Downtown Victoria could look dramatically different this summer, with restaurants and retailers spilling out into public spaces and vehicle lanes turned over to pedestrians to allow for physical distancing.
City council is considering how the municipality can support businesses as they recover from the economic hit of COVID-19 with the reduced capacity that physical distancing requirements bring. Repurposing public space for businesses and pedestrians is a key focus.
“What if it feels like an open-air market for Victorians by Victorians?” said Mayor Lisa Helps.
Helps said the summer could feature open-air dining in Centennial Square or a portion of Government Street could be converted into patio space, depending on the needs of businesses and what city staff deem feasible.
Allowing restaurants and stores to operate in public spaces would increase their capacity to serve customers, and it aligns with one of provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry’s mantras: “Outside is better.”
The city will look at how to help people feel comfortable returning to downtown, possibly by allocating vehicle lanes or on-street parking to pedestrians.
“There’s just simply not enough space for people to keep those physical distances with the sidewalk space we have,” Helps said. “Customers are going to need to feel safe coming to the businesses.”
Helps said the city has already been contacted by a number of restaurants interested in expanding their patio spaces.
Rab McDonald, a manager at The Drake Eatery — which backs onto Market Square, said more outdoor space could be useful in boosting capacity.
“Definitely if Market Square was available, I’m sure we would be keen,” he said.
Jeff Bray, executive director of the Downtown Victoria Business Association, said allowing businesses to use sidewalks and expand patios could be an important factor in the recovery while under strict capacity limits.
“It’s hard to operate a restaurant when your best night now would look like what was a slow night for you,” he said. Expanding into public space could also support businesses to bring back more employees, he said, and make downtown more vibrant.
“I think it would create a really good vibe,” he said.
The return of customers will also be crucial, and Bray encouraged Victorians to spend locally. “Make it a point of purchasing local. Make it a point of having an extra meal out to support those businesses, because all the employment that people rely on is in those businesses, so we all benefit if we support local,” Bray said.
The B.C. Restaurant and Food Services Association penned a letter to city council requesting that the municipality work with operators to expand patio areas, add patios, and permit dining and liquor service in public spaces.
The association states that job losses within the restaurant sector are estimated at more than 120,000 and at least 10 % of restaurants have already closed permanently.
“B.C.’s local communities have a key role to play in supporting economic recovery. We ask you to support our industry with fast, flexible, and nimble permitting and business services to help our industry get back up and running,” the letter states.
At Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting, councillors will discuss a number of motions designed to boost recovery.
The city will need to amend some bylaws and the province will need to allow for more flexible liquor licensing. Helps said both levels of government must act quickly. “Summer is upon us. It can’t be some big bureaucratic process where we take six months to make decisions and another six months to change bylaws.
“We want to make sure Victoria feels special this summer even though it’s going to feel different.”
Helps said that supporting the recovery of local businesses also has impacts on the survival of local suppliers, such as farmers.
“Focusing on downtown public space can really recreate the whole social and economic ecosystem of our city, and in some cases the region,” she said.
Council will also consider a motion Thursday to continue with reduced parking rates downtown until the end of August to encourage people to visit.
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