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When the weather’s nice, the place can be pretty crowded at lunchtime and right after work, but the rest of the time, you could throw a brick and not hit anybody. There’s probably a convenient pile of them lying around if you want to try.

Sparks has never succeeded as a retail district. It’s not a draw. Never has been. Name two distinctive stores there. Holt Renfrew was one and it closed. E.R. Fisher moved. The Expedition Shoppe is closing and the mustard shoppe is long gone.

The merchants’ association tried opening a farmers’ market, then throttled it because vendors were too much competition for the restaurants. They fired the guy whose idea it was. They bring in rib and poutine fairs, which have no synergy with the tailors and hairdressers.

Pedestrian advocates, including me, have treated Sparks Street like a place within reach of greatness, if only we did this or that. Get the cars right off it, or add more condos so residents will bring it life after-hours. Let people ride their bikes. More festivals because they attract people. Fewer festivals because they obstruct people and make your clothes smell like barbecue sauce. What about a casino? We put flower planters and those green chalet things on it for visual interest, then took them off because they were just clutter and messed up the sightlines.

Sparks is a sucking disappointment for tourists unless they need new pants or a haircut. Why do visitors think Ottawa rolls up the sidewalks at 6 p.m.? They went to Sparks Street looking for the action.

Sparks is a service area for public servants and politicos and it’s pretty good at that job. Let it do its work in peace.

dreevely@postmedia.com

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