Misty Fin’s Eatery and Lounge is helping the city realize its vision of making the downtown St. Ann’s block a pedestrian-friendly neighbourhood where people can sit and gather.
The restaurant, which is across the street from Best Wok on the re-vamped portion of Alder Street, plans to create an outdoor patio area.
Misty Fin’s applied to the city for an agreement that will allow the restaurant to operate a sidewalk cafe patio in front of its establishment. Council agreed to the terms at its last week’s Tuesday meeting.
Coun. Andy Adams said he was glad to see city staff work with a business that was impacted by the city’s downtown revitalization project which involved the temporary closure of the restaurant’s main access road.
“Really pleased to see staff work with the businesses, particularly this one which has been adversely affected through the construction period, but also the significant change from eight years ago where we are now animating our sidewalks,” Adams said.
Monique Reid, owner/operator of Misty Fin’s, told the Mirror last June that she could envision one day having patio tables outside her restaurant where people could gather and enjoy a nice meal.
That day now seems closer than ever with council giving Reid the go-ahead and the downtown project wrapping up.
Alder Street has been re-opened to traffic for a few months now and the wider sidewalk will accommodate the outdoor tables.
Newly planted maple trees will provide shade for diners.
And with the narrower road, the city is aiming to slow down traffic and create a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere with park-like green space planned for around the new Seymour Pacific headquarters building. The $4.04 million downtown project is expected to wrap up within the next couple of weeks.
Construction of Seymour Pacific’s new headquarters building is expected to be complete later this year. A community celebration is in the works for once both projects are finished.