Byward Market (Ottawa)

[Bytown]

I was there a few weeks back and wow has it ever gone down hill.Not really a nice family place any more.

[Absolute]

What time were you there at? I've spent allot of time there the past few years, and only noticed that it's not a "family" area during prime bar time. There have always been problems in the area, but with the buskers on Williams Street, the farmer's market, and some of the nice architecture, it's still a nice place.

[Bytown]

It was around 5:00.

[epiphony]

You live in Ottawa, and yet it seems like this is your first time in the market in 10 years or something. It's a nice place for small grocery stores and delis, places to eat, a few places to shop; but it's pretty obvious that after hours it becomes a nightclub area, that is probably not ideal for families with younger children. During the day though, there's nothing wrong with the market.

Care to explain why you think it's gone downhill?

[Bytown]

You live in Ottawa, and yet it seems like this is your first time in the market in 10 years or something. It's a nice place for small grocery stores and delis, places to eat, a few places to shop; but it's pretty obvious that after hours it becomes a nightclub area, that is probably not ideal for families with younger children. During the day though, there's nothing wrong with the market.

Care to explain why you think it's gone downhill?

There is much much more to ottawa then downtown.I live in nepean there is more then enough for the most part in the west.BY the market i mean the farmers buildings it self justa few of the things that i did notice.

1)Building has not been upgraded in years.

2)People making out up stairs.

3)People shooting up in the bathroom.

[epiphony]

There is much much more to ottawa then downtown.I live in nepean there is more then enough for the most part in the west.BY the market i mean the farmers buildings it self justa few of the things that i did notice.

1)Building has not been upgraded in years.

2)People making out up stairs.

3)People shooting up in the bathroom.

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

[Bytown]

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

These people were shooting up.

[3weddings]

I've been here for over 4 years. I keep hearing reports about drug use in Ottawa (especially recently with the crack pipe program being scrapped), but never once have I seen a deal go down, somebody smoking crack, or somebody shooting up. I've seen a lot of joint smoking, but that's about it.

Over the three years that my husband has working in GOA, everytime we come to GOA, we LOVE going to the market. The kids look forward to it. Toronto's Esplanade doesn't come close to your market.

That being said, while crossing the street into the mall, we actually saw four separate people passing little packages back and forth, right on Rideau!! Where all the bus stops are smells, and is unkempt. Thank goodness once you hit George St, reminds you that the area is actually a pretty market.

It's unfortunate that it's a little run down, and that we are uncomfortable being there at night. It's still a not to miss place to go while in Ottawa, especially since it's so close to the museums etc.

[mself084]

Rideau St is brutal from Dalhousie to Sussex - the whole place just looks dirty. Hopefully with new police officers around the area, and Rideau Centre expanding, it will clear up alot.

But how can you say the whole market sucks? It's always busy with tourists, vendors and Ottawa folk...tons of little stores, restaurants, etc. I've seen people smoke the occasional joint, but never have I seen rampant drug use or people making out (at least not during the day...at 1-2am its different).

What part of Nepean do you live in?

[Bytown]

Rideau St is brutal from Dalhousie to Sussex - the whole place just looks dirty. Hopefully with new police officers around the area, and Rideau Centre expanding, it will clear up alot.

But how can you say the whole market sucks? It's always busy with tourists, vendors and Ottawa folk...tons of little stores, restaurants, etc. I've seen people smoke the occasional joint, but never have I seen rampant drug use or people making out (at least not during the day...at 1-2am its different).

What part of Nepean do you live in?

I never said the whole market places was bad.Its just the farmer building and yes its in a very bad way.I did talk to some friends and they said the drug use and making out does happen a good deal of time.

[Absolute]

Rideau definitely needs some cleanup; and King Edward as well, it's disgusting to see.

[Nikita]

I lived in Ottawa for 8 years, the last 4 right in the center of the market area. It rocked. I loved the vendors, fresh food I could pick up each night on my way home from work, the buskers, the shopping, the plethora or restaurants, the night life.....the entire ambiance. I haven't been there in a couple years and I'd be very disappointed if in fact they've let the market get run down. Some areas have always been areas to stay away from, like Rideau... altho when I was there Rideau St. from Dalhousie to Sussex wasn't at all run down, more north was a bit seedy. Sandy Hill and a few residential areas around the market could pose worrisome for the illegal, mostly drug activity. But personally I never encountered any bigger promblems in the area save for the beggers, who were more annoying than worrisome.

[enko]

FYI a ton of veggies the "farmers" sell are just store bought and dumped out of their bags into containers and marked up. I worked in the market for 3 years, walked by every morning when they were setting up.

[rubberband]

I live nearby and probably come through the market 3-4 times per week. Go out to eat down there almost exclusively these days. I agree that Rideau between sussex and Dalhousie is in a bad way, but I have no idea what you're talking about as for everything else though... I've never once seen open drug use (short of the odd joint here and there) anywhere in the main part of the market, ever.

Between the restaurants, grocery stores full of cool stuff, shopping, parliment/museum area, pubs and everything else I can't see how it wouldn't be a good place to spend an afternoon with your family.

[Bytown]

I live nearby and probably come through the market 3-4 times per week. Go out to eat down there almost exclusively these days. I agree that Rideau between sussex and Dalhousie is in a bad way, but I have no idea what you're talking about as for everything else though... I've never once seen open drug use (short of the odd joint here and there) anywhere in the main part of the market, ever.

Between the restaurants, grocery stores full of cool stuff, shopping, parliment/museum area, pubs and everything else I can't see how it wouldn't be a good place to spend an afternoon with your family.

Do you want to have your child see people making out our shooting up i think not.