Listen to this article
Estimated 4 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
A contentious downtown construction project is nearing completion ahead of schedule, but some businesses are still concerned about a decline in foot traffic.
Calgary’s Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project is set to wrap up its first phase this month, after construction began last summer. It was originally scheduled to be completed this fall.
The initial phase upgraded underground infrastructure like water pipes, electrical lines and storm-water systems between First Street Southeast and Centre Street, some of which were a century old. It also rebuilt the worn-out street surface with granite pavers.
The city originally intended to include another block west to First Street Southwest in this phase, project manager Amy Stansky said, but businesses along the road said they weren’t ready for the construction.
But she said it was important to complete work on the 100 Southeast block, to align with the Glenbow Museum’s renovation.
“Our overall master plan involves doing the whole avenue. But we don’t have any more funding right now,” said Stansky.
“We are going to be seeking some funding later this year and seeing what we can tackle next.”
The City of Calgary completed the first phase of its Stephen Avenue Revitalization Project this summer, covering the area between First Street Southeast and Centre Street. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Stansky said the city will conduct more public engagement before continuing to the project’s next phase, which she said likely won’t begin for at least another year or two.
The budget for the project’s first phase was $36.2 million, the city’s website says.
Traffic around the block is returning to normal, Stansky said, although other nearby construction projects are ongoing, including the Werklund Centre’s transformation.
Businesses call for better practices
A group of 25 businesses threatened legal action over the Stephen Avenue project last year, demanding the city pause its redevelopment plans due to “irreparable” damage it would cause to their operations. The project was briefly delayed, before the city agreed to a revised approach with business owners.
Grant Kosowan, a partner in the Stephen Avenue restaurant FinePrint, estimates his restaurant’s business dropped 20 per cent since construction began, hitting especially hard this year amid a “sea of orange cones” and a shut down Centre Street.
“It’s tough. Margins are very thin. Just going to the grocery store, you can see how expensive things are,” said Kosowan.
“After a year of construction, people change their habits and it’s really hard to get them back.”
Some businesses argue Stephen Avenue’s revitalization project should be completed more quickly, to ensure foot traffic to the area does not see significant declines in the future. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Kosowan said he and other business owners submitted a $6-million plan to the city, offering ideas to bring more foot traffic downtown.
Looking ahead, he argued other cities can complete similar construction more quickly, and he hopes the city can find ways to minimize construction on other blocks of Stephen Avenue.
“Get this thing done in weeks, because it’s going to cost the taxpayers more at the end of the day by dragging out the construction,” said Kosowan.
The city said it’s investing in a promotional campaign to support local businesses and welcome people to a “refreshed Stephen Avenue.”
Building out Stephen Avenue
Andrew Doudican, director of urban strategy with the Calgary Downtown Association, said his organization worked daily to respond to complaints from businesses about construction.
But he’s pleased with the project’s results so far. The streetscape is more open and usable for events, Doudican said, and the infrastructure improvements have modernized the area, as some pipes under Stephen Avenue were made of wood.
“We’ve seen what happens when water pipes break, so we wanted to avoid that with all of our beautiful historic buildings,” said Doudican.
“We want Calgary to have a main street, a downtown destination that they can be proud of and show off.”
Doudican said while he’d like to see the entire Stephen Avenue project funded during budget talks this fall, block-by-block funding is more realistic.
He said revitalizing downtown Calgary’s “high street” boosts the city’s tax base, tourism and livability overall.
“Look at what it is now, and if you walk onto the next block, you can just see the stark difference,” said Doudican.
“We should invest in what we have and continue to build it out.”