enough. But that is quite a small area - you don't have to go more than a couple of blocks to see general rattiness.

Ontario cities in general don't show well. Kingston is one of the better ones, at least south of Princess and east of Division.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by phil235

Fair enough. But that is quite a small area - you don't have to go more than a couple of blocks to see general rattiness.

Ontario cities in general don't show well. Kingston is one of the better ones, at least south of Princess and east of Division.

To be fair, in pretty much any city in the world you don't have to go very far to see general rattiness (walk 20 minutes from the duomo in Florence and you're in a dumpy part of town). My point is that places like Kingston and Toronto have fixed up key areas where most tourists and visitors are likely to be, whereas Ottawa has left areas like the Market, Sparks, Elgin, etc in a poor state of repair.

[1overcosc]

Elgin actually screams out to me as the one place that most desperately needs a touch up. Especially those narrow sidewalks.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Elgin actually screams out to me as the one place that most desperately needs a touch up. Especially those narrow sidewalks.

Yeah, Elgin could easily be made great.

I'm not sure on the timing of the rebuild - I thought I saw that it was after 2017. I guess we'll be really ready for Canada's 200th.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

To be fair, in pretty much any city in the world you don't have to go very far to see general rattiness (walk 20 minutes from the duomo in Florence and you're in a dumpy part of town). My point is that places like Kingston and Toronto have fixed up key areas where most tourists and visitors are likely to be, whereas Ottawa has left areas like the Market, Sparks, Elgin, etc in a poor state of repair.

Again, as compared to what?

I don't see anything wrong with the Market or Elgin. What's wrong with them?

Sparks is a different kettle of fish, and largely a federal problem.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Again, as compared to what?

I don't see anything wrong with the Market or Elgin. What's wrong with them?

Sparks is a different kettle of fish, and largely a federal problem.

I feel like I'm repeating myself, but for all 3: old, dated, often mismatched lighting. Old, dated, often mismatched street furniture. Someone already noted the signs. Cracked, broken or patched paving. Narrow sidewalks. Horrible looking tarps and chain link used for market stalls. Way too much surface parking in the market (despite a glut of parking garages). For the market I would also note the old, dated state of the interior of the building. Elgin would also be improved by a road diet such as Preston, Wellington, Bank and other commercial streets have received recently.

I've already identified several areas that have a better appearance for their tourist areas (Kingston, Toronto, Vancouver, Quebec, Montreal, Halifax). Certainly most places in Europe have spruced up their tourist areas with upgraded paving, lighting, street furniture, water features, public art, etc.

If you want specific examples, I would suggest checking out the streetview for Place Massena in Nice, Market Square in Kingston, Queen's Quay in Toronto, Bloor Street in Toronto, the Grote Markt in pretty much any mid-sized Dutch city (Haarlem, Groningen), the Via Roma in Turin, the viktualienmarkt in Munich.