General Update/Rumour thread

[lrt's friend]

I love hearing where a name (Tunney's Pasture) originated from. It honours the man who once owned the property as so many street names do as well. This all reflects the rich history of this city, which in many cases is mostly forgotten. The comments regarding the sweat shop no doubt refer to the previous location of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics (as it was called back then) in the old Edwards Mill formerly on Green Island. No doubt, the demolition of the mill facilitated the construction of our former city hall on Green Island.

I am opposed to eliminating or de-emphasizing historic place names within the city. There is nothing wrong with celebrating our rural past. I also think that Tunney's Pasture is more widely known and more specific to that transit station location than Holland Avenue, which runs all the way south to Carling. Just my opinion.

[Dado]

Splendid idea, but you forgot Lincoln Fields. While you're in the history-erasing mood, maybe you should go tell Transport for London to rename Shepherd's Bush, Holborn, Moorgate, Marylebone, St. John's Wood, Ladbroke Grove, Malda Vale, Shoreditch and probably a few other stations of the Underground since they all recall a rural past.

Tunney's Pasture is one of the few genuine names we have that do accurately recall a rural past. It's not some faked suburban name like 'Meadowlands' or 'Pheasant Run' of a place that never was. Tunney's Pasture actually once did exist as a pasture owned by someone named Tunney. Why should we get rid of some genuine history of a place to satisfy an urge to purge the city of rural associations?

Beyond all that, your suggested alternative, Holland, might be needed as a station name on the future Carling line.

[Mille Sabords]

While you gentlemen point out the validity of retaining the historical memory of place names, I'd simply say that having a major employment node called Tunney's Pasture is the right place for such a tribute, seeing as it effectively names the land where said pastures were once located.

The Holland name would also bear witness to history. Contrary to popular belief it has nothing to do with the Netherlands but rather, with the Ottawa-born Holland brothers, who were our original high-tech gurus, the first to show moving pictures (movies) in Canada after getting a license to do so from Thomas Edison.

So, have the place keep the name (Tunney's Pasture), and have the station take on the other name (Holland Avenue), is what I'm saying.

Aside from this, with all due respect to the British tradition of weepy-eyed nostalgia to the meadows that are no longer, as we all now alas live in the sin of the Big City, but really shouldn't, shame on us, so we name things after greenery to make us feel better about destroying said greenery... and here's a toast to Her Majesty...

I'm sorry. I'm more of the Haussmannian school of thought on this one. Any urban thoroughfare that still has the name "Road" should be de-ruralized. It should be Richmond Street. Baseline should get a new name. Woodroffe Avenue. Pinecrest Avenue. These are not country roads any more. Let us name them to reflect their future. There is actually a classical definition of what is a street, an avenue, a boulevard. I'd like to see us pay some respect to that tradition too.

[lrt's friend]

While I understand that 'Holland' Avenue has perhaps even more historical significance than Tunney's Pasture, it is Tunney's Pasture that is the destination for the majority of the passengers using that station. I think that this alone should affect the naming of the station.

This all goes back to another debate about Via Rail's naming of their new station serving southwest Ottawa. Rather than naming the station after the community it serves, Barrhaven, they decided to name it after the street, Fallowfield Road. Again, to those who are not so familiar with specific street names, Barrhaven would have been a much better choice, especially considering that railway stations have typically been named after the community they served. To add to the confusion, there is a village named Fallowfield some distance from the station.

On the use of Avenue and Street compared to Road, what is the proper timing for making these changes, and where does a street change back to a Road. For example, where does Richmond Street change to Richmond Road and does this lead to more confusion. After all, some parts of Richmond Road still travel through rural areas. This is a practical concern about converting Roads to their urban equivalents. Using the reverse logic, should Bank Street be renamed Bank Road for its rural portions?

To show you how chaotic things can get when seemingly minor name changes are made over time to reflect current preferences, I will point out what happened on Bank Street in Gloucester. It had a number of early historic names but within living memory, it has been named Metcalfe Road, Metcalfe Highway, King's Highway 31, Highway 31, Regional Road 31, and finally Bank Street. Who knows what the Post office was actually officially using at various times.

[bikegypsy]

There is actually a classical definition of what is a street, an avenue, a boulevard. I'd like to see us pay some respect to that tradition too.:lmao: T'es too much

[Dado]

Aside from this, with all due respect to the British tradition of weepy-eyed nostalgia to the meadows that are no longer, as we all now alas live in the sin of the Big City, but really shouldn't, shame on us, so we name things after greenery to make us feel better about destroying said greenery... and here's a toast to Her Majesty...

This and the next paragraph are getting closer to the issue. The British tradition is one of evolution and the French that of revolution. What I take issue with in the above is the contention that we went and named something after greenery after destroying it - but that's not the case I don't think and certainly isn't the case generally in Britain. These spots had names all along and while their nature changed the name stayed. It wasn't a case of a pasture that was destroyed and so we named it after the fact to make us feel better - it had the name before it was destroyed. The name and the place live on in the urban fabric that acknowledges the evolution from rural to urban. For the same reason I really hate the fakery of naming new places after things that never were, or to name them on the eve of their destruction - a sort of false homage. It's an attempt to create a false history for a place - to recreate the sense of place found in many British places in a place that has none.


I'm sorry. I'm more of the Haussmannian school of thought on this one. Any urban thoroughfare that still has the name "Road" should be de-ruralized. It should be Richmond Street. Baseline should get a new name. Woodroffe Avenue. Pinecrest Avenue. These are not country roads any more. Let us name them to reflect their future. There is actually a classical definition of what is a street, an avenue, a boulevard. I'd like to see us pay some respect to that tradition too.

So Edgware Road is rural?

I just don't see the rural vs urban aspect of road vs street and avenue. Street and avenue are definitely urban, but road isn't per se rural. Roads historically go somewhere or serve a specific purpose. Richmond Road used to be "The Richmond Road" because it was the road to Richmond. It wasn't the street to Richmond. "Richmond Street", if it existed, would be named after Richmond or someone by the name of Richmond; it wouldn't go there (think Nepean Street, Gloucester Street, Wellington Street, and so on - there's even an Ottawa Street in Richmond which doesn't go to Ottawa). Same with Montreal Road. Or Kingston Road in Toronto. There are roads like [the] Opeongo Road, built as a settlement and colonization road. Or the Roman Roads of ancient times. Roads are far more about the connecting of urban places to each other and the extension of state (ie urban) control over rural hinterlands than they are about the rural areas themselves.

