Scarth Street Mall business owners say safety is a concern

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Revitalizing Scarth Street Mall’s downtown pedestrian corridor is something business owner Destiny Slobodian says she wants, and something that will also address issues of safety.

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“Once the towers are empty and you don’t have anyone downtown, I don’t believe it is a safe place down here,” said Slobodian, owner and chef at The Bone & Broth Kitchen, which has occupied a spot on Scarth Street since October 2022.

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Safety concerns are part of the reason for limiting her operating hours. She now closes at 3 p.m. on weekdays and the business is not open weekends, but Slobodian says she would love to see an atmosphere that allows her to stay open longer.

The Scarth Street Mall was flagged for revitalization in late 2022. The City of Regina conducted surveys with residents and released some key highlights for its vision of F.W. Hill Mall — the area between 11th and 12th Avenue known more commonly as Scarth Street Mall.

Plans announced this week include keeping the area exclusively for pedestrians, which Slobodian says she supports. Regina residents overwhelming responded in the survey that they want to keeps vehicles off the street.

Construction on the infrastructure, both above and below ground, was originally scheduled to begin in 2024 but has been paused until 2027 to allow for broader public feedback.

“People are looking for an accessible space that is welcoming, that they feel comfortable coming to and that is lively,” said Kim Sare, a senior City of Regina planner who’s working on the project. She added that the city hopes to encourage more businesses to locate in that area downtown.

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Press’d Sandwich Shop, which has been on Scarth for six years, also limits its hours due to safety concerns, says owner Miren Elordi. It closes at 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, then stays open for five hours on Saturdays.

“I don’t feel safe after 4:30 p.m.,” Elordi said, adding that she has experienced thefts and vandalism. “I don’t even feel safe after lunch.”

Elordi said she had wanted the city to allow vehicles on that stretch of Scarth Street because it could have helped address some issues due to the current lack of foot traffic.

The proposal for the area includes an overhaul to offer a variety of seating options so that people feel comfortable to sit and relax in the area, says Sare. They are also planning to add greenery and lighting, and would consider including structural art or play structures.

Slobodian’s customers ask her to offer outdoor seating every day in the summer, she says. But she is hesitant with the state of Scarth Street.

“I’m not going to give you a beautiful sandwich that you spent your hard-earned money on to go and sit out front by a dead tree and a garbage can that’s been kicked over,” she said.

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“When the space is ready and I feel like the environment is going to suit the food that we made for you, then absolutely I will put seating out there. But not until then.”

The city is asking residents to submit their feedback on the proposal by Feb. 4. It will then go to city council in the spring for approval.

— with files from Larissa Kurz

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