The exterior of Saint John City Hall is pictured in this file photo. (Staff photo)
The city’s Open Streets program, which had been slated to start this weekend, has been pushed back after feedback sessions with uptown businesses.
The pilot program was originally scheduled to start July 3, with one of three streets closing to vehicle traffic each weekend until September.
Now, the city has decided to push back the starting weekend by one week, and reduce the length of the vehicle closures for the first three installments of the program. As opposed to the previously approved closure between Friday evening and Sunday evening, Open Streets will pedestrianize the roads on Saturdays between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The first Open Streets day will now take place July 11 on Canterbury Street and Grannan Street, before rotating to Germain Street and Prince William Street for subsequent installments.
Phil Ouellette, the city’s deputy commissioner of growth, says the decision came after consultation with uptown businesses.
“Many businesses do not intend to invest heavily in temporary structure to support (the project),” he said. “They do not seem ready to cobble something together in the very quick timeline we’ve given.”
In a presentation to city council on Monday evening, Ouellette said that he remains optimistic about the project, but recommended the reduction of the first few installments before extending closures to the full weekend.
After the first three installments, the city will announce the Open Streets schedule for the remainder of the summer.
The project, which is intended to bring consumers back uptown amid the pandemic, will rotate between Canterbury Street, Germain Street, and Prince William Street.
Ouellette says he’s been impressed with the level of cleanliness and care local business-owners have shown to keep shoppers safe during the outbreak of COVID-19.
“I have been exceptionally impressed with the level of detail and consideration our local businesses are taking to offer the amazing products and services they’ve always offered, while maintaining the mandatory orders of social distancing,” Ouellette said.
City council also voted to approve 10 new 15-minute parking spaces to make it easier for customers seeking curbside pick-up and take-out uptown.
