If I was Mayor

I work in downtown Edmonton, not my favorite place in the world for a few reasons.  It's a bit of a concrete jungle for my liking.  Downtown has really suffered over the years with neglect and although it is getting a lot better in the last few years, there are still things that could be done to make it more people friendly. 

Such as, close of Rice Howard Way to traffic.  Maybe not all of it, but certainly some of it could be done as there is no street parking to speak of and the parkades can be accessed from the alleys.  This area has quite a few good restaurants on it (Sherlock Holmes, Sigma, Lux and Moriartys).  There are more on the way as they are currently renovating the previously fire damaged Ramsey Block. 

I think it would be great if this could become a pedestrian area only and let the restaurants and coffee shops spill out into the street more, where the sun actually can find people. At this very moment I can hear the Indy Race party down on the street and the DJ playing some tunes.  They have tables and chairs set out and there is some life on the street.  Not the typical "dawn of the dead" kind of life, but people getting out on their lunch break kind of life.  This party action is temporary and the street will be returned to its usual purpose on monday. 

But If I was Mayor, I would close the street down and help to revitalize this area.