Responding to constant complaints from customers reportedly being solicited in its parking lot, the Safeway grocery store in Calgary’s Kensington neighbourhood installed rubber barriers on the retaining wall in the lot — a move that hasn’t been received well by everyone.
Several people took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to criticize the grocery store in Kensington Village calling the installations “hostile” and “anti-people.”
However, Safeway said Thursday it was a move they didn’t take lightly, and a decision that came after other attempts to deter panhandlers and loiterers outside the store failed.
“We’ve tried a number of preventative measures but none of them have worked.”
Scobie said signs were installed in the parking lot years ago and the store has also ramped up security, but the complaints keep coming in.
Through conversations with the store manager and the corporate office, the decision was made to try a pilot project which saw the rubber barriers installed atop the retaining wall.
“So we’ve got another two weeks to assess whether they’re doing what we want them to do – whether it eliminates customers being solicited,” Scobie said.
She added the intention was to paint the barriers to match the retaining wall so they don’t stand out as much, but weather has gotten in the way.
Kensington Village, which was also tagged in the tweets, said Thursday it supports Safeway taking action to address the ongoing community issue.
“I think it’s important for businesses to recognize what’s impacting their clients and their customers and we support that initiative,” spokesperson Ellen Parker said.
WATCH BELOW: Danielle Smith offers her opinion on the Kensington Safeway controversy
The Safeway is part of about 300 businesses within the neighbourhood’s Business Revitalization Zone (BRZ), Parker said, adding the organization has been aware of the loitering issue at the parking lot for some time.
“People have commented to me and complained to me that they felt unsafe at certain hours of the day, just because of that population it attracts,” she said.
“As a business, it’s in their best interest to create a space that’s safe for their business.”
Location-specific issue
Safeway said the issue is specific to the Kensington store and they’ve used ongoing customer engagement surveys to determine how much of an impact the problem is having on shoppers.
Scobie also said the organization is well aware of the negative feedback and they’re factoring that into the pilot project.
“The community feedback is important to us but we also want to make sure our customers feel safe,” she said.
“The considerable amount of customer complaints we have, that sort of led us to that decision. This is one of those things that really stands out at that location.”
Parker said factors like the proximity to the LRT stations, bus stops and the river walk are possibly leading panhaldlers to the area, along with the nearby affluent neighbourhood of Hillhurst and new transitional housing that opened at the bottom of 10 Street N.W.
She added that loiterers are discarding garbage and cigarette butts in the green space around the lot, posting a safety risk as lights are installed in the area as part of community improvement projects.
“We appreciate urban living and urban density – with that comes the need to be cognizant of the space around the building,” she said. “The purpose was to create the best possible experience for everybody.”
Parker also said that from a customer and mothers’ perspective, she’s happy to see the store taking measures to deal with the ongoing problem.
“I think it’s definitely a positive thing that’s been implemented from a community resident perspective.”
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