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CTV News
12-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Stephen Avenue construction work delayed; new timeline to be developed
Relief for businesses along Calgary's Stephen Avenue as the city has decided to postpone planned construction work along the popular downtown corridor. This week provided huge relief for businesses along Calgary's Stephen Avenue. The city is now postponing a massive construction undertaking along the popular downtown corridor. CTV News first reported on the work plan last week, after business owners complained it would hurt their summer sales. Crews were slated to start on Monday, the day after Stampede wraps up. Businesses say tourist season has yet to peak, and given what they've seen with other revitalization projects in the city over recent years, they feared this would turn Stephen Avenue into a ghost town. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. If the work went ahead as planned, it would have spanned several city blocks from city hall to Mewata Armoury. Work would include replacing old infrastructure and underground utilities and revamping the look of Stephen Avenue, including a wider walkway. The first phase, from 1st Street to Centre Street S.E., would have taken 15 months. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. Concept by Stantec Consulting. On Thursday night, a meeting between the city and businesses resulted in news of the project's postponement. 'The meeting was very positive,' said Stephen Deere, owner of Modern Steak. 'They said they would come back with an answer, and they did, which was to pause the program. 'We'll hopefully be meeting later next week for next steps.' The owner of Modern Steak says he's not only thrilled but also feels heard. Businesses say they are not against revitalization but firmly believe it needs to be rethought, from timeline to design. 'We think (the project is) actually quite essential,' Deere said. 'There were a lot of details that needed to be sorted out, but the big contentious one was, to be honest, 15 months per block is unmanageable and would close the majority of businesses on Stephen Ave. 'So, we want to look at different ways of doing construction, possibly, and how we can get those timelines down to as short as three months.' The city says it is devising some new construction options to reduce the effect on businesses. 'Calgary's economy is thriving, and our commitment to businesses has always been to minimize disruption through thoughtful planning and clear communication while balancing the need to complete critical infrastructure replacement work and alignment with other downtown investments like the Glenbow Museum and the Arts Commons/Olympic Plaza Transformation,' the city said. 'We've been working with Stephen Avenue businesses over the last several months to develop a construction plan that minimizes business impact. 'However, we have continued to hear from some business owners that they remain concerned about how construction will impact their business operations. In response, we will be delaying construction while we continue to explore options that would help further reduce business impacts during construction.' A new timeline will be shared once it's finalized.
Global News
02-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
Stephen Avenue businesses threaten lawsuit against City of Calgary
Only a couple of weeks before work is set to begin for the Stephen Avenue Revitalization, a coalition of businesses along the downtown street is threatening legal action against the city for the project. The group of owners is asking for clarity and accountability regarding the work, saying concerns are growing about what the group calls budget uncertainty, lack of proper planning, and the potential impacts to businesses during construction. 'We are asking for something very simple: engage with the business community and consult so we can all get on the same page,' says Stephen Deere, owner of Modern Steak. Deere says the group has a list of concerns it would like addressed, ranging from material sourcing and salvaging existing trees, to a failure to address ongoing social and safety concerns in the area. 'We are looking at bigger issues of social unrest, homelessness… so it makes no sense to be doing these big developments right now and making something beautiful when we don't have the systems to support it moving forward,' says Deere. Story continues below advertisement The Stephen Avenue Revitalization project, set to begin the day after Stampede and finish by the end of 2026, will see phased upgrades along the entire stretch of 8 Avenue, starting between Centre and 1 Streets southeast. Construction will include replacing underground utilities including a 1910-era water main, surface upgrades in the centre of the avenue, and new soil cells for tree growth. