Plenty of ideas about including Duckworth Street in St. John's pedestrian mall, but it's a complex issue

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — It was pegged as one of the most successful projects the city has undertaken in the downtown area in recent years, but trying to come up with ways to make everyone happy with the St. John’s downtown pedestrian mall has been no walk in the park for council.

“It’s been the biggest, most complicated task in my years in chambers,” said Councillor-at-large Debbie Hanlon, council’s lead on the project.

“It’s not an easy task, but we’re working our best to try and find a solution.”

While closing Water Street to traffic last summer to allow pedestrian-only traffic benefitted many businesses — including those that had attractive outdoor patio decks, picnic tables, umbrellas and lounging chairs — other downtown businesses on other streets indicated it was detrimental for them.

Trying to figure out how to incorporate Duckworth Street has been the biggest challenge this year, Hanlon said, with public consultations ongoing for months.

“We’ve been nonstop with meetings,” said Hanlon, who spoke briefly about the overwhelming response she has received about the pedestrian mall during city council’s virtual meeting Tuesday.

“People tend to think it’s an easy process to close down Duckworth Street and it really isn’t. It’s very complex. It has its own challenges, logistically.”

Besides dealing with the large number of parking garages in the area, she said, there are issues with fire and safety regulations, as well as having two major courthouses — Newfoundland and Labrador Supreme Court and the Newfoundland and Labrador Court of Appeal — on the same street. She has consulted with fire and safety engineers, transportation experts, government representatives, special events representatives, city staff and numerous business owners and customers.

Other issues such as accessibility and parking have also been discussed, as well as rules about deck sizes.

“What one wants, someone on the same block may not,” said Hanlon, noting council is also working with George Street businesses to ensure they’re included. “It’s not without its challenges, but we’re creative people and I know we’ll work out something.”

She said council has received many creative ideas and suggestions from the public.

“More people have been engaged on this process than anything I’ve ever been involved in,” she said. “They’re not just screaming, ‘hey, don’t do it’ or ‘do it,’ they’re coming up with really good ideas and suggestions. It’s been overwhelming.”

No decisions have been made yet. The cutoff for submissions was March 12, but Hanlon said they are still welcoming input.

“I want to assure the people of downtown we are continuing to explore options for the pedestrian mall,” she said during the meeting.

Hanlon said the project will be discussed in detail at council’s committee of the whole meeting on March 24. It’s then expected to go to council at its weekly meeting on March 29.

Ward 2 Coun. Shawn Skinner agreed the response concerning the project has been tremendous.

“We have had dozens and dozens of emails and we’ve had numerous submissions, some good-quality submissions, from various people,” Skinner said.

“I just wanted to say thank you to people who have reached out to us, who provided some options for us to consider, who have been productive in adding to the debate. … In very short order, hopefully, we’ll be able to bring back something (to council) that will at least give us a starting point into the future.”

Meanwhile, a change.org petition aimed at city councillors and initiated by the owners of the Poyo & The Sprout Take Out on the west end of the street has the support of nearly 20 Duckworth neighbors. As of Tuesday evening, "Save the Duckworth area: Support inclusive summer events!" had generated 450 signatures. 

The petition contends that by limiting the pedestrian mall to Water Street alone, it not only represents an "inequitable use of communal tax-payer money" but also creates the potential for revenue losses for neighbouring business during summer months and the loss of long-term business equity and property value.

Rosie Mullaley is a reporter covering municipal issues in St. John’s.