Street Seats program returns to Centretown, expands into Chinatown

Jon Svazas of Fauna says the Street Seats program launched last summer brought more people to downtown and resulted in more customers for his restaurant, too. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

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Svazas, the owner of Fauna at the corner of Bank and Frank streets, said the nearby Street Seats installation became a gathering space for customers during what was not usually the restaurant’s busiest season.

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“It definitely helped us get more customers and bring people to the area,” Svazas said. “So it was quite obviously great for me.”

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Now, the City of Ottawa is bringing the program back for a second summer and expanding it into Chinatown as officials and local businesses look to build on last year’s momentum.

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The Street Seats pilot program temporarily converts portions of local streets into public gathering spaces with seating, art and community programming.

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This year’s sites will be on MacLaren and Frank streets near Bank Street, along with new installations on Waverley Street in Centretown and Cambridge Street in Chinatown.

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Programming begins June 1 and runs through mid-October.

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The program is currently funded for three years through provincial and municipal downtown revitalization funding.

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Last year’s pilot featured three Centretown sites and drew more than 2,500 attendees across 166 events, according to the city’s final report on the program. City surveys found 91 per cent of respondents had a positive impression of the spaces, while 66 per cent said they visited nearby businesses more frequently.

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Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said the response last summer exceeded expectations.

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“This was wildly successful,” Troster said. “It brought so much vibrancy to the areas off of Bank Street.”

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Troster said the spaces hosted everything from dance classes and DJ nights to craft circles and chess meetups, helping create more activity in a neighbourhood still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

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“Centretown was hit hard by the pandemic and by the convoy,” she said. “More activity means more eyes on the street, and that also means more safety.”

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The biggest addition this year is Chinatown, where organizers hope the new site can help create a more welcoming atmosphere in a neighbourhood that has faced growing concerns around safety.

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“Chinatown is having a tough time,” Troster said.

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Still, she said the neighbourhood remains one of the city’s most vibrant cultural areas.

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“I still think it’s one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in the city despite its challenges,” Troster said. “Having that outdoor space, having it be programmed, having it be more of a draw, I have no doubt that it’ll increase the energy and excitement about the neighbourhood.”

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The Ottawa Chinatown BIA also supports the initiative.