Besides that, the notion of "de-ruralizing" the names of things strikes me as a bit too statist and the kind of thing that totalitarian regimes get up to.

[Acajack]

While you gentlemen point out the validity of retaining the historical memory of place names, I'd simply say that having a major employment node called Tunney's Pasture is the right place for such a tribute, seeing as it effectively names the land where said pastures were once located.

The Holland name would also bear witness to history. Contrary to popular belief it has nothing to do with the Netherlands but rather, with the Ottawa-born Holland brothers, who were our original high-tech gurus, the first to show moving pictures (movies) in Canada after getting a license to do so from Thomas Edison.

So, have the place keep the name (Tunney's Pasture), and have the station take on the other name (Holland Avenue), is what I'm saying.

Aside from this, with all due respect to the British tradition of weepy-eyed nostalgia to the meadows that are no longer, as we all now alas live in the sin of the Big City, but really shouldn't, shame on us, so we name things after greenery to make us feel better about destroying said greenery... and here's a toast to Her Majesty...

I'm sorry. I'm more of the Haussmannian school of thought on this one. Any urban thoroughfare that still has the name "Road" should be de-ruralized. It should be Richmond Street. Baseline should get a new name. Woodroffe Avenue. Pinecrest Avenue. These are not country roads any more. Let us name them to reflect their future. There is actually a classical definition of what is a street, an avenue, a boulevard. I'd like to see us pay some respect to that tradition too.

Funny how Gatineau did just this a few years ago. Many former roads (chemins) that had become more urban in character were re-named streets (rues).

BTW, is McArthur in Vanier an avenue or a road?

Et vive le Baron Haussmann!

[Mille Sabords]

This and the next paragraph are getting closer to the issue. The British tradition is one of evolution and the French that of revolution. What I take issue with in the above is the contention that we went and named something after greenery after destroying it - but that's not the case I don't think and certainly isn't the case generally in Britain. These spots had names all along and while their nature changed the name stayed. It wasn't a case of a pasture that was destroyed and so we named it after the fact to make us feel better - it had the name before it was destroyed. The name and the place live on in the urban fabric that acknowledges the evolution from rural to urban. For the same reason I really hate the fakery of naming new places after things that never were, or to name them on the eve of their destruction - a sort of false homage. It's an attempt to create a false history for a place - to recreate the sense of place found in many British places in a place that has none.

That's the funny contradiction I was pointing to, and that which makes British folklore so charming and quaint. So, by urbanizing a pasture, we don't destroy it? See any cows grazing there now? (please no comment on ugly female federal employees). So, isn't there a fine line between a "false homage" and a "token homage"? because really, naming a place a Pasture when it's clearly no longer a pasture is tokenism at its best. It's the protestant guilt trip shining through. Call it revolution or evolution, but at some point the collective WE decided that this was no longer a pasture, and that it would be part of the city. Should we feel guilt about it? And is this guilt the real impetus behind the name? I mean, how many friokkin' cow pastures are there between here and Cornwall... we seem to cherish THAT one, and give its name to a TRANSIT STATION... isn't it because we destroyed it?

Besides that, the notion of "de-ruralizing" the names of things strikes me as a bit too statist and the kind of thing that totalitarian regimes get up to.

Well, I'm suggesting this as a private citizen since The State, so far, has been content to keep the rural names - I think more due to inertia, a lack of interest or awareness or willingness to change, or perhaps again some unclear, foggy notion that somehow the rural is the nobler, better, higher form of civilization, and if we must infect it with the urban then at the very least let's make it sound like it still has some rural purity.

Whatever.

Statist, totalitarian... words spoken by someone who's not a fan of the idea. I would call it evolution and progress. To me, Richmond Road and Montreal Road don't look like roads. They look like streets. Why not call them streets?

[AuxTown]

Funny how Gatineau did just this a few years ago. Many former roads (chemins) that had become more urban in character were re-named streets (rues).

BTW, is McArthur in Vanier an avenue or a road?

Et vive le Baron Haussmann!

Avenue.

I actually like the names that represent an area's history and think it is kind of neat when a place with a very rural name is acutally quite urban and dense. I think the problem is that Tunney's still does resemble a pasture and it's almost like we're making fun of it. Maybe in 20 years it will just be a kitchy name for a place that looks nothing like a pasture.

[waterloowarrior]

Zoning application for 855 Carling Avenue... great location

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/855CarlingAvenue.jpg

"D02-02-09-0049: Minor Zoning Amendment to increase among other things, maximum building height and foor space index permitted on the site." (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7OIG96)

[Proof Sheet]

Zoning application for 855 Carling Avenue... great location

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/855CarlingAvenue.jpg

"D02-02-09-0049: Minor Zoning Amendment to increase among other things, maximum building height and foor space index permitted on the site." (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7OIG96)

The land to the north was supposed to be a high rise as well...Aqua something or other was the name. It never seemed to get built.

BTW..how do you embed birds eye imagery?

[waterloowarrior]

BTW..how do you embed birds eye imagery?

I press printscreen, paste into ms paint, select the part I want, repaste into a new image, resize and save, and do a quick upload to free webspace.

[Kitchissippi]

To me, Richmond Road and Montreal Road don't look like roads. They look like streets. Why not call them streets?

Because roads lead to a destination and streets don't necessarily do. I like the fact that we've kept these designations since they are historical. Montreal road was the first road to Montreal and Richmond Road was the first road to Richmond. When I was cycling in Europe, I often picked my routes based these names, assuming that Bremerstrasse in Hamburg was the traditional way the Germans travelled to Bremen, or Route de Rennes in Nantes was the old way the French travelled to Rennes. This is true in England as well, London Road in any of the towns around London always led to London.

[waterloowarrior]

Tega Homes (http://www.tavaniwestboro.com/) (Spyros Dimitrakopoulos) brings you Tavani Westboro at 690 Churchill Avenue

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/tavaniwestboro.jpg

[rocketphish]

Interesting. Tega's Petrino Lofts (Phase II) at 2000 Carling Ave is also in the works:
http://www.petrinolofts.com

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3660606937_b4dc440092_o_d.jpg

Tavani looks quite a bit better than Petrino, IMO.

[rocketphish]

Actually, Tega is fairly busy. Here are two other projects, and unfortunately both seem to have been designed by a drafting student:

Vertical Limits of Kanata Lakes
http://www.verticallimitskanata.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3660625759_003dc31029_o_d.jpg


The Crossroads of Barrhaven
http://www.tegadevelopments.com

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3661425642_2541d04595_o_d.jpg

[rocketphish]

And speaking of cheap-looking and ugly infill developments, how 'bout this one?

