Rideau Street, once a bustling shopping hub, is now facing challenges due to safety concerns, forcing businesses to relocate.
Rideau Street was once the heart of the capital's shopping district. For decades, people came from all over the region to shop, but with changing habits and the recent revolution in online shopping, many no longer head downtown to find that special item. Those that still frequent specialty shops like Steve's Music have been finding the experience more and more challenging as the makeup of the neighbourhood has changed.
This trend is now forcing Steve's Music to relocate in the new year, leaving behind their location of 42 years. The store's manager, Dan Sauve, says the past 15 years have been difficult with massive construction projects limiting access, the pandemic, the growing homelessness problem and an epidemic of street drugs and related mental health problems taking over the streets, crowding out residents and businesses alike. 'It's one thing after another that's eroded the desire of just normal people to come downtown. Who would want to come downtown to shop when there's this kind of thing going on around?' Sauve said. 'I'm looking at the move as hey, you know what? We're going to write a new chapter here because we are far from being done.' It's not just local residents and businesses that are feeling the impact. The Department of National Defence relocated 1,000 employees from their building at 400 Cumberland St., citing employee safety concerns. The Ottawa Police Service has been working with community partners to address concerns, opening a service hub in the Rideau Centre as a key part of their plan to improve safety and security in the busy tourist and business area. Acting Sergeant Paul Stam says this is not something that is unique to Ottawa, it's something police are seeing in major cities across the country. 'They are feeling overwhelmed by the rise in crime and the visible disorder that's out on the street,' Stam said
Rideau Street Ottawa Downtown Decline Crime Safety Concerns
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