Are Lansdowne events hurting Glebe businesses? And are bike lanes the answer?

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Changing retail landscape: For decades the Glebe has been known as one of Ottawa’s trendiest neighbourhoods. It has the charm of a Hallmark-style Main Street, it's in close proximity to Lansdowne Park, and it's rich in history and character. 

But it’s also not one of the city’s most accessible communities for transit or traffic. That’s causing some problems — especially on Red Blacks or Ottawa 67 game days when street parking is almost impossible to find and streets are overrun with fans. 

A new Bank Street Active Transportation and Transit Priority Feasibility Study is hoping to change that, but there are mixed opinions over the potential loss of street parking for bike lanes. 

• “The cycling lane aspect is creating a lot of anger amongst our business community. There is a feeling that the majority of their clients drive. The plan that was submitted in the summer, the one proposal from the city, removed parking on the west side of the street,” Glebe Business Improvement Association executive director Darrell Cox told the Lookout in an interview. 

A different view: The cycling community feels differently. They think having more bike lanes would bring more shoppers to the community. 

Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard did not respond to the Lookout’s multiple requests for comment, but a June 2024 blog post on his website commented that other cities have seen successful results from improving their cycling infrastructure. 

• “Residents are telling us that to get to Bank Street and support local businesses, they want more transportation options, and they want to be able to walk and bike safely to their destination,” wrote Menard. “If you look at Vancouver and Toronto and Montreal and Portland and Minneapolis, and the list goes on, they make it safe for people to bike and walk and take transit…and businesses benefit.”

A new proposal will be tabled in early 2025 and will then go to council sometime in the second quarter for approval. It’s unclear how — if at all — Ontario’s new restrictions for bike lanes could change the project. 

By the numbers: In a community survey, 43 per cent of residents said they wanted the addition of bike lanes with another 26 per cent commenting they wanted wider sidewalks. A report conducted by the Glebe Community Association also found that 37 per cent of trips to Bank Street in 2015 were done by a cyclist or pedestrian. The city-wide average is about 10 per cent. 

Game day challenges: More walkthrough traffic doesn’t always translate to more sales for businesses. Gilbert Russell, owner of Brio Bodywear, which sells bras, swim, and dancewear, told the Lookout he could stand in the storefront window during a game day and nobody would notice. 

People are busy walking to the attraction they are attending and aren’t interested in carrying around shopping bags, he said. 

• “Events are hurting business. We are watching our sales drop. We had an electronic dance music festival that killed sales. We had volleyball championships that killed sales. It’s happening over and over again,” said Russell. “If I put two staff on and forget it’s a day for events, I’ve got people staring at each other not knowing what to do. We could basically close the store those days and not lose or make anything.“

His Westboro location — a newer store with the same selection and marketing — brings in about 69.7 per cent more sales than its Glebe twin. 

• “The Glebe is getting hollowed out. Cool stores aren’t opening here. We are getting fast food stores. I’m lucky because I own the building. At some point I will need to make a business decision.  I could have somebody put in a restaurant that would benefit from Lansdowne,” said Russell. ”They can feed all the people going to an event. A lot of retailers are going to need to make that decision.”

So why is that the case? Cox from the local BIA admits that game or event days aren’t helpful for businesses, but prefers to look at the more positive side of what it could bring.  

• “I think what businesses need to realize is the increased foot traffic is giving your business visibility. On game days, you’ve got five or six thousand more people walking down your street. Even if they aren’t going to stop in your store… they might stop by next time,” said Cox. “The businesses which are savvy will put out their framed boards or advertising to make people aware of their products. You will see that in any city with a sports franchise. The same could be said for Kanata Centrum when there is a Sens game.”

Concerns over Lansdowne 2.0: There are also concerns over what the future of Lansdowne could mean for Glebe businesses. If the project moves forward as it’s scheduled to do, the park would be a construction site for a decade with two new residential towers, new north side stands, and a new arena all getting built. 

Russell said he’s not a supporter of the plans and believes both the short-term and long-term negative impacts would not help support anyone. Lansdowne’s nearly $500 million revitalization project is aimed at making money after the city suffered severe losses with the current site. 

• “I thought the best rule for holes is to stop digging. If I built a store and that store was failing miserably and running a huge debt, the answer wouldn’t be let’s just build a bigger store,” said Russell. “I’d look at the product, the marketing I’m putting out, and at the location. People aren’t going here because the bathrooms aren’t as nice as they’d like. They aren’t going because it’s a pain to get there.”