The LA Group (http://www.lagroup.ca/development/projects.html)'s Upper East Side development of 72 stacked townhomes in the Manor Park area:

http://uppereastside.ca

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3661456340_eb0bd535a1_o_d.jpg


The siteplan:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3661456420_c93f614830_o_d.jpg

The map:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3661456516_21c98b3704_o_d.jpg


And interestingly, it appears that they are reusing the footprints of the existing structures, even though the site has been completed cleared and the old foundations have been removed. Is there some advantage to doing this with respect to acquiring permits/approvals?

[Davis137]

I like that proposed site on Carling beside the O-Train...I can see that entire portion of the city being redeveloped soon (it's already getting there now).

[kwoldtimer]

And speaking of cheap-looking and ugly infill developments, how 'bout this one?

The LA Group (http://www.lagroup.ca/development/projects.html)'s Upper East Side development of 72 stacked townhomes in the Manor Park area:

http://uppereastside.ca

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3642/3661456340_eb0bd535a1_o_d.jpg


The siteplan:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2477/3661456420_c93f614830_o_d.jpg

The map:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3299/3661456516_21c98b3704_o_d.jpg


And interestingly, it appears that they are reusing the footprints of the existing structures, even though the site has been completed cleared and the old foundations have been removed. Is there some advantage to doing this with respect to acquiring permits/approvals?

This latest iteration is, I think, the third attempt to get this development off the ground - each version has been less expensive that its predecessor and the design seems to have suffered as a result. Great location though.

[rocketphish]

This latest iteration is, I think, the third attempt to get this development off the ground - each version has been less expensive that its predecessor and the design seems to have suffered as a result. Great location though.

Yes, they have got cheapened, for sure. This older rendering from the LA Group (http://www.lagroup.ca) site shows that they were originally appointed with covered porticos, balconies, and were to be faced in a mixture of red brick and other materials (stucco?). They definitely had more character before, but still couldn't be accused of being "high-end". So I wonder why the drop in perceived quality?

Before:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2423/3668551527_c21de91a8e_o_d.jpg


Now:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/3669360794_e4dfcc0672_o_d.jpg

[kwoldtimer]

:previous: Wow! Still a lot better than what they are replacing, but what a downgrade from the last design.

[waterloowarrior]

Hydro draws the line on mixed-use project
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Hydro+draws+line+mixed+project/1762416/story.html
Councillor, architects say something must be done to help small developer who did everything right

BY MARIA COOK, THE OTTAWA CITIZENJULY 6, 2009 12:01 AM

OTTAWA — Nicolas Ibrahim is a small real-estate developer who thought he was doing everything right.

His plan for a four-storey mixed-use building on Main Street in Old Ottawa East was supported by the community, its city councillor and both the city’s official plan and the community design plan.

Last March, however, he learned from Hydro Ottawa that the utility requires a five-metre distance from overhead power lines, forcing him to dramatically alter the building.

Councillor Clive Doucet says the Hydro rule is a city-wide issue that threatens the city’s goal to beef up main streets and encourage mid-rise development.

“This is shutting down all the preferred development,” he says. “A developer has two choices: to build two storeys, which is what was there before, or build eight to 10 storeys, where the profits are so big that he can afford to bury the lines.”

Doucet is putting forth a motion at Wednesday’s council meeting asking the city to spend $80,000 to either bury or raise the power lines at 164 Main St. so that Ibrahim’s original project can go ahead.

“This fellow has been trying for two years to bring forward exactly what we want for Main Street.”

He adds that Ibrahim was told of the five-metre easement at the last minute.

Doucet’s motion also suggests city staff “work with Hydro Ottawa to find a solution that will allow development along Main Street to meet the goals of the official plan.” In the longer term, the city must find the means to bury wires on all urban main streets, perhaps using its annual $15-million Hydro Ottawa dividend, Doucet says. The city already pays for buried wires in suburban developments.

“If we don’t, it’s going to suffocate our ability to densify principal streets.”

When Ibrahim bought the site beside Immaculata High School, he planned to construct a duplex, but changed to suit the community’s wishes.

“We had been advocating for a demonstration of a four-storey mixed-use building on that site,” says area architect Stephen Pope, who helped develop the Old Ottawa East community design plan.

“That’s what the community is requesting all the way down the west side of Main Street,” Pope said.

Architect Pawel Fiett designed a 6,000-square-foot building with ground-floor commercial space and an outdoor arcade for café tables. There were also three storeys of apartments — six units with one or two bedrooms.

To meet Hydro rules, the building is now reduced to three storeys and is pushed back farther from the street. It has been trimmed to four bachelor units and the arcade has been removed.

“We’re not designing to urban standards, we’re designing to accommodate existing Hydro lines,” Fiett says.

“The height is lower than they would like,” Ibrahim says. “The setback is farther than they would like. With all that space in front of the building, it no longer becomes like Elgin Street or Westboro or the Glebe.

“Any redevelopment on that side of the street is going to encounter the same thing,” he says. “All the wires are very ugly. Half the poles are leaning.”

Ibrahim, whose project will cost $1.5 million, believes that city staff should have alerted him to the Hydro easement.

“All the extra money I’ve spent (on delays and redoing the plan) is eliminating any profit I’m going to make,” he says. “I would like to see Hydro pick up the tab (for relocating the wires) and the city give me some concessions so I can recoup my losses and make the project viable, and give them something they would like to see.”

He was disappointed in his meetings with Hydro officials. “It’s a lot easier to say no than to find a solution.”

Hydro spokeswoman Rosemary Walsh says the clearance is mandated by provincial codes.

“In cases where overhead electrical wires are in place, we work with developers and city planning staff to find solutions wherever possible, while making sure that the appropriate clearance from wires is maintained to protect public safety,” she says. “Often the preferred option is to bury wires, but this can be between five and 10 times more expensive that building overhead infrastructure.”

Burying wires on one street can cost $10 to $12 million, which represents a third of Hydro Ottawa’s annual budget for equipment upgrades and replacements, she says.

“We recognize that there are many areas in the city where developers or local residents would like to have overhead wires buried,” Walsh says. “We are working with city staff to develop a framework that would help to prioritize such projects and to determine how the costs would be covered.

“City staff will be coming forward with a proposal for discussion by council in the near future.”

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

[k2p]

:previous: I can't believe I agree with Clive Doucet. But he's bang on the money with this one. Here's to dinging sprawl housing with an inner city wire-burying levy.

