Gastown business owners struggling with controversial pedestrian-only project

Some business owners in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood are calling for an end to the car-free pilot project that kicked off last month.

After months of construction, the Water Street pedestrian pilot project launched on June 28.

Sections of Gastown will be closed to vehicle traffic to allow for special events and expanded patios to take over the streets. The pedestrian zone includes car-free and car-light blocks along Water Street and Maple Tree Square.

In response to the change, some businesses are reporting a crash in sales since the pilot project began. The owner of Angel Hand-Painted Fashion, Jackie Haliburton, says her business is down 22 per cent. 

“I know for a lot of other businesses [it’s been] the same thing: 22 to 35 per cent; people have been laid off,” said Haliburton. 

Haliburton says she still sees the same amount of tourists as ever, adding that they see it like a “beautiful theme park,”  but her store has felt the loss of local traffic.

“Because local people are having a hard time accessing the neighbourhood because of the disruption of traffic flow and confusion and then having to go over to Hastings, which is the worst street in the city to drive: lots of my customers have told me they’re not coming down now,” she said.

“It’s just too much of a hassle.”

Tedi Fisher, owner of an acupuncture health clinic in Gastown, says restricting cars has been disruptive to her patients.

“People have had to circle around to try and find their way to the clinic. They’ve been coming late to the clinic because it’s very disorganized. They’ve had to park far away. And when people are 40 weeks pregnant, it’s really difficult to walk sometimes, and they just want to be dropped off by a partner or a friend,” said Fisher.

The City of Vancouver tells CityNews that it’s heard a “mix of feedback” from businesses.

Associate Director of Street Activities Rachel Magnusson says some businesses are in favour of the change.

“We’re hearing they really like the vitality of the neighborhood. They’re feeling like there’s an increase in foot traffic and patrons to their businesses,” said Magnusson, adding that the city is looking into how it can support the businesses that are struggling.

The idea of the project returning in future years, Magnusson says, is “very much an open question.”

“We’re going to be going to our council this fall with all the information that we collect, everything that we learn, and all the data, and letting them know what we’ve learned from this. And then we’ll follow their direction about whether they’d like to see something similar in the future and in what form.”

Gastown Business Improvement Societies Executive Director Walley Wargolet says the city could be doing more to inform locals about the change and direct them towards the neighbourhood.

“We have asked for some signage along Hastings Street that specifically talks about the Gastown detour. That hasn’t happened. Getting some more car flow traffic through Water Street is certainly another idea. So I think, again, what we’re looking for here is some kind of compromise with the city,” said Wargolet.

He says talks with the city are just beginning, and it’s important that business owners speak out.

“This is really a good temperature check halfway through. And so now we’ll have some conversations in the next couple days here with the city staff and City Council, and we’ll see what these decisions can lead to.”

The Water Street pedestrian pilot project is scheduled to run through the end of August.