As Montreal adds more pedestrian-friendly streets, what's the key to success?

The mayor of Saint-Laurentis hoping turning a major street in his borough into a pedestrian-only mall next summer will draw attention to the historicneighbourhood.

"If we can make that street more attractive, it will add to thecachetof Old Saint-Laurent," said DeSousa,afterMontreal announced that Decelles Street between Dcarie and Sainte-Croixstreets will beone of three streets to get a pedestrian-friendly revamp when the weatherwarms up.

What exactly that revamp will be is still to be decided.

• Montreal to get 3 more pedestrian streets this summer

The head of the local business association, SDC Dcarie Nord, Berj Merdjanian, said he isn't against the concept, but he wantsmerchants' needs to be considered in any planning for it.

Merdjaniansaid that since the city's announcement, merchants have already raised a concern that vehicular access to Dcarie Boulevard will be more difficult.

"Their opinion counts," Merdjaniansaid.

"I think we should work together to make it better, make it easier and not have conflict."

The street is often used by students on their way to nearby Vanier College.

Some students said there isn't enough happening on Decelles for themto be able to picture how the change will improve the street.

However, Vanier student Stella Vergados said she likes the idea of making the street more pedestrian-friendly.

Roy Street success story

Last year, a stretch of Roy Street East, betweenColoniale and de Bullion streets, was converted into a pedestrian walkway.

The summer pilot project proved so popular it was extended into the winter, said Marie-Anne Viau, the urban agriculture manager atthe non-profit SantropolRoulant.

Viau said a big reason for the project's success can be attributed to public consultations with everyone who would be affected.

For instance, residents were worried that since the new pedestrian-only space was adjacent to a busy stretch St-Laurent Boulevard, late-night partiers would find their way onto Roy Street to drink and talk the night away.

"Lights were chosen to discourage people lingering all night," Viau said. "Instead of making more noise, it was quieter."

She said parking was also an issue.

Santropol offers a meals-on-wheels service which requirescars to be parked near their building.

Viau said they worked with the Plateau-Mont-Royal to make sure space in the alley behind the building would always be clear for their cars to park.

The section of Roy Street in front ofSantropolwas convertedto includecolourful benches, picnic tables and communal gardens where people were invited to takesamples of what volunteers for the community group planted.

The boroughs that got the green light for the 2018pedestrian-friendly projects will get financial assistance.

The city is offering to pay half the costs of each project, up to $100,000.