[Proof Sheet]

:previous: I can't believe I agree with Clive Doucet. But he's bang on the money with this one. Here's to dinging sprawl housing with an inner city wire-burying levy.

This project at 164 Main is exactly what the Main Streets guidelines are looking for. IIRC the issue with Hydro came to the Councillor's/applicants attention in March of this year and has meant some serious changes to the plans.

Wouldn't Hydro be asked for comments earlier in the process?

[Davis137]

Since the last topic had to do with Hydro Ottawa, the Wellington West Corridor from Parkdale to Island Park had it's new street and sidewalk lamps lit up this past weekend, for what I'm sure is the first time. They have almost finished removing all of the old equipment, and are now planting trees and installing more of the inter-locking bricks on the sidewalks...

[umbria27]

:previous: I can't believe I agree with Clive Doucet. But he's bang on the money with this one. Here's to dinging sprawl housing with an inner city wire-burying levy.

Can you imagine the beating a wire-burying levy would take when it ran the gauntlet of a council meeting? Those suburban councilors would never let it go through.

Still, is it any wonder that developers prefer greenfields development? The city should be making a list of all these gotchas that are discouraging their intensification projects, then start knocking down these obstacles.

What would it take to make wire-burying for Main Street, Bank Street and similar locations, "shovel ready" in order to get some of that federal infrastructure money?

[rocketphish]

This latest iteration is, I think, the third attempt to get this development off the ground - each version has been less expensive that its predecessor and the design seems to have suffered as a result. Great location though.

Interesting. The Sales Centre hours for the Upper East Side (http://uppereastside.ca/) development were recently changed

FROM:
Monday - Thursday: noon to 6pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: noon to 5pm
Closed Fridays


TO:
By Appointment Only


I guess they aren't getting a lot of traffic through the door. This doesn't bode well for this project. Maybe if they improved their architectural designs, instead of making them plainer and plainer, more buyers would be attracted.

[kwoldtimer]

Interesting. The Sales Centre hours for the Upper East Side (http://uppereastside.ca/) development were recently changed

FROM:
Monday - Thursday: noon to 6pm
Saturday, Sunday and holidays: noon to 5pm
Closed Fridays


TO:
By Appointment Only


I guess they aren't getting a lot of traffic through the door. This doesn't bode well for this project. Maybe if they improved their architectural designs, instead of making them plainer and plainer, more buyers would be attracted.

You may be right - the new sales office just opened a couple of weeks ago. :shrug:

[Radster]

Junic just released plans for new upscale condos in the Plateau.

Project is called la Quatour. It will be a collection of 16 three storey buildings, each with an elevator & underground parking/storage space.

Units range from 1 bedroom 800 sqft, to 3 bedroom 1600 sqft.

http://www.lequatuor.ca/home.html

I stopped by to get the scoop on prices, and I was shocked! The pricing is not posted on their website, and it took a while to actually get the sales guy to hand me the pricing sheet. The cheapest units are in the $300,000 range and the bigger units are over half a million! Ridiculous for this location IMO!

We have a Junic condo in the Plateau, which we purchased a couple years ago brand new for under $200,000, and are super happy with it, it is a good quality condo, Junic was nice to deal with, so I know they will live up to their promises with this new development, but the pricing, especially given the location and current economic situation, is IMO ridiculous, when one could purchase a house for the same price or less in Hull/Gatineau/Aylmer....

[Rocky1687]

Anyone know what sort of construction is going on at Slater & O'Connor?....it doesn't look like they're landscaping a park ;)

[rocketphish]

Tega Homes (http://www.tavaniwestboro.com/) (Spyros Dimitrakopoulos) brings you Tavani Westboro at 690 Churchill Avenue



The development docs for this project have now been posted:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=4359382#post4359382

[harls]

Anyone know what sort of construction is going on at Slater & O'Connor?....it doesn't look like they're landscaping a park ;)


that would be this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blix613/sets/72157619278500182/) ...

[Rocky1687]

that would be this (http://www.flickr.com/photos/blix613/sets/72157619278500182/) ...

Looks like an impressive design at a quick glance...I like the trees at the top near the roof.

[Cre47]

Heard from some of the French media such as TVA and Info 07 that the Museum of Sciences and Technology will be moving (sounds like official) to the former Domtar Site.

I got only the article in French however.

http://www.info07.com/article-358591-Le-Musee-des-sciences-et-de-la-technologie-demenagera-a-Gatineau.html

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Heard from some of the French media such as TVA and Info 07 that the Museum of Sciences and Technology will be moving (sounds like official) to the former Domtar Site.

I got only the article in French however.

http://www.info07.com/article-358591-Le-Musee-des-sciences-et-de-la-technologie-demenagera-a-Gatineau.html

Does Domtar own only the land on the Gatineau side, or do they also own parts of Victoria Island near the Chaudiere Falls?

In any case, Great news! Let's hope the Science and Tech museum is as big and architecturally stunning as the Musee des Civilisations. :)

[Kitchissippi]

Sounds a bit strange, a Bloc Quebecois MP preempting an official government announcement with regards to a federal institution. I bet this is really pissing off whoever makes the decision on the location of the museum, and the Conservatives who were probably hoping to make this some sort of election promise.

[AuxTown]

That's awesome news. I always felt that the museum of science and tech was wasted over on St. Laurent and the Domtar site is an excellent and central one for a museum. Our downtown is so blessed with amazing institutions.

[Richard Eade]

Heard from some of the French media such as TVA and Info 07 that the Museum of Sciences and Technology will be moving (sounds like official) to the former Domtar Site.

I got only the article in French however.

http://www.info07.com/article-358591-Le-Musee-des-sciences-et-de-la-technologie-demenagera-a-Gatineau.html
Think of the redevelopment potential of the current S&T Museum site!

The Feds didn't have to buy that area at St. Laurent and 417 since they'll have a huge block of land on which to build another Tunneys Pasture. (OK, let's hope it is a bit denser then TP.)

[Dado]

This should be fun: with the City ripping out the tracks at Bayview to the Prince of Wales Bridge, the obvious way to get the Museum's locomotives to the new location will be cut off.

I wonder if they'd send them all the way to Montreal and back or whether they would put them on trucks.


I did find this funny, though:

"Selon M. Nadeau, l'arrivée du Musée dans le secteur de Hull permettra d'attirer davantage de touristes qui débarquent à Ottawa. «Actuellement, seulement 6% des gens qui visitent la capitale traversent le pont pour venir voir Gatineau. C'est certain que la présence du Musée ne pourra que faire augmenter ce pourcentage.»"