Business closures: While Brio Bodywear is hanging on, the same can’t be said for a handful of businesses which have shuttered their doors. In late March 2024, a “suspicious” fire tore through the Glebe Apothecary pharmacy, a staple on Bank Street for 40 years. Owned by the Shoppers Drug Mart chain, it has now closed permanently. 

At the end of September, Top of the World skate shop closed its doors after three decades in business. Co-owner Corey Hackett said the last 18 months were challenging and economic impacts such as the cost of goods and financial stress among customers led to the hard decision. 

• “For businesses like us, where we sell non-essential goods … Well, that’s the first part of your budget that leaves when your housing expenses go up,” Hackett told the Ottawa Business Journal. 

Around the same time, lifestyle store All Eco closed its doors. Founded in 2019 by owner Jackie Morphy, she fought through closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, a personal cancer diagnosis, and rising inflation. 

• “The decision was, you know, by most standards was a long time coming, but I just didn't want to give up. So, it's been nonstop adversity and the challenges have all been external," Morphy told CTV.  

Low vacancy: Cox said while it’s always disappointing to see any business close, he can only think of a handful of vacancies on the street and said storefronts are filled quickly. In cases like the former Scores Pizz, which closed, that building remained empty for longer because the owner was looking for the right fit. A breakfast joint is now set to move in. 

Other Glebe concerns: While Centretown on the other side of Highway 416 has seen an increase in social challenges with increased homeless and addictions issues, Cox said that hasn’t really transferred into their part of Bank Street yet. 

Rising crime: Capital Ward, as a whole, though, did see an uptick in crime reported in 2023 compared to 2022. Crimes against property were up 45 per cent from 1,5117 incidents in 2022 compared to 2,200 last year. Other criminal code violations were up 134.2 per cent, with 438 incidents in 2023 compared to 187 in 2022. [Ottawa Police Crime Map]

More graffiti: There has also been an influx in graffiti reported. While Cox said BIAs are given a yearly budget to help clean up the issue, the Glebe has already overspent theirs. 

• “A new business went in and they put nice new flower planters in the front and a few days later it was tagged. It’s unfortunate,” said Cox. “We’ve got 22 murals in the Glebe and we see them being tagged sometimes. From what I know, it’s an unwritten code of conduct amongst the community that you’re not supposed to tag murals.”

On a more positive note: The Holiday season is almost here and that means the return of the Glebe Spree. For every $15 a person spends in a Glebe store they are given one striker that can later be used for a prize. Once 10 are collected — totalling $150 spent —  you are then eligible to enter the draw for the $10,000 Grand Prize shopping spree in the neighbourhood. 

• “It generates a lot of community excitement. In 2022 we had 25,000 ballots entered. Last year we had 35,000. It shows how people want to get out and shop. It’s generated literally millions of dollars since it was founded in 2011,” said Cox. 

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🚶 86: The age of a man who took a long walk to raise funds for the Beachburg rink. [CTV]

🫐 4%: The rise in monthly cost for purchasing healthy food in Ottawa. [Ottawa Citizen]

🏊‍♀️ 97: The age of an Ottawa woman who says regular time in the pool is what she credits for a healthy, long-lasting life. [CBC]

🏒 $20.5 million: The amount former Ottawa Senators forward Alex Formenton is filing in a lawsuit against his former agent. Formenton was one of five NHLers to be charged with sexual assault. [TSN]

THE AGENDA

🐠 Merivale’s Fish Market is reopening four months after it was damaged by fire. The destruction was in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The restaurant completed renovations just weeks before the blaze broke out. [CTV]

👩‍🌾 A rural summit was held in the Capital on Saturday, where Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled 10 new initiatives to improve the quality of life for those who live outside the core. Some of the highlights include: A water rate review, improvements for paramedic response, and a growth strategy. [CTV]

🚔 The community of Perth is still reeling after a 15-year-old was killed in a homicide on Oct. 25, but police are urging the public to back off from unverified information. Bill Dickson, the senior spokesperson for the OPP East region, said some messaging has led to “dangerous” speculation and rumours. He asked residents “to refrain from spreading unverified and potentially misleading information.” [Ottawa Citizen]

