Parking problems in downtown Sydney ahead of new NSCC campus opening
Many signs in downtown Sydney, N.S., tell people where they can’t park.
It’s particularly difficult to find an empty parking spot on Charlotte Street, a major road in the city.
Most lots in the downtown core are now marked off as “private parking.”
“I have no parking, absolutely no parking,” said café owner Louann MacDonald.
The inconvenience has already cost her some customers.
“You lose them,” she said. “I had about 10-to-15 customers this month that came in. I told them they can’t park where they were, and they left. They didn’t come back.”
Next month, competition for parking spots in downtown Sydney may intensify when the new Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Sydney Waterfront Campus opens its doors to an expected 1,100-plus students and staff.
“We do know that there will be an increased need for parking in downtown Sydney come September,” said Jenna MacQueen with Cape Breton Regional Municipality Communications.
There will be some parking on site at the new campus and the NSCC is also encouraging students to carpool and use public transportation, noting there will be a transit stop in front of the main entrance.
“We continue to develop parking options for the new campus,” said an email statement from NSCC to CTV News Atlantic. “There will be 250 spaces at Centre 200 for Sydney Waterfront Campus student parking with a shuttle service transporting students between the parking lot and site. Details will be updated on our website when confirmed.”
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality said it is working with the NSCC on the parking issue.
“We’re very hopeful that the 250 spots behind Centre 200 will be a great start, and then we’ll assess the need going on after that,” MacQueen said.
The first day of classes for new students at the Sydney Waterfront Campus is Sept. 3. Returning students arrive Sept. 4.
While parking may still be an issue, business owners like MacDonald said they are looking forward to the expected increase in foot traffic.
“We just have to wait until it’s all over to see what’s going to happen,” she said.
For more Nova Scotia news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal
First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland.
King Charles ends royal warrants for Ben & Jerry's owner Unilever and Cadbury chocolatiers
King Charles III has ended royal warrants for Cadbury and Unilever, which owns brands including Marmite and Ben & Jerry’s, in a blow to the household names.
LIVE UPDATES Parts of Ontario under snowfall warning Monday as holiday travellers hit the road
Holiday travellers and commuters could be in for a messy drive on Monday morning as a significant round of snowfall moves into the region. Here are live updates on the situation in Toronto.
U.S. House Ethics report finds evidence Matt Gaetz paid thousands for sex and drugs including paying a 17-year-old for sex in 2017
The U.S. House Ethics Committee found evidence that former Rep. Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex or drugs on at least 20 occasions, including paying a 17-year-old girl for sex in 2017, according to a final draft of the panel's report on the Florida Republican, obtained by CNN.
DEVELOPING Evacuation order issued for Edmonton building where security guard was killed
An apartment building where a security guard was killed earlier this month is being evacuated.
A massive, menacing Steller's sea eagle is dazzling birders in a Newfoundland park
A national park in Newfoundland has made the unusual move of opening in the winter so people can catch a glimpse of its rare and menacing new guest.
Blake Lively gets support from 'It Ends With Us' author and 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' co-stars
Blake Lively is getting some high-profile support in the midst of allegations she's made against her 'It Ends With Us' director and co-star, Justin Baldoni.
Dutch discover rare 500-year old wooden shoe
The Dutch are known worldwide for their wooden shoes, but the recent rare discovery of a 500-year-old one in the city of Alkmaar has shown just how widespread their use once was.
Dozens of luxury condos and hotels in Florida are sinking, study finds
Dozens of luxury condos, hotels and other buildings in southeast Florida are sinking at a surprising rate, researchers reported in a recent study.