Ah yes, only 6% of tourists cross to "go see Gatineau". Well given what one can see of Gatineau from the Ottawa side, that's hardly surprising. I bet most of the 6% are going to Gatineau to go to the Museum of Civilization, which also happens to offer the best views of the Parliament Buildings.

[Kitchissippi]

Does Domtar own only the land on the Gatineau side, or do they also own parts of Victoria Island near the Chaudiere Falls?

I think you are referring to Chaudière Island, which is mostly hydro-electric installations, including the old generators that used to power Ottawa's electric streetcars. I think about 10% of the city's power still comes from the falls. Victoria Island is pretty well all owned by the NCC and accessible to the public. There is a third island (I've heard it called Middle Island) which is across from the War Museum – it's the tiny one that is really crammed with old brick buildings.

[Kitchissippi]

Ah yes, only 6% of tourists cross to "go see Gatineau". Well given what one can see of Gatineau from the Ottawa side, that's hardly surprising. I bet most of the 6% are going to Gatineau to go to the Museum of Civilization, which also happens to offer the best views of the Parliament Buildings.

I've heard that the casino draws more people than any of the museums, a sad fact if it is true. 6% seems like an extremely low figure, and I really am beginning to doubt Mr Nadeau's credibility. I think there is a reason why none of the Ottawa papers have picked up this story. This seems like Bloc Quebecois grandstanding: notice how he says in the video, "il y a des acteurs politiques au niveau municipal, national (read Quebec provincial), et federal..."

[Acajack]

I've heard that the casino draws more people than any of the museums, a sad fact if it is true...."

I believe the Casino du Lac Leamy is actually the number one tourist attraction in Ottawa-Gatineau, and even outdraws the Parliament Buildings.

6% seems like an extremely low figure, and I really am beginning to doubt Mr Nadeau's credibility. I think there is a reason why none of the Ottawa papers have picked up this story. This seems like Bloc Quebecois grandstanding: notice how he says in the video, "il y a des acteurs politiques au niveau municipal, national (read Quebec provincial), et federal...."

Well, either he's full of it, or Lawrence Cannon is probably really, really angry today for having been scooped by the BQ guy for this announcement.

And if it is true, betcha Nadeau won't ever be invited to the inner circle of discussions on any other matter again.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I think you are referring to Chaudière Island, which is mostly hydro-electric installations, including the old generators that used to power Ottawa's electric streetcars. I think about 10% of the city's power still comes from the falls. Victoria Island is pretty well all owned by the NCC and accessible to the public. There is a third island (I've heard it called Middle Island) which is across from the War Museum – it's the tiny one that is really crammed with old brick buildings.

Okay, thanks for clearing that up.

[harls]

I didn't see this mentioned, apologies if it was..

Location : 416 Richmond Rd

http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7ONDOT

2 Proposed new 7 storey residential condominium towers over 1 storey commercial / retail base (accessed from Richmond Road) with Mezzanine serving residential space accessed from Byron Ave, 2 storeys of below grade parking accssed from Byron Avenue..

[Dado]

I've heard that the casino draws more people than any of the museums, a sad fact if it is true. 6% seems like an extremely low figure, and I really am beginning to doubt Mr Nadeau's credibility. I think there is a reason why none of the Ottawa papers have picked up this story. This seems like Bloc Quebecois grandstanding: notice how he says in the video, "il y a des acteurs politiques au niveau municipal, national (read Quebec provincial), et federal..."

Good point. 6% does seem low. It would be sad if the casino draws more people than the museums, though in fairness a lot of conventions are held there (I've been to one but never went to the casino proper) so I wonder just what is being counted.

Anyway, the Domtar site would be a good location for the museum due to the site's prominence as well as its industrial heritage - lumber, pulp & paper, electricity generation and railways (both regular and the electric street railway) - some of the buildings of which are still around and might be usable. I would just hate to see the BQ going on a grandstanding binge about it.

[waterloowarrior]

I didn't see this mentioned, apologies if it was..

Location : 416 Richmond Rd

http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7ONDOT

2 Proposed new 7 storey residential condominium towers over 1 storey commercial / retail base (accessed from Richmond Road) with Mezzanine serving residential space accessed from Byron Ave, 2 storeys of below grade parking accssed from Byron Avenue..

that's westboro station phase 2

[Rathgrith]

I believe the Casino du Lac Leamy is actually the number one tourist attraction in Ottawa-Gatineau, and even outdraws the Parliament Buildings.

Wow, that says so much about the interest in national institutions (or lack of it). There is only one way to solve this; put black jack tables in the War Museum!

[AuxTown]

Wow, that says so much about the interest in national institutions (or lack of it). There is only one way to solve this; put black jack tables in the War Museum!

And replace the eternal flame with a big roulette wheel!

http://www.westland.net/coneyisland/articles/images/stp-humanwheel.jpg

[p_xavier]

Wow, that says so much about the interest in national institutions (or lack of it). There is only one way to solve this; put black jack tables in the War Museum!

Well since it's mostly veterans begging for money, I say it's a great idea.

[harls]

that's westboro station phase 2

oops you're right.. for some reason I thought it was futher west.

[ajldub]

I'll believe the Science and Tech move when it's published in the Citizen, until then I won't hold my breath. It would be neat to see it built in a campus-style across the Chaudiere Islands, although I was personally hoping for a Native Canadian interpretation centre and maybe a real museum of Ottawa there. If it does end up there it will leave a big question mark as to what will become of the Scott Paper plant on the Gatineau side.

Hey Kitchissippi do you know if the Richmond Road Convent is going up for sale?

[TransitZilla]

I haven't seen this posted yet: Johnson Rd Land Use Study
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/johnston/boards_jun09_en.html (area north of Johnson Road between Albion & Conroy)

Option A:
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/johnston/boards_jun09_en-11.jpg

Option B:
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/johnston/boards_jun09_en-13.jpg

Option C:
http://www.ottawa.ca/residents/public_consult/johnston/boards_jun09_en-15.jpg

It seems like they are also considering providing a connection between Albion Rd North and South, which would be great for cycling connections to the south end.

[adam-machiavelli]

I like option A because it has the most residential and the least industrial.

[Zach6668]

What's the project going on just south of the Museum of Nature, and just north of the 417. You can actually see it driving West on the 417. It's just a hole in the ground and a crane it seems, right now.

[Kitchissippi]

:previous: it's this (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=150372)

[Zach6668]

:previous: it's this (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=150372)
Ty sir.

