General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by phil235

I know that this opinion may not be shared by everyone, but looking at the half-block between Queen and Albert at Lyon that has now been cleared, I think that spot would make for a great public square that is really lacking in the CBD. I'd rather see that than another tower in that location.

We need a people place west of Bank so that we don't have a dead zone between the old CBD east of Bank and all the development at Lebreton Flats.

[danishh]

Originally Posted by phil235

I know that this opinion may not be shared by everyone, but looking at the half-block between Queen and Albert at Lyon that has now been cleared, I think that spot would make for a great public square that is really lacking in the CBD. I'd rather see that than another tower in that location.

I think the lot at queen/albert and Kent (where the centre lrt portal was) would be better for that. Some sort of square with food truck parking and tables and chairs would be nice for the summer there, with all the office buildings surrounding it.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by danishh

I think the lot at queen/albert and Kent (where the centre lrt portal was) would be better for that. Some sort of square with food truck parking and tables and chairs would be nice for the summer there, with all the office buildings surrounding it.

Sorry, that is the lot that I meant. It already looks quite good, framed by the buildings around it, and it creates a nice visual break on both Queen and Albert.

[OTSkyline]

It's great that Ottawa CBD is so dense with very little open lots, but yes, I do think that Ottawa is missing some plazas/parks downtown.

This is especially visible in the spring and summer when all the downtown workers are looking for spaces to eat lunch and relax outside and the options are VERY limited... like the half plaza/car ramp at World Exchange.

[MichelKazan]

I think it'd be nice if the downtown could get some "useful" retail downtown in some of those lots. A Canadian Tire or a Best Buy would be nice downtown instead of having to travel to the suburbs. Unfortunately for downtown, anything that's not at Rideau Centre, usually requires a trip to the suburbs.

They wouldn't even have to be standalone stores. They could make up retail bases of office towers.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

I think it'd be nice if the downtown could get some "useful" retail downtown in some of those lots. A Canadian Tire or a Best Buy would be nice downtown instead of having to travel to the suburbs. Unfortunately for downtown, anything that's not at Rideau Centre, usually requires a trip to the suburbs.

They wouldn't even have to be standalone stores. They could make up retail bases of office towers.

I think that a downtown, urban format Canadian Tire would thrive.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by phil235

I think that a downtown, urban format Canadian Tire would thrive.

Funny, there was a downtown Canadian Tire Store until about 20 years ago. Wasn't it on Kent Street?

[MichelKazan]

Exactly. That store should never have closed. Or it should've reopened somewhere else in the downtown. Even in an urban format. For example, where can one currently buy duct tape downtown?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

Exactly. That store should never have closed. Or it should've reopened somewhere else in the downtown. Even in an urban format. For example, where can one currently buy duct tape downtown?

Is Trudel Hardware still open on George or York in the market?

[bambam92]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Is Trudel Hardware still open on George or York in the market?

Yes and then there is also Preston Hardware in Little Italy.

[McC]

Giant Tigers and the various dollar stores can get you out of some jams, too; if the Home Hardwares in the Market, Glebe and Hintonburg aren’t close enough to where/when you need. But I agree, I used to live near an urban format Rona (on three floors) in MTL, it was super useful.

[MichelKazan]

Originally Posted by McC

But I agree, I used to live near an urban format Rona (on three floors) in MTL, it was super useful.

This is the kind of thing that's needed downtown. Doesn't necessarily have to be a Canadian Tire but some of those downtown Home Hardwares are rather small.

Duct tape was just an example. Could also apply to television sets, a lawn mower or snow removal machine, garden equipment and probably other household items. Where can you buy these downtown? Suburbanites can go between Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy among others. We don't have any of these stores downtown.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by danishh

I think the lot at queen/albert and Kent (where the centre lrt portal was) would be better for that. Some sort of square with food truck parking and tables and chairs would be nice for the summer there, with all the office buildings surrounding it.

I've thought the same thing. The CBD could use a proper square and that site would be the perfect place. Even if they used part of it for a building, it could open up onto a square.

[Vixx]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

It's great that Ottawa CBD is so dense with very little open lots, but yes, I do think that Ottawa is missing some plazas/parks downtown.

This is especially visible in the spring and summer when all the downtown workers are looking for spaces to eat lunch and relax outside and the options are VERY limited... like the half plaza/car ramp at World Exchange.

That's one of the things I've always been kind of proud of. When you look at Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg, each of those have their fair share of eyesore parking lots plaguing their downtown cores, whereas Ottawa has a much lower amount of large scale empty lots in the immediate core (Lebreton flats is an eyesore as is, but technically situated just outside the immediate downtown area).

I'm excited for a potential office building and curious as to who would occupy it. I would be in favour of a large public square where people could hangout at lunch, but I'm not sure whether there is any appetite for something like that to get done.

[McC]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

... some of those downtown Home Hardwares are rather small.... Suburbanites can go between Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy among others. We don't have any of these stores downtown.

Some central residents would call that a feature, not a bug.

[cycleguy2000]

Trudel Hardware on George in the Market is small and lacks a full product range, but you can order anything listed on their website and it will be delivered to the store on the next Wednesday. They call you when it is received.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by danishh

I think the lot at queen/albert and Kent (where the centre lrt portal was) would be better for that. Some sort of square with food truck parking and tables and chairs would be nice for the summer there, with all the office buildings surrounding it.

Agree wholeheartedly. It would be mostly useless in the winter but would be great in the spring/summer/fall as a meeting place/hangout spot/outdoor lunch spot. Don't know how many times i've bought lunch downtown and wanted somewhere nice to eat outside.

I'm sure in the winter it wouldn't be difficult to get a beavertails stand or other food stands there.

In an ideal world, if the entire open space (parking lot included) is developed into a square/plaza it would be awesome to have viewing parties for Sens games there when the team moves to Lebreton.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by MichelKazan

This is the kind of thing that's needed downtown. Doesn't necessarily have to be a Canadian Tire but some of those downtown Home Hardwares are rather small.

Duct tape was just an example. Could also apply to television sets, a lawn mower or snow removal machine, garden equipment and probably other household items. Where can you buy these downtown? Suburbanites can go between Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, Costco, Best Buy among others. We don't have any of these stores downtown.

People start needing to be vocal about the lack of certain types of stores in the downtown area. It doesn't apply only to downtown residents but also office workers who could pop in at lunch or after work.


People complained about the lack of grocery stores downtown and now that has been addressed.

[CityTech]

Downtown actually has pretty good coverage for everyday retail.

It's actually Westboro that scores horribly on this front. I'm considering moving to Centretown as it's actually quite a pain being carfree in Westboro. Little things like hangars or duct tape are impossible to buy on the Richmond strip. If Superstore or a drug store doesn't carry it, you can't buy it, because literally everything else on Richmond is all fancy boutiques or restaurants.

[YOWflier]

There is a new public plaza at the Bank of Canada.