🛌 The homelessness crisis in Ottawa is on the rise. When numbers were last counted in 2021, there were 1,340 people in the Capital living on the streets. In 2018, there were 1,400. In the coming weeks, updated 2024 numbers will be announced, which are expected to be even higher. [CBC]

📬 There is a chance Canada Post could go on strike and that’s causing worry for Ottawa businesses. Frederick Boivin, owner of ByWard Market’s Pat Flesher Furs, said such an event would be catastrophic during the Holiday season. [CTV]

🔥 Ottawa firefighters were able to contain a blaze which broke out at the Richmond Seniors Centre on Friday night. It was a somewhat difficult blaze to fight since no fire hydrants are located in that part of the city, so a shuttle system had to be used for water. [Ottawa Citizen]

👮🏼‍♀️ Former Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg chief Dylan Whiteduck was stabbed in Maniwaki on Saturday morning. He was taken to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. Two people were arrested. [CBC]  

In Rideau canal news 

🧊 The historic Rideau Canal Skateway was able to open for 10 days last winter, but that’s only because the National Capital Commission lowered the ice thickness standard. An access to information request found that a 10 per cent reduction in the required depth was seen as a "manageable risk.” The standard rule usually followed is a thickness of 30 cm — but even then, it varies on a variety of factors. For example, a sample taken at the Pretoria stairs on Feb. 18 had a total thickness of 38 cm, but 22 cm was of white ice, which is effectively considered 11 cm. Combined with 16 cm of clear ice, it was an effective thickness of 27 cm. [CTV]

⛸️ We might only be in November but that doesn’t mean skating isn’t on the mind of Ottawans who know how to brave the cold. Environment Canada says they don’t envision a repeat of last year and expect a colder winter with more snow. That’s good news, as the skating sheds and stairs are lowered into the drained canal. [Ottawa Citizen]

🦫 A beaver has been rescued safely from the drained Rideau Canal. The adventurous animal was spotted on the canal near Patterson Creek Park. The beaver was safely rescued from the area by a conservation officer and is being relocated to the Ottawa River. [CTV]

EVENTS GUIDE

An Evening with Shaun Majumder | Meridian Theatres | This Hour Has 22 Minutes alum is back! | Tickets $21-$59

Beowulf in Afghanistan: In a new play by Ottawa's Laurie Fyffe a Canadian soldier navigates the clash of conflict. November 12-24 at GCTC. [Sponsored]

Military Memorials of Green Island | National Artillery Monument, Green Island | Nov. 9, 2 pm | Tour full of stories and memorials of members of the Royal Canadian Artillery, the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, and more | Free

Capital Sessions with Sami “Slynks” Elkout and ALAMUSIC | NAC | Nov. 10, 1:30 pm | Free community dance session, come learn basic house dance steps | Free

MEC x POW Season Opener 2024 | MEC Ottawa | Nov. 10, 7:30 pm | Watch some ski films and connect with community members | Tickets $17

Sip and Connect: Empowering Women in Business | MDRN Studio Rental Kanata | Nov. 7, 7 pm-9 pm | An evening of connection, inspiration and community to meet other business women | Tickets $20

Stittsville Market at the Barn | 6154 Abbott St. E, Stittsville | Nov 10, 10 am-3 pm | Check out the small boutique farmers market | Free

Disney’s The Lion King | NAC | Until Nov. 10 | Awe-inspiring Broadway spectacle, a musical that’s one six Tony Awards | Tickets $90-$250

Fall Concert - A Tour of Europe | Woodroffe United Church | Nov. 16, 3 pm | Tickets $20

GAME TIME

In today’s Ottawa Quiz, we want to know — in our main story there was a community survey about how many residents said they wanted the addition of bike lanes. What percentage was it?

Reply to this newsletter with your name and correct answer to be featured in our next newsletter.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here is a list of Santa Claus parades being held around Ottawa this November. [CTV]

• It was a busy weekend in the ByWard Market for the annual Day of the Dead festival. [Ottawa Citizen]

• Popular businessmen Jeff York and Andrew Waitman are among those to be inducted into the Order of Ottawa this year. [Ottawa Business Journal]

• Capital Music Award nominations are open until Nov. 11. [Apt 613]

• Here is what’s playing at Ottawa’s independent theatres this November. [Apt613]

• A 2025 wildlife calendar is being sold to support the Stittsville Food Bank. [Stittsville Central]