[waterloowarrior]

The west side of the canal recently has some work done
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2454/3772704322_5a6fe307c6.jpg

[Zach6668]

The St. Laurent Mall expansion thread had me wondering about the abandoned building by the Rideau Centre. The Ogilvie Department store building, IIRC?

Anyways, what's the deal with it. Why is it not in use? Just random curiousity. If there's a link in here or anything like that, it'd be cool.

Thanks.

[cityguy]

The Olgivie building is part of the Rideau Centre expansion,so it will be guttedand incorporated into he new structure,sometime after the Congress Centre is finished.

[YOWetal]

The Olgivie building is part of the Rideau Centre expansion,so it will be guttedand incorporated into he new structure,sometime after the Congress Centre is finished.

Would they keep the facade? Anybody have a link to the site plan?

[Deez]

From the old Ottawa Development Megathread:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e2/Reersmeer/image018.jpg

This is an old plan for expansion that was cancelled/postponed, but I would imagine the use of Ogilvy's will be similar. Note that only the bottom floors are retained (the top two do not have heritage designation).

[Mille Sabords]

Would they keep the facade? Anybody have a link to the site plan?

Personally, I'd rather see the whole facade kept and not have the top floors shaved off, which is ridiculous. This corner would be a prime candidate for a retrofil that would keep the entire historic facade and then go up another 15 storeys for condos. The retail component would then simply be the first three floors as a podium.

In the 2005 plan, they were showing H&M as the main occupant of that Ogilvy building. I'm sure they would be there today if the Rideau Centre accepted to fit up the space instead of leaving it vacant. But they seem to be waiting for "the whole thing to move ahead" before they reopn the building.

[Zach6668]

That's interesting. I didn't know the Rideau Centre owned all of that. They have a real opportunity to impact the street, and hopefully generate a positive street interaction.

Right now, my favorite place to walk in the area is the pedestrian crossing just East of the mall on Rideau St, where the pedestrian walk between the Scotiabank and the Highlander Pub. There's always a ton of people, and there's the speakers playing music, the little fountains, the patios, etc. It's a great place to be. I think they use the area beside the bank as secured bike parking, but it'd be a good place for another patio or something like that as well.

If they can expand some street interaction and vibrancy across to the other side of Rideau, that'd be awesome too.

[fireicedog]

Not sure if anyone's noticed, but Elephant & Castle closed a couple weeks ago along with the mini newstand outlet beside it and is now all boarded up. Not sure what's going in there but it's big chunk of space.

[rocketphish]

Not sure if anyone's noticed, but Elephant & Castle closed a couple weeks ago along with the mini newstand outlet beside it and is now all boarded up. Not sure what's going in there but it's big chunk of space.

ELEPHANT & CASTLE in OTTAWA
IS NOW CLOSED!

After 26 years of being Ottawa’s favourite neighbourhood pub for dining, drinking, and gathering the beloved Elephant & Castle® is saying Goodbye!

We want to sincerely thank our many guests over the years for your continued support and patronage. We have all made fond memories within these old walls, and it is with a eavy heart that we close the doors.

The staff and management wish you all a warm and wonderful summer.
See you soon!

We have a great new concept opening in the Fall. Hope to see then!

http://www.elephantcastle.com/content/locations/ottawa

[p_xavier]

In the 2005 plan, they were showing H&M as the main occupant of that Ogilvy building. I'm sure they would be there today if the Rideau Centre accepted to fit up the space instead of leaving it vacant. But they seem to be waiting for "the whole thing to move ahead" before they reopn the building.

The plan was voted down by city council. That was the reason it didn't go ahead. The council wanted to have more on-street presence, which I'm all for, but the plan was much better than the current situation. It was clear there won't be any additions until the convention centre is completed.

On the other end, what are they doing where the Tim Hortons and Burger King used to be? It really reduced the bums there.

[Mille Sabords]

ELEPHANT & CASTLE in OTTAWA
IS NOW CLOSED!

After 26 years of being Ottawa’s favourite neighbourhood pub for dining, drinking, and gathering the beloved Elephant & Castle® is saying Goodbye!

We want to sincerely thank our many guests over the years for your continued support and patronage. We have all made fond memories within these old walls, and it is with a eavy heart that we close the doors.

The staff and management wish you all a warm and wonderful summer.
See you soon!

We have a great new concept opening in the Fall. Hope to see then!

http://www.elephantcastle.com/content/locations/ottawa

I saw it boarded up and wondered what was going on. My brother in law used to work there and it was a big hangout for Argentina fans during World Cup '06. I witnessed the heartbreak loss to Germany there. Oh well, I hope the new bar will be equally worthy. :cheers:

[sky.high]

I heard a rumor that Urban is going to build another "east market" style set of condo buildings in downtown :slob:

Has anyone else heard of this? Does anybody have any info?

[Ryersonian]

I saw it boarded up and wondered what was going on. My brother in law used to work there and it was a big hangout for Argentina fans during World Cup '06. I witnessed the heartbreak loss to Germany there. Oh well, I hope the new bar will be equally worthy. :cheers:

Argentina....seriously?

[Mille Sabords]

Argentina....seriously?

Yeah. That's my background. Both my parents are from Buenos Aires. :tup:

[archie-tect]

Argentina... hmmm.... We are still waiting for the cheque for our stadium that they broke, although it could be poor maintenance. :)

[kwoldtimer]

The other day, I noticed a municipal proposal sign at the empty lot on the north-east corner of Cumberland at York that I think said there was a proposal for a two storey commercial building on the site. I haven't seen any comment about it here. Does anyone have more info on what is planned?

[Zach6668]

The other day, I noticed a municipal proposal sign at the empty lot on the north-east corner of Cumberland at York that I think said there was a proposal for a two storey commercial building on the site. I haven't seen any comment about it here. Does anyone have more info on what is planned?

Is that where that swim shop is, across Cumberland from the Mr. Mozzarella?

On a semi-related note, I was curious about an area just north of this one, a block or two up. There's an old school there that's all boarded up. I was wondering if anyone knew of the plans for it. It's from like 1902, but I can't tell if it's potentially a heritage building or what. It doesn't look very good, and looks like whoever owns it quit maintaining it years ago. Any ideas? Could be another good spot for condos, and would help cleaning up the area a bit.

[kwoldtimer]

Is that where that swim shop is, across Cumberland from the Mr. Mozzarella?

