Idea to make 17th Avenue pedestrianized lives on despite BIA pumping the brakes

Last summer, a Reddit thread advocated closing 17th Avenue SW to cars and turning it into a pedestrian walkway.

In response to online postings, the Business Improvement Area (BIA) surveyed its 730 members.

According to BIA Executive Director Tulen Stejstol, 85 percent of respondents said 17th Avenue is not the right place for a pedestrian mall and that the timing is wrong when the multi-year construction project ends.

“What we're hearing is that if we do any kind of closure, it's going to kill us. It will destroy us. We will be closed,” Stejestol said.

“There is no plan to close 17th Avenue and there is no plan. We heard loud and clear that this would have a negative impact on business.”

But that didn't stop the idea from resurfacing.

Christopher Chiasson, who moved to Calgary from Toronto two years ago to work as executive director of the Cabbagetown BIA, started an online petition calling for “pedestrianization of 17th Avenue on select weekends during the summer months.”

“Unless we experiment with it, there's no way to know if it's going to be useful,” Chiasson said.

“By closing traffic to cars, you may not get that traffic from those who drive by, but you can attract a new audience of potential attendees and visitors and shoppers.”

Florist Marika Styba, owner of Peaseblossoms Flowers on SW 11th Street

His store is part of the 17th Avenue BIA.

Most of his customers drive, Stiba said, and he's seen sales drop because bike lane parking has declined and a lengthy construction project has restricted traffic to the area.

He said the incomplete closure of the artery would further hurt business.

“We have a lot of barriers to people coming to us as a small business. Parking is very important not only for local customers, but for accessibility for people coming from all over,” Styba said.

“Having a car-free zone works in certain places, but not in places like 17th Avenue.”

Ernie Tsu, owner of Trolley 5 Brewpub, said closing 17th Avenue on weekends throughout the summer would benefit businesses like his, which draw foot traffic and have large patios.

Still, Tsu says he's not sold on the idea.

“It can't just be about restaurants, it has to be about all businesses, and I think retail should be involved before anything like this,” he said.

“I mean, the 5th Trolley is here because of the amazing retailers that are on the street. So it should be a win-win for all the retailers and everyone who lives on 17th.”

The BIA also says the temporary closure of 17th Avenue puts people in the area at risk.

The four-lane corridor is a dangerous goods route through Calgary as well as the region's main thoroughfare for emergency vehicles.

As of 7 p.m. Wednesday, Chiasson's change.org petition had 148 signatures.