7 things to know about the plan to revitalize the ByWard Market

An artist rendering shows a pedestrian plaza and revitalized ByWard Market Building. (City of Ottawa report)

The $200-million plan to revitalize the historic ByWard Market proposes beginning work on the three “key components” of the revitalization plan in 2028 and 2029.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled an outline of the ByWard Market Action Plan during a speech last Thursday, but the full details of the plan weren’t released until late Friday as part of a report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on March 3.

The “Advancing the ByWard Market: A Revitalization Framework and Coordinated Redevelopment Program” report outlines short-term and long-term plans to revitalize the ByWard Market.

The long-term plans include the rehabilitation of 55 ByWard Market Square, turning the parking garage at 70 Clarence Street into a community hub and creating a “pedestrian-friendly event space” on York Street.

The proposal would see work begin in two to three years to redevelop the Clarence Street community hub, followed by work on the York Street Plaza in 2028-2030 once demolition of the parking garage is complete. Construction on 55 ByWard Market Square and its surrounding streetscape, including work to turn William Street into a pedestrianized space, would begin after the major work with the Clarence Street community hub.

CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at seven things to know about the $200 million plan to redevelop the ByWard Market.

55 ByWard Market Square

The proposed rehabilitation of the historic 55 ByWard Market building comes with an estimated price tag of $40.2 million.

Sutcliffe said the plan would transform the building into a “world-class food hall showcasing the best the city has to offer, with open-concept communal seating and a new second-floor illuminated outdoor patio.”

According to the staff report, the revitalization of the building would reposition it as a “vibrant, all-day destination that brings the ‘market back’ back to the ByWard Market area.”

“The historic building will be rehabilitated to feature a bright central hall, space for nostalgic food-based anchor tenants, such as a local specialty grocer and bakery, rotating food and beverage vendors, and flexible event space to support community gatherings, cultural programming, and celebrations,” said the report. “Enhancements include skylights, improved circulation, and full accessibility, including a new elevator and universal washrooms.”

The $40 million estimated price tag for the project includes $5.7 million in immediate renewal requirements that must occur.

The timeline sees work beginning on redeveloping 55 ByWard Market Square in four plus years, after “major work” on the Clarence Street community hub and the York Street Plaza.

70 Clarence Street community hub

The short-term plan for the municipal parking garage at 70 Clarence Street in the ByWard Market turns it into a three-hour pay-and-display lot, with the city saying the move will encourage vehicle turnover.

The long-term plan proposes the city explore transforming the parking garage into an “anchor legacy arts hub,” and study a possible underground parking lot to replace the loss of parking spots.

“The concept includes a publicly accessible ground-floor atrium for events, markets, rotating exhibitions, and community programming, with upper floors dedicated to immersive arts, maker spaces, and learning studios,” staff said.

“The building will be designed to integrate with York Street Plaza, with accessible exterior spaces that can facilitate programming that appeals to a diverse range of visitors, including families.”

The two proposed cultural uses for the building are:

• A public-facing storytelling and immersive arts environment designed to host interactive exhibitions, digital and sensory-based experiences, and creative programming.
• An educational arts learning hub featuring studios, classrooms, flex labs, and shared production facilities.

The report also suggests the city has identified the possibility of building 18 residential units in the building.

The cost estimate for 70 Clarence Street is $71.2 million for the building, and an additional $51.4 million for a proposed underground parking lot with 190 spaces. The $51.4 million cost for the parking garage includes $7.2 million to demolish the existing structure at 70 Clarence Street.

Staff note the current 70 Clarence Street parking garage has reached the end of its functional service life and requires “significant capital investment” to maintain “safe operations” beyond 2028.

A report will be brought to council in 2027 with options for an underground parking garage or other parking options.

York Street Plaza

Staff are proposing a $34.2 million plan to transform York Street, between Sussex Drive and William Street, into a pedestrian plaza that is billed as a “signature civic space.” According to the report, the York Street Plaza is “one of the highest priorities” of the ByWard Market plan.

“The York Street Plaza redevelopment envisions a people-centered, all-season public space that encourages discovery, connection, and community engagement,” staff said.

“Defined by a bold paving pattern and a canopy of tall, arching trees, the design frames sightlines to the Peace Tower, reinforcing the plaza’s symbolic presence. The space will be flexible, with permanent event infrastructure to support cultural festivals, seasonal markets, and everyday community activities, and offers the opportunity to incorporate purpose-built features for winter amenities to maintain vibrancy year-round.”

Staff recommend the work on the York Street Plaza be undertaken as part of planned sewer and water main renewal on the street between 2028 and 2030. It’s also recommended coordination is required with the plan to redevelop the Clarence Street parking garage.

