The City of Ottawa is looking to give a section of the ByWard Market a makeover, as it moves ahead with plans to transform William Street into a permanent pedestrian-only street.
The city issued a tender on Merx last week, seeking proposals to provide professional engineering and landscape architectural services for the design of the William Street and ByWard Market Square streetscape renewal.
“William Street will be an important pedestrian corridor between Rideau Street and will draw visitation into the heart of the Market,” Amanda Mullins, manager of ByWard Market Strategic Project, said in a statement to CTV News Ottawa.
“The renewed spaces are to include high quality lighting and illumination, multi-use vending stalls, extended space for patios and storefront activations, as well as seating and improved accessibility. They also will provide the required infrastructure, such as electricity and water supply to support quality activations and special events. Collectively, these amenities are intended to create a destination experience 365 days a year.”
Under the plan, construction on William Street will be completed by the end of 2026, ahead of the 200th anniversary of the ByWard Market in 2027.
William Street, between George and York streets, was closed through the winter as part of the ByWard Market’s Winter Market plan, and included a synthetic skating rink set up on the street. Business owners were told last week that the road will temporarily reopen over the next few weeks for additional loading and parking, before being closed again.
In December, 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.
“The detailed design of William Street and ByWard Market Square (between George Street and York Street) street renewal projects are being funded primarily through the Ontario-Ottawa Agreement Downtown Economic Recovery Funding,” Mullins says. “The provincial funding also includes the construction of the William Street segment (between George Street and York Street), which will allow the city to initiate the implementation of public space enhancements within the ByWard Market.”
Mullins says William Street and ByWard Market Square projects are part of a series of public space enhancements guided by the vision of the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan. The $129 million plan was approved in 2021, and includes new pedestrian spaces on George, York and Clarence streets and a new “destination building” in the ByWard Market.
Last summer, the city issued a request for “professional services” to undertake a feasibility analysis of the public realm plan, including a proposed construction and integration strategy and a detailed financial business case.
