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The ByWard Market used to be a unique area with a thriving year-long food market, a mix of interesting small shops and a favoured destination to work, live and visit, all within a heritage conservation district.

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Regrettably, it has now become a place to avoid given its rowdy nightlife, extremely high crime rate, its over-concentration of services for the homeless and the loss of its farmers’ market and commercial diversity. Unfortunately, none of the mayoral and ward candidates proposed any solutions to the Market’s issues.

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The Market building currently hosts a food court the like of which can be found in the basement of any shopping centre. The farmers’ market has vanished along with most year-long food retailers and other small shops. It has been replaced by a flea market selling lemonade and hot dogs. Almost all the businesses that have disappeared have been replaced by restaurants and bars. In effect, the Market has become a night-time destination selling mainly fast food, cheap wear and drink.

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In 2008, after two moratoriums on new bars and nightclubs, the city adopted a bylaw imposing distance and size restrictions on new bars and nightclubs in the Market. The industry swiftly got around the bylaw by applying for new restaurants that morphed into bars into the evening. The effect was a large increase in the number of businesses selling alcohol. This led to a proportional increase in the crime rate, negative behaviour, noise and a reduced sense of safety at night.

The city never bothered to implement its bylaw and refused to make any adjustments that would ensure it could be effectively implemented. On the contrary, the city encouraged the proliferation of bars and its nightlife industry. Since 2008, it has actively subsidized the restaurant and bar industry by reducing and eventually eliminating the rental fees for patios located on the public right-of-way, extending the patio season to 12 months and permitting patios on the street in lieu of parking.

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For the past two years, the city has adopted a “Patio Innovation Program” that relaxed regulations in support of patios operators. Measures included closing sections of roads for patio expansions, extending the closing time for all patios and lifting the distance restrictions between patios and residential areas.

These measures helped exclusively the restaurant and bar operators. They had a negative effect on retailers, residents and pedestrians. In many instances, the placement of patios on entire sidewalks pushed pedestrians onto the street alongside moving vehicles. The closing of Clarence Street between Dalhousie and Parent created the atmosphere of a private mega bar, exactly what the 2008 zoning bylaw was adopted in order to avoid.

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Residents suffered from increased noise and negative behaviours. Retailers including the food retailers, were negatively impacted by street closures and the loss of on-street parking. Unsightly patio structures sprouted with no thought on how they fit with the heritage character of the area.

It is unfortunate that city officials lack the vision and leadership to recognize the potential of the Market to be a distinct, safe and pleasant mixed-use area with a vibrant farmers’ market, unique Canadian boutiques and nighttime activity. The NCC has understood the potential of the Market as an exceptional destination by renting to small and unique Canadian retailers along Sussex Drive.

The Market faces many issues and unless they are addressed as a whole, it would be a waste to spend millions as proposed by the city to improve its public realm. There is no excuse to reduce the ByWard Market to mainly an ordinary night-time destination.

Sylvie Grenier is a resident of Lowertown and a longtime member of the Lowertown Community Association’s planning committee, with a special interest in seeing the ByWard Market flourish.