While Ted Heald is one Main Street business owner in favour of testing a pedestrian-only section of Newmarket's downtown thoroughfare, he doesn't think it will fly with the majority.
“I don’t think it stands a chance,” the Neon Flamingo Emporium and Cafe owner said. “People are going to vote in their own self-interest, and my big take on the self-interest (is that) it’s going to be a resounding no."
"That makes me sad because then you’ll never know,” he said, adding he sees the potential it could bring more people onto Main Street.
Mayor John Taylor made a pitch to the Main Street BIA Nov. 9 for a short pilot project — which the town would fund — if the BIA supports it.
Although some business owners like Heald are excited by the proposal, others are concerned it would have a negative impact.
Kristi Cross, owner of Nomi Handcrafted Jewellery and Gifts, said any time Main has been closed to traffic for special events, it has been bad for her business. She does not like the prospect of a closure, even for the 10 days proposed by the mayor.
“My regular customers just won’t bother coming,” Cross said. “If they can’t find a parking spot here, sometimes they’ll not even come shopping.”
Unwind Yarn House owner Karen Henderson said she has mixed opinions on the idea. Although she supports a pilot project, she worries it could hurt her business as most of her customers drive there.
“We’re a destination store,” she said. “We have a very wide catchment area, so all of those people are going to need parking.”
BIA chair Tom Hempen has said parking would be part of the discussion to come. The town will make a detailed pitch about the proposal in February, after which Hempen said there should be a BIA general meeting to discuss it further.
Olde Village Free House owner Allan Cockburn said he believes in the pedestrianization concept and would like to see the pilot extended longer in case of inclement weather. He said while the BIA needs to take the concerns of its members seriously, he does not think pedestrian-only would prove harmful.
He said he believes there will be enough support to make it happen on a trial basis.
“I truly am sympathetic to the businesses that are not in favour of it, but we have to weigh out the pros and cons, and if it’s better for the street, I think we should all come together and not complain about what may or may not happen,” he said.
But Heald questions if the Main Street businesses will unite behind the idea. He said while businesses can be friendly, they are still in competition.
“You’re going to see the classic resistance from individual owners, building owners, business owners, who don’t think it’s in their interests to close the street off, and the forward-thinkers, who want to give it a chance,’” Heald said.
He added that the downtown businesses continue to face challenges, in the wake of pandemic lockdowns and ongoing public health restrictions.
“The way it is right now, the street — there’s no question —it’s suffering.”