On a semi-related note, I was curious about an area just north of this one, a block or two up. There's an old school there that's all boarded up. I was wondering if anyone knew of the plans for it. It's from like 1902, but I can't tell if it's potentially a heritage building or what. It doesn't look very good, and looks like whoever owns it quit maintaining it years ago. Any ideas? Could be another good spot for condos, and would help cleaning up the area a bit.

It seems to relate only to the lot beside the swim shop. I would be glad to see something built there, but had hoped we might see something a bit more "transitional" (e.g. five or six stories) between the towers and the residential bits.

Re the old school, oldtimers will know that this property (like much else in Market/Lowertown) is owned by a person with a not very strong reputation (I am being careful in my phrasing here) in terms of property development or relations with the city. This and the continued deterioration of the site, including the stripping away of much of its heritage value over the years, makes me doubt we will see anything happen. Given what has been allowed to happen down the block, it would take a truly brave urban pioneer to invest in a condo on that site. :(

[Zach6668]

Just because I spent some time out and around the Market taking pictures today, I snapped that lot on my way home, along with the posted signs.


http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9921/057paa.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8108/058etc.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/182/059ekd.jpg

[harls]

Last weekend I saw some application sign on Woodroffe across from Carlingwood Mall.. looked like a condo project.. didn't get a good look.

Also saw some grotesque looking building being constructed behind the old Future Shop on Merivale (about 5 or 6 stories).

[kwoldtimer]

Just because I spent some time out and around the Market taking pictures today, I snapped that lot on my way home, along with the posted signs.


http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/9921/057paa.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/8108/058etc.jpg
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/182/059ekd.jpg

Ahh, less than I had thought.

[waterloowarrior]

Last weekend I saw some application sign on Woodroffe across from Carlingwood Mall.. looked like a condo project.. didn't get a good look.



could be 336 woodroffe (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7JO5TJ)



Looks like Claridge has a new website
http://www.claridgehomes.com/

[deva]

Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent is for sale. It'll be interesting to see what they do with such a great site.

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bulldog/default.aspx

[Norman Bates]

Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent is for sale. It'll be interesting to see what they do with such a great site.

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bulldog/default.aspx

Absolutely splendid. All offers on the site must be in by September 24. What a gem.

[Zach6668]

There's a hideous looking apartment building around the Lees area, where the 417 and Nicholas cross. It looks like it's getting re-skinned or something. It had hideous balconies before, but they seem to have replaced a vertical section of it in all class curtain wall.

Anyone have any info on this?

It's the building the most south-west of all the high rises in the Lees area there.

Seems to be moving very slowly as well, looks like they've done about 40 feet across (top to bottom) in the year that I've been living here.

[Davis137]

I know where you are talking about, and the facelift they are doing looks a LOT better than the way it used to look.

[Zach6668]

I know where you are talking about, and the facelift they are doing looks a LOT better than the way it used to look.

Oh yeah, like a completely different building.

[canadave]

I know where you are talking about, and the facelift they are doing looks a LOT better than the way it used to look.

To be fair, you could have replaced that building with a tire fire and it would have been nicer to look at.

[kwoldtimer]

:previous:

I have been wondering when someone would comment on this. The building in question has looked terrible for as long a I can remember. The new skin is a big improvement and a big job.

[harls]

Anyone have a photo?

[peteotown]

I think this is the building you are talking about:

Pictures courtesy of Ubersite Blog (http://urbsite.blogspot.com/)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u2WcNSWdwE8/ShYQWgqZzKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/yW5yFZl2ckU/s1600/P5150030.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u2WcNSWdwE8/ShYPTYGX46I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/RI0gmnO6v5U/s1600/P5150031.JPG

[c_speed3108]

19th-century Ottawa convent for sale
Last Updated: Friday, August 14, 2009 | 1:59 PM ET
CBC News

A century-old cloistered convent in Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood has been put up for auction as the City of Ottawa scrambles to protect it with a heritage designation.

"It would be a travesty to lose something like this," said Christine Leadman, city councillor for Kitchissippi Ward where Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent is located, in an interview Friday.


City staff are expected to complete a report in September to support the bid for heritage designation for the property at 114 Richmond Rd. near Island Park Drive. That would protect the original 1880 stone building and an addition built in 1919 from being changed by the new owner, but will not stop the development of the two hectares of green space surrounding them, Leadman said.

She suggested the eight-storey condos springing up in the area have put pressure on the handful of elderly nuns believed to remain at the convent.

"It's been a very secluded and cloistered community and probably doesn't fit in right now in that element," she said. "But at the same time, we have an opportunity to take advantage of a unique heritage property and protect it as much as we can."

A brochure from the real estate company DTZ Barnicke is marketing the property as a "simply extraordinary development opportunity." Its brochure includes images of a round stained glass window surrounded by painted accents, an airy chapel with coloured frescoes painted on both the walls and the arched ceilings, and exterior shots displaying the grey stone work and glistening bell tower.

There is no asking price, but Leadman estimates the property is worth tens of millions of dollars — more than the city could afford.

Gary Ludington, co-chair of the Westboro Community Association, said it's the last large piece of undeveloped property along bustling Richmond Road, and the group has been expecting its sale.

"Here we've got one more chance, one more kick at the can to do something that's really right," he said, "and not just necessarily for the commercial, the dollar value of what's going to go into somebody's pocket."

David Jeanes, spokesman for Heritage Ottawa, said there was no reason to give the buildings heritage designation before because there was no indication the nuns would be moving out.

However, he said, if the nuns object to the designation, which could reduce the sale value of the property, that could make things more difficult.

The heritage designation can go ahead even if the building is sold before the designation is in place.


-------------------

Property history

"The history of the property goes way back to the founding of the village itself," said Christine Leadman.

It was originally purchased by James Skead, owner of a nearby mill that supported the village in the 1870s, who built his house on the property where it remains, Leadman added. Skead, who also served as local alderman, MP and senator over his career, later sold the property to George Holland, the 19th-century reporter of the Senate Hansard for whom Holland Avenue is named.

Les Soeurs de La Visitation took over the property after his death.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=rjz9wp8pn76n&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=32858600&where1=114%20Richmond%20Rd&encType=1

[Zach6668]

I think this is the building you are talking about:

Pictures courtesy of Ubersite Blog (http://urbsite.blogspot.com/)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u2WcNSWdwE8/ShYQWgqZzKI/AAAAAAAAAJY/yW5yFZl2ckU/s1600/P5150030.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_u2WcNSWdwE8/ShYPTYGX46I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/RI0gmnO6v5U/s1600/P5150031.JPG

Here's the blog post about it:

http://urbsite.blogspot.com/2009/05/re-re-cladding-on-lees.html

[rakerman]

in the parking lot on Kent and Albert, there used to be a huge sign that said x hundreds of thousands of feet of space to be built, now it just has a sign saying "Brookfield Properties"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2488/3821907692_8b4d2b47d0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakerman/3821907692/)

Does that mean the space is going to be built, or that they gave up?