Will William Street be turned into a pedestrian plaza?

Work was scheduled to begin this year on the redesign of William Street and the ByWard Market Square in front of the ByWard Market Building, and the Ontario government provided $11.8 million to turn William Street into a “pedestrian-only street” in the summer.

Staff are now recommending the city delay the work on the redesign of William Street and the ByWard Market Square to coordinate with other work in the ByWard Market redevelopment plan.

“At the same time, current economic conditions and the concentration of small, independent businesses in the district underscore the importance of carefully sequencing construction activity,” the report said.

“Businesses and property owners have noted that advancing this project ahead of other redevelopment initiatives could place additional strain on operations during a period of economic fragility. To balance near-term business continuity with long-term renewal, William Street and ByWard Market Square streetscaping will now be phased at a later date to align delivery with broader infrastructure coordination and market conditions.”

According to the report, work on the William Street streetscaping and construction of 55 ByWard Market Square will begin after major work is completed on the community hub.

ByWard Market District Authority executive director Victoria Williston says the city will implement “flexible pedestrianization” of William Street during major events this summer and in “subsequent seasons, until the permanent construction is undertaken.”

When would the work be done?

Staff recommend the City of Ottawa coordinate work on the new community hub at 70 Clarence Street with the road construction and creation of the York Street Plaza. Once that work is done, the city would proceed with work on 55 ByWard Market Square and the William Street area.

Here are the proposed timeframes for the work:

• 70 Clarence Street: 2028 - demolition repair. 2029 and beyond: construction
• York Street Plaza: 2028 – coordination with the demolition at the Clarence Street parking garage and underground infrastructure work on York Street. 2029 and beyond – construction of plaza and streetscape
• 55 ByWard Market Square and streetscaping: 2026 – advance design work. 2028 – shovel-ready (no construction). 2029 and beyond – sequenced after major works at 70 Clarence and the York Street plaza.

What are the short-term plans for the ByWard Market?

The ByWard Market Revitalization Framework and Action Plan outlines areas of focus over the next 12 months and two to three years.

The work in 2026 ahead of the 200^th anniversary of the ByWard Market in 2027 includes:

• Turning the parking garage at 70 Clarence Street into a three-hour pay-and-display lot
• Launching a Heritage Walk. The Ottawa Art Gallery, the ByWard Market and the National Gallery of Canada will coordinate a walk for the Bytown 200^th celebrations, allowing people to visit local galleries, meet artists and curators and engage with the community.
• Promote the ByWard Market as an Arts, Culture and Entertainment District
• Increase Special Constables in the Rideau Street area, boost security in the ByWard Market and establish a full-time team of police officers in the market.
• Staff say the city will implement an Unsheltered Homelessness Outreach Model that better connects people to the housing and supports they need.
• Launch a York Street Asphalt Art Initiative
• Implement a Commercial Heritage Façade Improvement Program to support storefront improvements.  The city would offer grants to support owners to reinforce the historic character and visual cohesion of the district.

The price tag

The report outlines the preliminary cost estimates for the long-term projects associated with the ByWard Market Redevelopment Plan.

• 55 ByWard Market Square: $40.2 million, which includes $2.7 million in 2026
• York Street Plaza: $34.2 million, including $4.5 million required in 2026 for planning
• 70 Clarence Street community hub: $71.2 million, which includes $200,000 needed this year. Staff say $1.9 million is required to maintain the current structure until 2028.
• 70 Clarence Street underground parking garage: $51.4 million.

Only $1.7 million in funding for the work at 55 ByWard Market Square has been secured.

“The remaining $195.4 million is anticipated to be financed through a combination of municipal debt, senior government contributions, parking reserve funds, and partnership, sponsorship and philanthropic contributions,” staff said.

Ottawa has submitted an application to the federal government’s active transportation fund for $14.4 million to support the ByWard Market Square construction.

According to the report, this is the cost of the “do-nothing” scenario, which is maintaining the existing assets without redevelopment:

• 70 Clarence Street: $29.5 million in capital renewal required by 2028, with a two-year construction period
• 55 ByWard Market Square: $5.7 million in immediate renewal and approximately $6.5 million over 20 years to “sustain basic operations.”
• York Street: Staff say the sewer and water main infrastructure must be replaced by 2028, at a cost of $11.2 million

“The do-nothing approach will require significant investment to support the status quo, delivering no new revenue, no enhanced public realm, and no progress on Council priorities for downtown revitalization, placemaking, or heritage stewardship,” staff said in the report.

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