Tamarack Flora [488-500 Bank St] | 31m | 9fl | Completed

[Harley613]

Went to grab some camera gear from Vistek across the street last week. My Girlfriend (who doesn't usually notice buildings) said 'what the HELL is that?!'. We both agreed that this is a gigantic horribly gloomy monolithic sober block of charcoal and it looks like shit.

[Peenermcnoober]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Went to grab some camera gear from Vistek across the street last week. My Girlfriend (who doesn't usually notice buildings) said 'what the HELL is that?!'. We both agreed that this is a gigantic horribly gloomy monolithic sober block of charcoal and it looks like shit.

I can't tell which part of this quote is ugliest. The fact you were right there and didn't take a picture, that your girlfriend thinks the words gloomy, monolithic, sober, block, charcoal, and shit somehow go together? Or better yet that your girlfriends takes are as boring and immature as yours. Hope you guys at least enjoyed the drive back to your driveway in suburbia leaving all those sober shit charcoal blocks in the distance lol

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Peenermcnoober

I can't tell which part of this quote is ugliest. The fact you were right there and didn't take a picture, that your girlfriend thinks the words gloomy, monolithic, sober, block, charcoal, and shit somehow go together? Or better yet that your girlfriends takes are as boring and immature as yours. Hope you guys at least enjoyed the drive back to your driveway in suburbia leaving all those sober shit charcoal blocks in the distance lol

I think I contribute enough pictures to this forum. More than any other member, in fact. I also reserve the right to state my opinion on a forum, seeing as how the literal definition of forum is 'a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.'. As for the maturity of my opinion, I apologize that my adjectives don't meet your standards Peenermcnoober. Lastly, yes the drive was wonderful.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Went to grab some camera gear from Vistek across the street last week. My Girlfriend (who doesn't usually notice buildings) said 'what the HELL is that?!'. We both agreed that this is a gigantic horribly gloomy monolithic sober block of charcoal and it looks like shit.

I'm afraid that's the future of all of our traditional main streets. The character of each will be completely erased in favour of generic monoliths blocks like these.

[Norman Bates]

My SSP Ottawa includes Harley613.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm afraid that's the future of all of our traditional main streets. The character of each will be completely erased in favour of generic monoliths blocks like these.

Westboro Canyon for example...

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

My SSP Ottawa includes Harley613.

[Peenermcnoober]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I think I contribute enough pictures to this forum. More than any other member, in fact. I also reserve the right to state my opinion on a forum, seeing as how the literal definition of forum is 'a place, meeting, or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged.'. As for the maturity of my opinion, I apologize that my adjectives don't meet your standards Peenermcnoober. Lastly, yes the drive was wonderful.

Good to hear

[OTSkyline]

I don't mind this building or the design. Helps to keep Bank St tight and vibrant, unlike many other of our streets which are wide and wind-swept (like Bronson). The densification, added residents and hopefully street-facing retail will also help.

Let's not forget the size of the lots facing Bank Street in this part of town are not very big (unlike those in Westboro), so options become a bit limited in terms of size/density/step backs unfortunately.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I don't mind this building or the design. Helps to keep Bank St tight and vibrant, unlike many other of our streets which are wide and wind-swept (like Bronson). The densification, added residents and hopefully street-facing retail will also help.

Let's not forget the size of the lots facing Bank Street in this part of town are not very big (unlike those in Westboro), so options become a bit limited in terms of size/density/step backs unfortunately.

Does is have to be so dark and imposing though? I was admiring all the new midrises in Bridgeland in Calgary last weekend. They seem to have figured out how to make new buildings with materials other than charcoal brick.

20210918_180248 by harley613, on Flickr

[Peenermcnoober]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I don't mind this building or the design. Helps to keep Bank St tight and vibrant, unlike many other of our streets which are wide and wind-swept (like Bronson). The densification, added residents and hopefully street-facing retail will also help.

Let's not forget the size of the lots facing Bank Street in this part of town are not very big (unlike those in Westboro), so options become a bit limited in terms of size/density/step backs unfortunately.

I quite like the stepback of the building across from this one as well. Still very human scaled, and walkable with apartments stacked behind and the museum of nature visible overtop. This isn't a wind canyon and if anything one of the gas stations at Gladstone or Catherine should be replaced with another of these imo.

[Peenermcnoober]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Does is have to be so dark and imposing though? I was admiring all the new midrises in Bridgeland in Calgary last weekend. They seem to have figured out how to make new buildings with materials other than charcoal brick.

20210918_180248 by harley613, on Flickr

That looks like an awful place to walk anywhere
Edited just to say that's some fancy cladding tho

[GeoNerd]

What is that landscaped area??? It’s almost like they built a water feature but cheaped out and just filled it with sod. That’s fugly! The white clad building is decent, but I do see what looks like some potential charcoal brick going up on the building to the right. Perhaps the charcoal brick plague is spreading nationwide.

[JHikka]

Don't think the landscaping or the pedestrian areas were the point that Harley was trying to make.

[Harley613]

None of the new buildings in my picture are present in the Google imagery here, but you can see that the slightly older midrises in the area use a a variety of materials and colours, and the new buildings in my picture continue that trend. The park is actually a beautiful area for sports and activities and is the former site of the Calgary General Hospital. The whole area is very human scale and walkable, and is just a pleasure to explore.

Bridgeland by harley613, on Flickr

[Peenermcnoober]

Based on both those pictures I disagree. I bet you had a great time there though!

[UrbOttawa]

Brick work is almost wrapped up - it will be nice to have the scaffolding finally gone. Curious to see what the retail will end up being.

Overall I find this one to be pretty inoffensive density to the area that will add three new small retail spaces to the neighbourhood. I would take RLA at 9fl over 30fl any day of the week (especially if we're talking rideau+chapel or the McRae tower). Sure it could be a few stories shorter to be less imposing, but the massing feels pretty consistent with Central. The worst part for me is the beige brick they chose for the upper portion, its a shame they deviated from the light grey in the renders as the beige really clashes with the charcoal (can't really make this detail out in the photo).



full size

[Harley613]

Well, at least it looks like the initial render from the site app:

[UrbOttawa]

[SL123]

I kindda like the light at the top