[kwoldtimer]

in the parking lot on Kent and Albert, there used to be a huge sign that said x hundreds of thousands of feet of space to be built, now it just has a sign saying "Brookfield Properties"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2488/3821907692_8b4d2b47d0.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakerman/3821907692/)

Does that mean the space is going to be built, or that they gave up?

My dream of a great municipal square on the site lives on (in my head, if nowhere else)!

[harls]

There were plans to build three 17 storey towers on the site, but who knows what Brookfield is up to....

This could be a great location for a new tallest, but I highly doubt that would happen (maybe there could be room for that municipal square too :))

[BlueJay]

There's a hideous looking apartment building around the Lees area, where the 417 and Nicholas cross. It looks like it's getting re-skinned or something. It had hideous balconies before, but they seem to have replaced a vertical section of it in all class curtain wall.

Anyone have any info on this?

It's the building the most south-west of all the high rises in the Lees area there.

Seems to be moving very slowly as well, looks like they've done about 40 feet across (top to bottom) in the year that I've been living here.

They are not only giving it a facelift, they are totally gutting the interiors of the apartments right down to the concrete and remodeling them and now charging a few hundred dollars a month more in rent.

Long over due, but at least it's getting done.

[Zach6668]

They are not only giving it a facelift, they are totally gutting the interiors of the apartments right down to the concrete and remodeling them and now charging a few hundred dollars a month more in rent.

Long over due, but at least it's getting done.

That's cool.

I was under the impression it was still being inhabited... I wonder how they work that logistically to try to inconvenience people as little as possible.

[BlueJay]

I took a couple of pics of the project this morning at 170 Lees.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41568444@N08/3823808894/


http://www.flickr.com/photos/41568444@N08/3823004793/

[harls]

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Parkdale+Market+gets+overdue+renovation/1896600/story.html

Parkdale Market gets overdue renovation

Fall selling season slightly disrupted

BY PATRICK DARE, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN

AUGUST 15, 2009

The fall selling season of the Parkdale Market will be disrupted as the City of Ottawa rebuilds the market area in a project city officials say is long overdue.

Thanksgiving Monday will be the last market day before the stalls start coming down. Vendors who continue to operate through the fall will be shifted to nearby Armstrong Street.

The city plans to replace the deteriorating pavement under the stalls with a concrete slab. The market's vendors, who are financially responsible for the canopy structure over the stalls, will next month be given the options for what kind of structure they want.

The market renovation will also include new lighting, trees and banners to be installed as part of the current road project on nearby Wellington Street.

Philip Powell, manager of the city's markets, said the city has been talking with vendors for several years about the project. He said the market, and its stall structure, were established in the 1970s and need to be replaced.

Vendors in the spring hang heavy flats of plants on the tubular structure and there is concern about its ability to hold up.

"It's rusting out," said Powell. "We have major concerns. We've got to get going."

The city is covering the cost of the concrete pad, about $150,000, but the vendors will have to cover the cost of the new canopy structure. The cost of that is estimated at between $250,000 and $500,000 and will add between $100 and $200 a month to the $800 monthly rental fees for a stall on the Parkdale Market. Powell acknowledged some vendors are concerned about the changes, but he said the result next spring should be impressive and that it's a renovation that should last for decades.

The city has planned a meeting in September where vendors -- about half are re-sellers of goods and half are farmers -- can tell officials which canopy structure they want.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

[Davis137]

It's great that reno's are going to happen, and this is only going to further stimulate redevelopment of Wellington Village and Hintonburg.

[k2p]

The facelift of 170 Lees is so long overdue. Those things made East Berlin circa 1977 look stylish. Apologies to anyone fond of East Berlin circa 1977.

[Proof Sheet]

Apologies to anyone fond of East Berlin circa 1977.

Well David Bowie seemed to like the place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf5UkdCh5Bw

[waterloowarrior]

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bulldog/default.aspx

Barnicke Takes Down Convent Real Estate Listing

By KENNETH_GRAY 08-20-2009 COMMENTS(0) THE BULLDOG

Filed under: Christine Leadman, DTZ Barnicke, Les Soeurs de la Visitation. National Capital Commission
DTZ Barnicke real estate has removed the listing for Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent at 114 Richmond Rd. from its website.

Events are moving quickly concerning the property. Kitchissippi Councillor Christine Leadman says the Barnicke action could mean that bidding has closed, or that there has been a very good bid, or even that the property has been sold.

In addition, Leadman has been talking with the National Capital Commission about any interest that Crown corporation might have in making use of the historic convent. The councillor was told by the NCC that for it to purchase the land, it must have some significant national interest. The NCC owns the Maplelawn estate just west of the convent on Richmond Road.

Community groups and city heritage officials have been busy trying to preserve the convent which was built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Leadman has said she will fight to retain the building on the site.

Leadman is meeting today with an architect and officials of a consulting company with an interest in the convent. The councillor said this morning she doesn't know what that interest is.

Convent Update

By KENNETH_GRAY 08-20-2009 COMMENTS(0) THE BULLDOG

Filed under: Westboro, City of Ottawa, Christine Leadman, Les Soeurs de la Visitation. National Capital Commission, convent
Kitchissippi Councillor Christine Leadman met this morning with three people in relation to purchasing Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent site on Richmond Road in Westboro.

One person was a bidder for the property who Leadman declined to name, another was Barry Padolsky, a noted architect and heritage critic acting as a consultant for the bidder, and the third was a representive of FoTenn Consultants, an Ottawa land use and urban design company. FoTenn and Padolsky are representing the unnamed buyer who has done some development and restoration work in the national capital region, Leadman said.

The bidder, who has put up cash with the offer, would like to do some kind of adaptive use of the current building -- perhaps housing a NGO office or an upscale spa or hotel. The bidder is concerned that if the price of the property goes too high, the new owner will need to place a high-rise on the site to recoup costs. The closing date for bids in Sept. 24. The bidder and two consultants had not heard that the convent listing had been taken down from a real estate website.

This particular bidder is talking about restoration. "I like what I heard," Leadman said.

Meanwhile, the city has drawn up guidelines for future use of the property with an eye to preserving the site.