Survey shows Calgarians mostly support pedestrian-only 17 Avenue pilot

A new survey shows strong public support for a proposal to close part of 17th Avenue to vehicles on summer weekends.

A new survey suggests there’s strong public support for turning a stretch of 17th Avenue S.W. into a pedestrian-only zone on weekends in the summer months, but the plan is raising red flags for some local businesses.

The proposal, called the 17th Avenue Open Street pilot, is being promoted as a summer-long initiative inspired by similar projects in cities like Montreal, Edmonton and Victoria.

It would see cars banned from 17th Avenue S.W. between 4th Street and 8th Street from Friday evenings to Sunay days in July and August.

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More than 40 local businesses and 1,500 Calgarians responded to a survey about the idea conducted by the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA).

Released on Wednesday, results show a majority of local businesses (54 per cent) support the open streets pilot, while 36 per cent remain opposed.

Among the general public, support is even stronger, with 82 per cent in favour and only 15 per cent against.

The survey also found that 77 per cent of respondents said they would visit 17th Avenue more often if portions of the street were closed to cars.

Notably, 75 per cent of annual spending on 17th Avenue comes from visitors who live within two kilometres of the corridor, and walking was the most common mode of transportation for visitors.

Supporters say the benefits of open streets include reduced vehicle noise and pollution, more room to walk and expanded space for patios and retail activities — all key factors driving public and business support.

“17th Avenue is more than just a road, it’s a place where people live, work and play,” said Peter Oliver, BNA president. “The goal here is to support the local economy, local businesses and make the street more accessible and more inviting. Creating safer, more vibrant spaces is essential for this community.”

Frank Lonardelli, CEO of Arlington Street Investments, says he supports the pilot as 17th Avenue’s largest property owner, but says the City of Calgary should take it a step further.

“We’re huge proponents of the program, but I don’t think it goes far enough,” Lonardelli said. “It should be expanded to the entire summer.”

Lonardelli, who owns several properties along the corridor, believes the change could help elevate 17th Avenue’s profile as Calgary’s “cool street.”

“Every major city in North America has a street like this, where people live, work, shop and hang out,” he said.

“17th Avenue is that place in Calgary. This kind of vibrancy is what people expect from an up-and-coming city.”

Some pedestrians agree

Jen Baxter, who was walking the avenue with her family, says as a mom, she loves the idea of being able to “walk freely between shops.”

“If parents feel safe, they’re more likely to visit local stores and restaurants,” she added.

Catalina Rodriguez, a nearby resident, added that a pedestrian-focused space encourages more personal connections.

“Walking down the street helps people get to know each other better and discover businesses in a new way.”

Longtime shopper Jim Bennett also sees potential in the project, but highlighted challenges around parking and traffic.

“Parking and traffic have to be part of the plan,” he said. “Many people live nearby and need access, so alternate routes and parking options must be well thought out.”

17th Avenue BIA urges caution

The 17th Avenue Business Improvement Area (BIA) — which represents more than 730 businesses on the corridor — says it wasn’t consulted about the pilot, and is now urging the city to slow down.

“We’ve never been opposed to pedestrianizing,” said Tulene Steiestol, BIA executive director. “But it’s that old adage: Do it right, or don’t do it at all.”

Steiestol says the stakes are high.

“This isn’t just about vibrancy, it’s about the survival of small businesses,” she said. “We have restaurants with record-high overhead, we have professional services — chiropractors, dentists — who rely on clients driving in, we’re talking about businesses still clinging on by a thread after COVID.”

Steiestol says the group didn’t hear about the BNA’s survey results until CTV News informed them about them.

“It feels like a battle of surveys,” she said. “But our role is to unite 730 businesses behind one microphone, and many are worried this plan hasn’t been thought through.”

The BIA points out that 17th Avenue already sees 10,000 vehicles per day, and any road closures could choke off access to both local customers and visitors from other parts of the city.

“There’s still trauma from the anti-vaccine protests, from years of construction,” Steiestol added. “This summer is the first time in nearly seven years that businesses haven’t been dealing with major disruptions.”

Retailers echo concerns

Cornelia Wiebe, owner of Leo Boutique and a candidate for Ward 8 city council, says she also hasn’t heard support from fellow merchants.

“In all my years here, I’ve never heard a business say, ‘Let’s close the street and see if that improves our bottom line,’” she said. “Most of my customers drive here. They need parking.”

Wiebe adds that while 17th Avenue has improved with patios and upgraded sidewalks, the idea of a full closure feels like it came from outside the business community.

“This is the first real summer we’re open for business since construction ended,” she said. “This doesn’t feel organic. I don’t know that the business community is looking for that, or at least not looking for that this summer.”

City says no decisions have been made

The City of Calgary says the project remains a proposal at this stage, and no final decision has been made.

Officials say they will continue to gather input from stakeholders – including the BIA – before moving forward.

The BNA says it plans to share its survey findings with the city in the coming weeks.

“We see this as a great opportunity,” said Oliver. “But we understand — it needs to be done in a way that works for everyone.”