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Ottawa Citizen

Simpson: Make downtown Somerset Street a people destination this summer

I get tired of people thinking that 'Ottawa is the city that fun forgot.' Our city boasts a rich cultural life, fantastic museums and parks, vibrant festivals and amazing small businesses and restaurants. One of the few silver linings of the pandemic was the expansion of outdoor spaces for bars and restaurants. This became an opportunity to breathe new life into neighbourhoods and draw residents and tourists alike. Article content Article content Article content For several summers, Somerset Street between Bank Street and O'Connor Street was one of those special spaces. It became a lively hub on certain nights, where people could enjoy the city, support local businesses and reclaim the street for community use. That's why it is curious and disappointing that the Somerset Village Business Improvement Area (BIA) recently voted against a motion to ask the City of Ottawa to partially close the same section of the street this summer. Article content Downtown Ottawa is at a critical turning point. The issues are well-known. What's needed now are creative solutions to reimagine and reinvigorate our downtown spaces, as recommended by the work led by the Downtown Revitalization Task Force and the Ottawa Board of Trade. It's unanimous that our downtown needs public space to be available and accessible. Article content The Downtown Revitalization Task Force report, ' Envisioning A Great Downtown,' says that 'downtown needs to change from a neighbourhood largely designed around cars and commuters to a place that is people-centric, with mixed use buildings, increasing residential buildings, around-the-clock amenities/entertainment, public assets, and public spaces.' Article content Article content And the Ottawa Board of Trade's 'Investing in Downtown Ottawa for a Dynamic Future,' explains that downtown needs to evolve to 'enliven the commercial core and surrounding neighbourhoods to create mixed-use districts with unique characteristics, a diversity of uses and users, vibrant public spaces, economically sustainable businesses, civic landmarks and institutions that are easy to access.' Article content Article content With this in mind, we should make every effort to revitalize downtown, not close it off with a pre-pandemic 'same old' approach. Street closures like the one proposed on Somerset are precisely the kind of low-cost, high-impact action that reflect these aspirations. They draw people in, increase foot traffic, extend dwell time, and boost sales for local businesses. Many businesses along Somerset have already seen these benefits in past summers. Why walk away from a proven economic booster? Article content Perhaps most importantly, the public wants this. The popularity of past closures speaks volumes. Residents want a downtown that's more inviting, more vibrant and more alive. The BIA's decision doesn't reflect that appetite for positive change; it feels like a step backward at a time when we need to be moving forward. Article content The Somerset Village BIA still has an opportunity to show leadership. Reconsider the decision. Join with community members, businesses and city leaders in supporting a downtown that's built for people. Let's not default to the status quo when something better is within reach.