Strides toward making 17 Avenue SW a street for pedestrian-only strolling have progressed and could be implemented by next summer.

On July 9, the Beltline Neighbourhoods Association (BNA) released their report detailing the outcome of last summer’s engagement efforts, which showed that 82 per cent of the public supported the 17 Avenue SW Open Street Pilot project.

Having collected more than 1,500 responses from citizens and local businesses, the mostly positive feedback has moved the project into the drafting phase. If successful, it could mean a car-free strip by summer 2026. 

The Business Improvement Area (BIA) originally tested the waters for the idea in 2023, which proved shallow support among nearby storefronts. Now, the most recent report shows that their support sits at just 54 per cent. 

However, the director of the BNA, Peter Oliver, said that this new public engagement process was “far more comprehensive,” including the use of posters and postcards in addition to the traditional survey. He said that they received double the response rate that the BIA did. 

“We asked a lot more questions, around people’s behaviours, their patterns, their preferences,” said Oliver.

“I think once you start unpacking those nuances, you start to get to more of a positive outlook.”

Indeed, he referenced how the report found that 77 per cent of the public said that they would visit the street more often if it were limited to pedestrians. Oliver said that the numbers show that the revitalization is a long time coming. 

“I think there’s a huge desire to see more pedestrianization,” he said. 

“We just want to do it in a way that supports local businesses and the local economy and makes this an even more thriving community.”

Why the demand for a car-free 17th?

When the suggestion was first tabled 10 years ago, Frank Lonardelli, CEO of the Arlington Group — an investment firm responsible for managing several properties on 17 Avenue SW — recommended that the street be closed to traffic between July and August. 

Despite no longer being involved in the project but rather watching from the sidelines, he said that his feelings have not changed — only grown stronger. Lonardelli said that across the continent, accomplished cities have car-free streets, and that Calgary needs more. 

“If you look at the experiences of every great city that has shut down two or four of the most vital blocks in these kind of retail interfaces, high pedestrian traffic locations, it’s done nothing but promote the city in a positive way,” he said. 

The BNA’s report stated that out of the 40 local businesses surveyed, they all agreed that the blocks between 4 and 8 Street are particularly vulnerable to vehicle congestion. Lonardelli said that the traffic and poor layout of the road often deters people from enjoying its amenities. 

“Because of its logistical concern with cars and very shallow sidewalks, it’s not a friendly street to walk up and down to begin with,” he said. 

“When you take the cars away, it provides a far better interface.”

For those visiting 17 Avenue SW, walking was named the most common mode of transportation. Oliver said that offering more room for this will bring the BNA closer to achieving their goal of promoting spending in the area by increasing mobility. 

“The goal here is to support the local economy, local businesses, and make the street more accessible and inviting,” he said. 

“As long as we continue to focus on those goals, we’ll continue to see the support of local businesses.”

This fall, the BNA, in collaboration with Public City Architecture, will seek further public engagement on design concepts for the pilot project. Oliver said that once this is complete, he’s confident that the city will approve funding and that the project will be launched by next summer. 

“The city is really letting the community and the businesses take the lead,” he said. 

“They’re willing to step in and support if that’s what the community and the businesses want to try out.”