{"id":911561,"date":"2026-06-09T16:12:17","date_gmt":"2026-06-09T21:12:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/street-seats-program-returns-to-centretown-expands-into-chinatown\/"},"modified":"2026-06-09T16:12:17","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T21:12:17","slug":"street-seats-program-returns-to-centretown-expands-into-chinatown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/09\/street-seats-program-returns-to-centretown-expands-into-chinatown\/","title":{"rendered":"Street Seats program returns to Centretown, expands into Chinatown"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=92FXHn_DgAkWcP43CJEyFA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=GfuKpo57DYiDXaaKd1jrsg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=zBLSAuCwUDVXfudkmitZEw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=suI9y_TUecLhkkPWyWKniA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=9MxH33r1-qGfVeyRpBBxIg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=UjceW4H8Te8ymcVoTQ1HEQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=hFBvefp5poM764KmtllHaA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=nJIHpSlOVssFQ-rqiZyh6w 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=NLVaaZGmmUcI1hXI2bCsdg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=HHjSrrxFGSlxD1JA5pvXJw 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img alt=\"Jon Svazas Fauna Centretown\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=CDkUuHRw3Tow-dy2W-Zcpw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=CDkUuHRw3Tow-dy2W-Zcpw,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/ottawacitizen\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/jon-svazas-fauna.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=audc-vgY8X_Z8cYKhFOWCQ 2x\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"900\" width=\"1200\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Jon Svazas of Fauna says the Street Seats program launched last summer brought more people to downtown and resulted in more customers for his restaurant, too.<\/span> <span>Photo by Jean Levac<\/span> \/<span>Postmedia<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<div>\n<p data-async>When <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Ottawau2019s Street Seats pilot program\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/news\/new-street-seats-revitalize-downtown-ottawa\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/news\/new-street-seats-revitalize-downtown-ottawa\">Ottawa\u2019s Street Seats pilot program<\/a> launched last summer, Jon Svazas quickly noticed that more people were spending time in Centretown.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ottawa Citizen\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.3.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-oc-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited digital access to the Ottawa Citizen.<\/li>\n<li>Analysis on all things Ottawa by Bruce Deachman, Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, and others, award-winning newsletters and virtual events.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity to engage with our commenting community.<\/li>\n<li>Ottawa 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Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office.<\/li>\n<li>Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Register to unlock this article \u2014 it\u2019s free<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Svazas, the owner of <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"Fauna at the corner of Bank and Frank streets\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/life\/food\/local-food-reviews\/dining-out-fauna-a-contender-for-best-restaurant-dinner-in-ottawa-this-year\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/life\/food\/local-food-reviews\/dining-out-fauna-a-contender-for-best-restaurant-dinner-in-ottawa-this-year\" target=\"_blank\">Fauna at the corner of Bank and Frank streets<\/a>, said the nearby Street Seats installation became a gathering space for customers during what was not usually the restaurant\u2019s busiest season.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt definitely helped us get more customers and bring people to the area,\u201d Svazas said. \u201cSo it was quite obviously great for me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Now, the City of Ottawa is bringing the program back for a second summer and expanding it into Chinatown as officials and local businesses look to build on last year\u2019s momentum.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"TheEveningCitizen3325542351089639597278366860836864\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"OC_Covid19_Newsletter\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The Street Seats pilot program temporarily converts portions of local streets into public gathering spaces with seating, art and community programming.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s sites will be on MacLaren and Frank streets near Bank Street, along with new installations on Waverley Street in Centretown and Cambridge Street in Chinatown.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Programming begins June 1 and runs through mid-October.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The program is currently funded for three years through provincial and municipal downtown revitalization funding.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Last year\u2019s pilot featured three Centretown sites and drew more than 2,500 attendees across 166 events, according to the city\u2019s final report on the program. City surveys found 91 per cent of respondents had a positive impression of the spaces, while 66 per cent said they visited nearby businesses more frequently.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster said the response last summer exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis was wildly successful,\u201d Troster said. \u201cIt brought so much vibrancy to the areas off of Bank Street.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Troster said the spaces hosted everything from dance classes and DJ nights to craft circles and chess meetups, helping create more activity in a neighbourhood still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCentretown was hit hard by the pandemic and by the convoy,\u201d she said. \u201cMore activity means more eyes on the street, and that also means more safety.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<div>\n<p data-async>The biggest addition this year is Chinatown, where organizers hope the new site can help create a more welcoming atmosphere in a <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"neighbourhood that has faced growing concerns around safety\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/feature\/dope-sick\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/feature\/dope-sick\" target=\"_blank\">neighbourhood that has faced growing concerns around safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cChinatown is having a tough time,\u201d Troster said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Still, she said the neighbourhood remains one of the city\u2019s most vibrant cultural areas.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI still think it\u2019s one of the most exciting neighbourhoods in the city despite its challenges,\u201d Troster said. \u201cHaving that outdoor space, having it be programmed, having it be more of a draw, I have no doubt that it\u2019ll increase the energy and excitement about the neighbourhood.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The Ottawa Chinatown BIA also supports the initiative.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p> Robert Hiltz <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/ottawacitizen.com\/life\/street-seats-centretown-chinatown\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jon Svazas of Fauna says the Street Seats program launched last summer brought more people to downtown and resulted in more customers for his restaurant, too. Photo by Jean Levac \/Postmedia Article content When Ottawa\u2019s Street Seats pilot program launched last summer, Jon Svazas quickly noticed that more people were spending time in Centretown. THIS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":911562,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[853,180],"tags":[17171,5570],"class_list":["post-911561","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-seats","category-street","tag-seats","tag-street"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911561","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=911561"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/911561\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/911562"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=911561"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=911561"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=911561"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}