SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One of Yellowknife's favourite pubs - the Black Knight - has been forced to return to the drawing board after preliminary plans for a sidewalk patio weren't "supported" by city administration.

The pub owner submitted a draft proposal outlining his intentions to build a sidewalk patio to add more vibrancy to the downtown core and to help supplement the bar's summer income.

While the information package wasn't an official proposal to the city's administration, the popular restaurant and bar hoped the idea would be favourably received.

"What I got back from the city was that they wouldn't support it," said Scott Wray, president of the Black Knight Pub.

The city stated concerns such as public safety, litter, impact on traffic patterns both pedestrian and vehicular, and a lack of bylaws in place for regulation, Wray said.

"I understand their concerns but we're wanting to supplement our summer income and revitalize the downtown core and bring some more energy (to the scene)," he said.

The proposed patio would see 15 to 20 seats set up outside along the sidewalk directly in front of the pub, with plans to "rent the parking spaces" in front to build a new sidewalk.

Wray said he will be revisiting the issue in the fall, and plans to work with the city to address its concerns.

"We've had broad support," Wray said, naming city councillor Bob Brooks and Yellowknife Centre MLA Robert Hawkins as supporters of the sidewalk patio, but adds that he feels the city is holding back business growth.

"It feels like they (the city) are putting up barriers rather than becoming partners," Wray said. "Halifax, Calgary, Vancouver they all have sidewalk patios - everywhere except Yellowknife."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem explained that the matter is still ongoing and that the city is in favour of a sidewalk patio.

"It's still a work-in-progress," said Van Tighem.

"The director of planning was quite interested and told them what they had to do make an application for it. The ball is in their court to make an application."

Brooks - a six-term city councillor - was involved in the application and offered his advice to Wray on how to get the plans through city hall.

"I was very enthused with the idea that Scott had presented. Not only that, I had seen a perfect example of that kind of thing in Halifax," Brooks said.

"I had suggested to Scott that what he needed to do was to take a look at the Halifax proposal - which I supplied him - and said to him that if you do up a proposal like this, it's something that I think would be really beneficial to the city and should be something he should pursue."

Hawkins wrote a letter of support for the Black Knight to the city and the liquor board - stating that he was impressed with idea and believed a patio would add excitement and vibrancy to the downtown core.

"I think it makes a lot sense," Hawkins said. "(Wray) wants to help develop the Black Knight Pub by offering more opportunities. I liked his idea about renting parking spaces for the summer, therefore it doesn't impede pedestrians."

Hawkins is hopeful that Wray will continue on the development path, adding "everything has its process and giving it a bit of time ... I'm sure we could get through it."

"What I had hoped for was for administration to get back to me with suggestions on how we could make it work - instead all I got was 'we can't support it,'" Wray said.

The city's "black and white" approach to decision-making is disheartening for the long-time Yellowknife business owner, and that disappointment is shared by the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

"We feel the City of Yellowknife doesn't promote business, they don't support business," said Larry Jacquard, president of the chamber of commerce.

"They have opportunities to beautify this city to make it more exciting and interesting and for reasons unknown will not work with the business community on that."

According to Van Tighem, that isn't the case.

"From the perspective of council and from the perspective of the Smart Growth Implementation Committee these are some of things that we want to see," Van Tighem said. "Everything is a slow process. From the time the application reaches city hall it should be a few weeks (to reach a decision) but frequently the challenge is getting the application done."

Jacquard expressed frustration over the outcome of the Black Knight's preliminary submission to the city, calling the outcome "ridiculous."

"Right now when people come as a tourist, the biggest comment is 'what a dead city,'" he said.

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