In an unprecedented move that underscores mounting frustration among downtown business owners, several Stephen Avenue merchants are threatening legal action against the City of Calgary over what they describe as years of neglect and mismanagement of the historic pedestrian walkway.
The iconic thoroughfare, once the crown jewel of Calgary’s downtown core, has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate about urban revitalization and municipal responsibility. Business owners claim the deteriorating conditions have dramatically impacted their livelihoods, with some reporting revenue losses exceeding 40% over the past three years.
“We’ve reached our breaking point,” says Marcus Chen, owner of Jade Garden Restaurant, which has operated on Stephen Avenue for over two decades. “The city collects our taxes but provides minimal services in return. The street is often littered with garbage, public disturbances go unaddressed, and the infrastructure is crumbling.”
The potential lawsuit, which could involve more than 25 businesses, alleges that the City of Calgary has breached its duty to maintain the area as a vibrant commercial district. Legal documents being prepared claim the city has failed to provide adequate security, sanitation, and infrastructure maintenance despite repeated requests and formal complaints from the business community.
Calgary’s downtown revitalization efforts have been particularly challenging in recent years, with office vacancy rates among the highest in North America following the oil industry downturn and pandemic-related disruptions. City officials have implemented various initiatives aimed at breathing new life into the core, including the $200 million Greater Downtown Plan launched in 2021.
However, Stephen Avenue merchants argue these efforts have largely bypassed their concerns. “The city is spending millions on consultants and plans while ignoring the immediate issues that are driving customers away,” notes Rebecca Sanderson, spokesperson for the newly formed Stephen Avenue Business Alliance.
The Alliance points to several specific grievances, including insufficient police presence, inadequate lighting, delayed maintenance of public spaces, and the growing concentration of social disorder. These conditions, they argue, have created a perception of the area as unsafe, particularly in evening hours.
City officials have responded cautiously to news of the potential legal action. “We take the concerns of downtown businesses very seriously,” said Deputy Mayor Courtney Walcott in a statement. “The revitalization of Stephen Avenue is a priority, and we are actively working with stakeholders to address the challenges facing the area.”
The City of Calgary recently approved a $10.5 million Stephen Avenue Public Realm Strategy, aimed at modernizing the street’s infrastructure and improving its appeal. However, implementation is not expected to begin until late 2025, a timeline merchants claim is too distant to address their immediate concerns.
Legal experts suggest the case could establish important precedents regarding municipal obligations to business districts. “This raises interesting questions about the extent of a city’s responsibility to maintain commercial areas beyond basic services,” explains Dr. Miranda Fong, professor of urban planning and law at the University of Calgary. “Courts typically give municipalities broad discretion in resource allocation, but there may be limits when neglect becomes demonstrably harmful to an area’s economic viability.”
For many Stephen Avenue businesses, particularly those that weathered the pandemic only to face ongoing challenges, the lawsuit represents a last-ditch effort to save their enterprises and the street’s character. “We love this avenue and its history,” says third-generation jeweler Thomas Wilkinson. “But without immediate intervention, we’ll see more empty storefronts, more family businesses closing, and the loss of what makes this place special.”
As both sides prepare for what could be a protracted legal battle, the future of one of Calgary’s most historic commercial districts hangs in the balance. The question remains: can a lawsuit accomplish what years of advocacy and engagement have not, or will it further strain the relationship between city leaders and the business community they serve to protect?
