Proximity to Lake Okanagan appears to be a factor in whether downtown Kelowna business owners prefer to close Bernard Avenue again next summer.
The closer a company is to the water, the more its owner supports the idea of banning Bernard vehicles in July and August.
Last summer, 23 stores on Bernard Avenue expanded to the street. Nineteen of these stores were in the first two blocks of Bernard.
According to a city report that went to the city council on Monday, the terrace program further east was barely adopted.
“The 2020 pilot program revealed a number of challenges related to the closure of Bernard Avenue in blocks 400 and 500, mainly due to the limited number of food and beverage establishments that were critical to the success of the program in blocks 200 and 300.” the report says.
Compared to restaurant owners, Bernard Avenue retailers are less likely to use the extra space that comes from being able to expand into the street, the report said.
Their reservations related to things like staffing issues and protecting goods from thieves, the report said.
For the summer of 2021, the staff suggest that the council consider blocking access to Bernard only in blocks 200 and 300.
Some public facilities such as public art, murals, busking stations, and outdoor play equipment including table tennis and badminton nets could be added to enhance the walking experience.
The city attempted the unprecedented two-month vehicle ban to create a unique pedestrian-friendly shopping district in hopes of helping merchants and restaurateurs offset the financial losses suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall, the comments from both business owners and the public have been positive, say staff.
“With the simple act of blocking the street and creating a safe zone for businesses and pedestrians, the street has been converted into a public square that has become an extension of the city park,” the report said.
In a poll conducted by the city, about 90 percent of shopkeepers and restaurateurs on Bernard Avenue said the business was the same or better than in previous years, and a strong majority were in favor of a similar road closure next summer.
