Ottawa’s ByWard Market plan would create ‘flex’ streets closed to traffic during major events

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced a plan to revamp the ByWard Market, including the historic ByWard Market building. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

The City of Ottawa is looking to push back the permanent closure of William Street to vehicles and create a “flex pedestrianized” area to use during big events in the ByWard Market as part of the long-term plan to revitalize the popular tourist area.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled the ByWard Market Action Plan on Thursday, outlining short-term and long-term plans to revitalize the ByWard Market, including revitalizing the historic ByWard Market Building, creating pedestrian spaces and eventually converting a parking garage into a “mixed-use destination.”

The process of turning William Street — between George Street and York Street — into a pedestrian-only zone was set to begin this spring, but ByWard Market District Authority President Victoria Williston told CTV News on Saturday the new plan would see the process begin alongside the redevelopment of the ByWard Market Square at a later and currently unset date.

If the conversion of William Street is set for a later date, Williston says in the meantime, the city would create a “flex pedestrianized street, sort of at the mouth of ByWard Market Square where it meets George Street.”

“We usually pedestrianize William Street, right between George and York,” Williston told Newstalk 580 CFRA’s Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.

“Part of this plan with the mayor is that would actually be staying open during the summer and only be shut down for these large events like Canada Day.”

Sutcliffe unveiled the ByWard Market Action Plan during the Downtown Ottawa Forum, ahead of the ByWard Market’s 200^th birthday in 2027.

“The ByWard Market is such a vital part of our city’s history,” Sutcliffe said in his speech.

“When people think of Ottawa, the market is one of the first things that comes to mind. It’s a symbol of Ottawa.“

Sutcliffe said the ByWard Market Action Plan provides “clear and specific steps to build on the history” of the market area and “restore the Market to its vital place as the heart of the city.”

The mayor announced several short-term measures to boost the ByWard Market, including:

• Sutcliffe says the city will “do more to animate the ByWard Market,” including introducing new outdoor dining terraces.”
• Enhancing lighting, adding public art and increasing cleaning and beautification efforts.
• Converting the municipal parking garage at 70 Clarence Street to three-hour pay and display “to encourage turnover and increase the availability of short-term parking,” Sutcliffe said.

The three long-term opportunities the City of Ottawa is exploring are:

• Reimagining the ByWard Market Building at 55 ByWard Market Square. “This building is the symbolic heart of the market. It’s bustling and well used. But it could use a big refresh,” Sutcliffe said. The city will add a second-floor outdoor patio on the south-side of the building.
• The Transformation of York Street as part of work to replace sewers and water mains in 2028. Sutcliffe said there could be a “big plaza” to host cultural programming and major events on York Street.
• Sutcliffe said the city is proposing creating a new destination at 70 Clarence Street, calling it a “vibrant hub for culture and the arts, a gathering space for residents and tourists.”

Sutcliffe said he would be “pushing for underground parking” to replace the parking garage at 70 Clarence Street.

The ByWard Market Revitalization Plan also calls for a William Street and Market Square redesign, saying it will improve “key corridors to encourage visitors to explore and stay longer, including the roll-out of the animated Market Square redesign.”

Sutcliffe says the ByWard Market Action Plan will “increase compassionate supports and solutions,” including dedicated paramedics stationed in the area for “rapid response and outreach.”

Council approved the $129 million ByWard Market Public Realm Plan in 2021, with the city saying it would “guide the evolution of the market’s public space.” The plan pledged to have “pedestrians come first,” with pedestrian spaces on George, York and Clarence streets.

In December 2024, the Ontario government announced $20 million for revitalizing downtown Ottawa, including $11.8 million to enhance the ByWard Market and transform William Street into a pedestrian-only street.

City staff say the full report on the ByWard Market Action Plan will be released on Friday as part of the agenda for the March 3 meeting of the finance and corporate services committee.

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