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The revitalization project will eventually include future phases that see work extending the entire length of 8 Avenue to the Mewata Armoury, but those phases remain unfunded. The group of business owners says it isn't opposed to the work being done but does have an issue with the timing and manner in which is it being presented, saying they are willing to go forward with a court injunction if needed. The calls for a pause to the project are reaching some city councillors. 'When you hear businesses say our nest steps are to plan legal action, that means they're at their wits' end,' says Ward 1 councillor, Sonya Sharp. 'This is our busiest time of year, why would you want to close Stephen Avenue? Listen to the people that know this area best.' If the group moves forward with legal action, it would be the second lawsuit against the city because of recent revitalization work. A group of businesses in Marda Loop filed a $27 million class action lawsuit in June for damages caused by a two-year construction project in that neighbourhood, with business owners alleging the work done along 33 and 34 Avenues SW became an impediment to carrying out business. Story continues below advertisement Leslie Echino owns two Annabelle's Kitchen locations, one in Marda Loop, the other on Stephen Avenue. She says she watched businesses leave Marda Loop because of the construction and is unsure how her downtown location will survive another project. 'It (construction) hurts my heart, it hurts my business, it hurts our staff and to see that coming downtown… I can't live with the construction in front of my building for 15 months.' In a statement, the Calgary Downtown Association says 'the utility work is desperately needed, and (it) makes sense to also invest in street use, function and look,' adding it's been 'advocating strongly for an expedited construction schedule and to limit impact on its members.' Calgary's mayor is highlighting the important infrastructure work that will be done, including replacing a 1910 water pipe running along Stephen Avenue. But Mayor Gondek agrees the businesses' concerns should be addressed during the project planning. 'Especially when we are hearing from fold that times have been tough over the last few years, let's not sacrifice the ability for people to frequent these businesses,' says Gondek. 'That's what I need to see from administration, is a proper plan that addresses the concerns that businesses have brought forward.' The City of Calgary did not respond to Global News' request for comment.
CTV News
02-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Following Marda Loop lawsuit, Stephen Avenue business owners express concern over city redevelopment project
Artist rendering of a proposed revitalization of Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary. Local business owners are concerned about potential loss of business during construction. Tensions are rising on Calgary's historic Stephen Avenue, where several business owners are concerned over their chances of surviving through a major redevelopment project set to begin later this month. The community's angst comes in the wake of a $75 million class-action lawsuit recently launched by Marda Loop businesses over the fallout from a mismanaged two-year construction project. According to the city, work on Stephen Avenue is scheduled to begin on the 1 Street S.E. block of the street on July 14, just one day after the Calgary Stampede, and continue westward to Mewata Armoury over the next 18 months. Stephen Avenue revitalization project The revitalization project is scheduled to kick off the day after the end of the Calgary Stampede and continue for 18 months. (Photo: City of Calgary) 'Ghost town' 'The damage to the businesses will be irreparable and over time, Stephen Avenue will become a ghost town,' said Stephen Deere, owner of Modern Steak. 'It could be another 17th Ave. or Marda Loop (scenario) -- maybe times ten,' 'We're here to ask the city to stop the redevelopment for the time being until we can get a plan that makes sense for all of us,' Deere added. 'The city has not engaged directly with the business community and has upped timelines and increased the urgency of this project without engaging any of the stakeholders.' The focus of work in 2025 will be to replace underground utilities, including water, storm and power, along with new soil cells to support healthy tree growth and surface upgrades along the centre of Stephen Avenue. Design plans also feature three-metre-wide pedestrian paths which will be maintained on the north or south sides of the street during the construction, along with the creation of mid-block crossings. Stephen Avenue reviitalization proect Artist's rendering of a proposed revitalization of Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary, scheduled to start in mid-July. (Photo: City of Calgary) Staged approach Deere isn't opposed to the renovations but says the city hasn't considered other solutions including taking a staged approach that won't have such a significant impact on business owners. A pitch to start work at the west end near Mewata Armoury, where it's likely to have less impact also hasn't been considered according to Deere. 