What started as a neighbourhood revival and safe mobility project for Saint-Denis street in Montreal, Canada, ended as an unexpected boom for local businesses.
Several local businesses were so concerned about potential profit loss that they made moves to sue the city when the project started.
But, as it turns out, making the street more friendly for pedestrians and cyclists had a major positive impact on the local business scene:
“Commercial vitality has increased because of the redevelopment project, with 37 new stores opening in 2021… by 2023, the commercial occupancy rate has increased from 75% in 2019 to 85% in 2023.” Eco-Counter