Sparks Street

[phil235]

As someone who is on Sparks St. every day, I'm really looking forward to this.

[skyscraperaccount]

I don't think I have enough fingers to count the number of time Sparks was going to come back due to revitelisation.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by skyscraperaccount

I don't think I have enough fingers to count the number of time Sparks was going to come back due to revitelisation.

High degree of skepticism.

[ponyboycurtis]

"Seven years since the initial concept, work is underway on the Sparks Street public realm plan, the head of the BIA said on Monday."


"McHale added that the project doesn’t have a set timeline and will be executed in a “phased approach” to minimize disruption to businesses."


This poor street

The problem with this street is the same its ever been. It's just not a destination. At all. I would figure one of the best things to happen to Sparks outside of somehow modifying the federal district stuff is get moving on that Bronson park idea and have the vertical integration with the elevators/staircase. Bronson Park is such a cool location and its currently just a patch of grass with some Adirondack chairs with that weird sculpture. I'd also like to see that 1/4 block of sidewalk in front of Cathedral Hill widened and integrated. That skinny sidewalk kind of feels like barrier when you are walking up from the core.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

"Seven years since the initial concept, work is underway on the Sparks Street public realm plan, the head of the BIA said on Monday."


"McHale added that the project doesn’t have a set timeline and will be executed in a “phased approach” to minimize disruption to businesses."


This poor street

The problem with this street is the same its ever been. It's just not a destination. At all. I would figure one of the best things to happen to Sparks outside of somehow modifying the federal district stuff is get moving on that Bronson park idea and have the vertical integration with the elevators/staircase. Bronson Park is such a cool location and its currently just a patch of grass with some Adirondack chairs with that weird sculpture. I'd also like to see that 1/4 block of sidewalk in front of Cathedral Hill widened and integrated. That skinny sidewalk kind of feels like barrier when you are walking up from the core.

Agreed on Bronson Park. Would also love for PdV to reopen the Podium Building theatre and rent the rest of the space for a RecRoom or any sort of entertainment destination (I've said this a thousand times). Would be great to get another museum on the street as well (Bank of Canada being the only one afaik), maybe the Portrait Gallery, or Confederation Museum. Hopefully the Indigenous groups can open a Museum as well in their building; I think they have an old bank building behind the old American Embassy.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Agreed on Bronson Park. Would also love for PdV to reopen the Podium Building theatre and rent the rest of the space for a RecRoom or any sort of entertainment destination (I've said this a thousand times). Would be great to get another museum on the street as well (Bank of Canada being the only one afaik), maybe the Portrait Gallery, or Confederation Museum. Hopefully the Indigenous groups can open a Museum as well in their building; I think they have an old bank building behind the old American Embassy.

The park is key, as right now it's a dead end, but it would become a natural route up the escarpment and into downtown or across to the Market.

As for entertainment, I think a Rec Room or something similar would be as big a hit in that location as Food Basics was. You are surrounded by thousands of people in condos and apartments who tend to get out and about more and who are looking for places to hang out. It's hard to imagine a place with a better market for an entertainment destination. It would take a change in mindset though, on the part of the landlords to consider different types of tenants and the hyper security-focused government to allow mixed use. As much as the government talks about revitalizing downtown, it has done as much damage to vitality and streetlife as anyone by turning ground floors of so many buildings into office space and closing up accesses to create blank walls on the street. 240 Sparks is a particular shame, given how nice it could be.

I will say that Sparks is actually quite lively during the day with tourists and people out enjoying the weather. The seating areas etc. that have been put out in recent years are really popular and the patios are generally full of people during the day. It's not that it doesn't work at all - it needs to take that next step to a more full-time destination. Why not double down on events, and even offer tenants free rent as an incentive to start new businesses there or for older businesses to stay open longer. With a built-in market of potential visitors, it seems a little creativity goes a long way.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Here are five downtown revitalization plans that city staff will propose to council next week

By Marissa Galko, OBJ
April 15, 2026

Advance the redesign of Sparks Street and seek partner government funding for implementation
The redesign of Sparks Street will include upgrades to beautify the area and enhance the pedestrian environment. These improvements will add new amenities that encourage public lounging, social interaction, and a more vibrant, welcoming streetscape. The city will also seek funding partnerships with other levels of government to support implementation of these improvements.

https://obj.ca/five-downtown-revitalization-plans-city-propose-next-week/

Do they know Watson had a plan ready a few years before he left? It was paused for while the STO figured out its plans for the tram, but now that we know it won't go under Sparks (if anywhere ever), we can dust off the old Watson plan instead of starting over.