'Nothing has come back from the city on those, but we have made recommendations,' he said. 'We do want this to move forward. We just don't want it to move forward in the manner that we have.' Deere adds that if several businesses close down, it will also impact hundreds of thousands of Calgarians in the process. 'That's when crime moves in, and the biggest issue that's going to happen is there's going to be no business tax base available because all these spaces will be vacant and it'll be shifted on to residential.' 'So as much as this feels like a commercial or business issue,' he added, 'this is really a Calgarian issue.' Project design, safety and timing under scrutiny Business owners raised concerns not just about timelines, but also the project's design and procurement decisions. Among the issues that concern local business owners are the alleged importation of granite from Vietnam instead of using local products. Other concerns include the removal of trees, the lack of a firm budget beyond Phase 1, lack of easy and affordable parking for visitors and downtown workers and a failure to address ongoing social and safety issues in the area. Leslie Echino, owner of Annabelle's Kitchen, says her previous experience in Marda Loop is a cautionary tale. 'I endured over two years of construction in Marda Loop. I think out of over 170 businesses, 40 have closed, citing construction,' she said. 'It hurts my heart, it hurts my business, it hurts our staff, it hurts the entire community.' Now she's bracing for the same uncertainty on Stephen Avenue. 'Do you think I want to re-sign my lease right now? I've been 17 years on Stephen Avenue. I'm very hesitant to sign a lease because I don't know if I'll be here in three years.' 'We just want a proper plan,' Echino said. 'Fifteen months plus of work on this block? I really don't know if it could be three years.' Suzanne Baden, the managing general partner for Klein/ Harris along Stephen Avenue also weighed in, calling businesses in the area survivors – of the 2013 flood, COVID-era shutdowns, and now Trump's tariffs – but the timing of launching major construction work right after Stampede could be devastating for the community. 'For the city to think that on July 14 our revenue stream is done down here, it's just the opposite,' Baden said. 'This is our peak tourist season, and we need to capitalize on it.' 'We want to work with the city, but this has been something that's gone from a pie in the sky notion to shovels in the ground in a matter of months for us, and at this point, we're not getting the cooperation we feel (we need and deserve) from the city.' Business owners are also concerned that with the Olympic Plaza redevelopment going on, the Arts Commons transformation and the Glenbow Museum project all occurring at the same time on Stephen Avenue, the timing for a major street revitalization project couldn't be worse for them. Councillors weigh in Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp said she's heard enough to ask for an immediate pause to summer construction on Stephen Avenue 'When the city is a disruptor—which is what I would call this—it doesn't seem like there is a proper plan in place,' she said. 'It is not acceptable. When you hear that businesses say their next step is legal action, that means they've come to their wit's end.' 'I'm advocating for a pause on this project for our summer months—absolutely,' she added. 'This is the time for our city to shine, let's not be disruptors for them.' Sonya, Sharp, councillor, calgary Sonya Sharp, the new councillor for Ward 1 Sharp also flagged safety concerns with the proposed materials. 'We live in a winter city. Things like granite and marble are not conducive to our weather, they're slippery, it's dangerous.' Ward 7 Coun. Terry Wong, who represents Stephen Avenue, said engagement has been ongoing but admitted more clarity is needed. 'We've had conversations with the merchants, we've put questions back to administration asking: is there a way to delay, alter this schedule, take a different construction approach?' Wong said. 'I definitely don't want to hurt businesses.' Terry Wong, Calgary, Ward 7 Terry Wong was elected as Ward 7 councillor in the 2021 Calgary election. Wong added that the construction timeline is complicated by other nearby developments. 'Behind you, we have two other projects going on right now,' he said, referring to the Glenbow Museum and Olympic Plaza transformations. 'We need to take a look at all of this from a portfolio perspective.' Wong said consultation and communication on issues of construction are instrumental for businesses and the city working together. 'The City of Calgary and our development industry and our merchants and our community and our residents have to go through these projects as a journey together,' Wong said. 'We need to collaborate… so that we know every step of the way who's doing what, why is it being done, and what the implications are.' CTV Calgary has requested a response from the City of Calgary, but has not yet heard back.
