Correction: half a century of auto- and commuter-based city planning resulted in downtown cores like Ottawa being single-industry focused non-bourhoods where the sidewalks are rolled up on weekends and evenings (most businesses even ignoring even the possible patronage of neighbouring communities) had a devastating impact that was exacerbated by the pandemic.
@casseagull it's going to be bad for the suburban businesses that have been booming with daytime customers. Every Subway sandwich bought on Metcalfe or Queen is a Subway sandwich not bought on Strandherd or Terry Fox.
One difference is that the commercial rents are far higher downtown. The commercial developments in the suburbs are all new, and the landlords are big REITS. I'm surprised they're going along with it, since they are not as invested in old downtown properties...
@johnefrancis I think when things are booming the business owners think it’s because they themselves are amazing and as long as they keep working hard things will continue to be amazing but when things are rough, it’s not their fault, it’s an outside party’s fault like the government or bike lanes because they are smart world saving small business owners.
@casseagull eh, not that many are small businesses. Some, but most stuff in big-box land are chain franchises.
The burbs used to run the opposite of downtown...pretty much dead from 9-3, then insanely busy from 3-close. Most stuff doesn't close before 8, and some not until 10.
The change to 2d/w in-office brought back a moderate rush hour. The change to 3+ is going to bring back >1h commutes to downtown, I think a lot of people are going to suffer from that.
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