Sparks now is quite terrible. All paving stones that are buckling and wavy. Each block needs to be more park-like with greenery, lighting, water features.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

All paving stones that are buckling and wavy.

Pavers 🞵🞵🞵🞵 in this part of the world. They really do.

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Pavers 🞵🞵🞵🞵 in this part of the world. They really do.

You could say that about anything…

Asphalt 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 in this part of the world.
Poured concrete 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 in this part of the world.

The issue is snow clearing and maintenance. Pavers are versatile and durable when maintained correctly.

[Uhuniau]

Poured concrete is much more durable than small pavers. Texturize it and colour it if you want to have funky pavement.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Poured concrete is much more durable than small pavers. Texturize it and colour it if you want to have funky pavement.

I've been saying this for years. They should have something like 10% overstock sitting in a city yard under tarps for the eventual repairs. Ditto for other projects around town like the rework on Laurier.

*edit* I think I replied to the wrong comment.

The area is much to large for poured concrete.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Poured concrete is much more durable than small pavers. Texturize it and colour it if you want to have funky pavement.

Poured concrete. yuck. And then when it cracks up. a major repair. With paving stones, you don't need jack hammers to make repairs.

[GeoNerd]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Poured concrete is much more durable than small pavers. Texturize it and colour it if you want to have funky pavement.

“More durable” in what way? Both are durable to a point in the Canadian climate. When a paver chips, crack, or becomes uneven you can pop it out and replace. When a poured concrete sidewalk cracks you have to replace the entire panel. Full crew, jack hammer, cement truck, setting time. Could be thousands of dollars for a single panel. Hence the sea of unsightly asphalt patches on sidewalks across the city. Also, many of the paver sidewalks and plaza are “set and forget” projects. Zero maintenance and way past their lifespan.

Again, we need to rethink maintenance and snow removal in this city. Dragging steel plow blades across our infrastructure all winter long will destroy any surface prematurely.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by GeoNerd

“More durable” in what way? Both are durable to a point in the Canadian climate. When a paver chips, crack, or becomes uneven you can pop it out and replace. When a poured concrete sidewalk cracks you have to replace the entire panel. Full crew, jack hammer, cement truck, setting time. Could be thousands of dollars for a single panel. Hence the sea of unsightly asphalt patches on sidewalks across the city. Also, many of the paver sidewalks and plaza are “set and forget” projects. Zero maintenance and way past their lifespan.

Again, we need to rethink maintenance and snow removal in this city. Dragging steel plow blades across our infrastructure all winter long will destroy any surface prematurely.

Not sure what options for snow removal we have with the exception of a heating system underneath sparks street.

[zzptichka]

There is a courtyard off Sparks near Metcalfe with heated floors and it's awesome. But obviously they'll find a reason why it can't work on Sparks.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

There is a courtyard off Sparks near Metcalfe with heated floors and it's awesome. But obviously they'll find a reason why it can't work on Sparks.

This spot is super cool at night. The staircase leading down to Laurier has those bands of light on each step. Great spot to take some photos if your looking for selfies or a shot of a couple etc.

[trainsarecool]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

This spot is super cool at night. The staircase leading down to Laurier has those bands of light on each step. Great spot to take some photos if your looking for selfies or a shot of a couple etc.

Whats the address?

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by trainsarecool

Whats the address?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/jrST9Ztg7WByFtJL6

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

I've been saying this for years. They should have something like 10% overstock sitting in a city yard under tarps for the eventual repairs. Ditto for other projects around town like the rework on Laurier.

*edit* I think I replied to the wrong comment.

The area is much to large for poured concrete.

The USAF used to build entire airports for strategic air command out of poured concrete. They don't pour all the concrete all at once.

[Uhuniau]

There is simply too much federal government at ground level on Sparks Street. Two major bank branches and a post office, all of which used to generate plenty of daytime foot traffic, were replaced (west to east) by SJAM, the Library of Parliament, and PCO, respectively. The promised "active" street frontage of the CBC broadcast centre never materialized (and probably would have already been de-activated anyway because of The Crazies.)

As long as this is the case, Sparks Street is not going to turn around.