Grosvenor Businesses Worried About Parking Losses as Winnipeg Transit Revamps
Several businesses located near a bustling Winnipeg intersection are concerned about potential negative effects on their profits due to the elimination of parking spots nearby for pedestrians in order to make room for additional bus stops.
This alteration is part of a significant revamp to the Winnipeg Transit system.
taking effect on June 29
This will entail major modifications to the majority of routes as well as their bus stops.
The city stated in an announcement that at the crossing of Grosvenor Avenue and Stafford Street, the current four bus stops will be substituted with three new ones.
Christopher Atkinson, owner of Lilac Bakery on Grosvenor, told CBC one of those new stops would be right outside his business. However, to accommodate the change, at least five parking spaces will be removed.
We depended on [the parking] for our business…. This is a significant setback,” he stated. “Vehicles frequently changed hands, and everyone made use of it.
A representative from the city mentioned that although certain areas will be eliminated in front of Lilac Bakery, a nearby bus stop will also be taken out during this revamp, with additional parking spots being introduced at that location instead, which is approximately a 20-meter stroll away from the bakery.
The spokesperson stated that transit predicts a “zero net loss of parking spaces.”
However, Atkinson noted that frequently, customers will not enter the establishment if they cannot find parking directly in front of the business.
Increasing pedestrian activity and public transportation usage is crucial, but “unluckily, we’re still very much a car-oriented society,” he stated.
I understand this is their aim, and I genuinely value that… but I believe they should have prioritized examining the business sector initially.
On Friday, Atkinson became aware of the modifications after city workers put up “no parking” signs. According to him, neither his business nor he were consulted regarding the street redesign, nor did they receive any notification directly from the municipality.
“[It] sort of took me by surprise,” Atkinson stated.
‘Seems tiny’ yet makes a significant difference: business owner
In December, both the bakery and neighboring enterprises at the junction encountered a comparable issue when sewage maintenance prolonged their lack of parking spaces beyond the initial three-week schedule.
In a message addressed to Mayor Scott Gillingham and two city councilors, Atkinson along with several other entrepreneurs stated that they suffered significant financial losses during the festive period because of insufficient parking spots.
The letter stated that these businesses were designed considering the parking spaces and depended on them for their survival.
Six companies signed the letter, among them being Cassandra Carreiro’s café and cocktail bar Sharecuterie, similar to Atkinson’s bakery, they depend on street parking for their operations.
When there are obstacles, ‘it becomes difficult for us to park and challenging for deliveries,’ as stated by Carreiro.
Although the municipality claims there will not be a reduction in parking spots, patrons value ease of access. Even an additional few metres can discourage people from visiting, she explained.
“Eliminating around five or six locations might seem insignificant, but as we have observed, it greatly affects people’s desire to visit this area,” stated Carreiro.
Similar to Atkinson and Carreiro, Shira Wood, who manages and has been working at the Girl Candy Shop on Grosvenor for a long time, mentioned that her clothing store was not part of any consultations with the city regarding these modifications.
Wood only became aware last week as news circulated amongst fellow shopkeepers, yet she wished the city had informed her directly, allowing her time to alert her clientele of these modifications.
“It’s disappointing,” she said.
She mentioned that finding parking in the vicinity has consistently been difficult, and she worries that adding new bus routes could exacerbate this issue and alter the character of the neighborhood.
Wood hopes the city will involve businesses located near these areas in discussions about potential solutions for street parking issues; however, she doesn’t expect this to occur anytime soon, she mentioned.
Atkinson is hoping for a complete reversal of the decision.
For 17 years, I have owned my own business.Parking has consistently posed a problem,” she stated. “[The situation] simply requires alteration.