Wateridge Village development [Hemlock Rd, Codd's Rd] | U/C - Page 41

OTownandDown · #**801** Posted **May 25, 2023, 1:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tesladom

I looked quite a few times at new/resale units at Wateridge, the community just lacks a real urban "feel". when you sit on the balcony you only see surface parking lots.
It's a real shame, it could have been much nicer

What part of Single Family, Townhouse and Mid-Density Low-Rise, Residential Only mono-culture with driveways, parking lots and pocket parks speaks 'Urban' to anybody? It it supposed to say 'Gilmour Street but without Bank or Elgin'? It's saying Avalon right now, but without Innes.

Where is the 'Urban' or 'Mini-Urban' at all? Does a street with bike lanes painted on make it 'Urban'? Isn't this supposed to be a 'complete' village? Where are the offices and shops where people can 'live, work, play'?

Urban to me, in this context, should be a tree-lined traditional main street with 3-storey max storefronts spanning from Hemlock @ Aviation to Wanaki @ Montreal with street parking, shops, coffee, pharmacy, clubs/bars (GASP), and very little surface parking (Gasp). Behind those, taller 6-9 storey a-la St. Pauls, running the full length of the site to add serious density, and behind that to the north and south a couple areas of townhouses and single families.

With no 'flow', this just became a mouse-trap, and with no serious land-use planning with the various chunks sold of for whatever, it's not going to seriously work as 'urban', which is what we were sold.

It's just going to be another Kanata housing development, but with smaller yards.

The townhouses with the front stoops AND a back laneway is a travesty. So much asphalt for one family.

lrt's friend · #**802** Posted **May 25, 2023, 2:08 PM**

You can't have a streetcar suburb without a streetcar. They are within 15 minutes (by car) of Costco. We have met the current planning standard. We knew we would get no more.

Harley613 · #**803** Posted **May 25, 2023, 2:35 PM**

I had a drive through Greystone Village yesterday for the first time this year. It's everything this development should have been, but on a smaller scale.

YOWetal · #**804** Posted **May 25, 2023, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

I had a drive through Greystone Village yesterday for the first time this year. It's everything this development should have been, but on a smaller scale.

Yes but totally different location. Wateridge is suburban and surrounded by actually pretty cheap housing.

OTownandDown · #**805** Posted **May 25, 2023, 5:59 PM**

This is the difference between Place Building and Place Filling.

Uhuniau · #**806** Posted **May 27, 2023, 2:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

You can't have a streetcar suburb without a streetcar.

You actually can. we just choose not to, time and time again.

Uhuniau · #**807** Posted **May 27, 2023, 2:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

This is the difference between Place Building and Place Filling.

Stealing this.

TransitZilla · #**808** Posted **May 27, 2023, 4:16 AM**

This forum seems to have an odd irrational hate-on for this project. Almost all the mid-rise buildings under construction include commercial space; they are just not completed yet.

Mattamy's website shows 10(!) commercial units alone in one of its four buildings: https://mattamyhomes.com/ontario/ottawa/ottawa/360-condos-by-mattamy

You can't have successful businesses without having nearby residents; it is a chicken-and-egg problem. I suspect this neighbourhood will look and feel much different in a years' time when these projects are complete and some retail is open for business.

Harley613 · #**809** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 5:16 PM**

I am really digging the rainbow building

J.OT13 · #**810** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 8:03 PM**

Pop of colour is really nice. Such a rare thing in Ottawa.

SL123 · #**811** Posted **Aug 31, 2023, 9:16 PM**

Its giving elementary school/Children’s hospital vibe

Ottawacurious · #**812** Posted **Sep 4, 2023, 11:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YukonLlama

This is the biggest kicker to me. I don't mind that the builds are more basic considering it translates into more affordable pricing but considering some of the developers decided to level the land and pave a series of parking lots is awful. They could have even sold more units, therefore generating more profit too so i'm not quite understanding the rational here.

Luckily, it seems that most of the condo/apartment builds will have parking underground, which might enhance the urban feel to it once all buildings are complete.

The view from the balcony.
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/26010682/634-makwa-private-ottawa-wateridge-village

I drove the parking lot in the winter - it wasn't a pleasant experience.

lrt's friend · #**813** Posted **Sep 4, 2023, 4:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

The view from the balcony.
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/26010682/634-makwa-private-ottawa-wateridge-village

I drove the parking lot in the winter - it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Three storey unit? Far from ideal for those who want a long-term 'age in place' dwelling.

kwoldtimer · #**814** Posted **Sep 4, 2023, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Three storey unit? Far from ideal for those who want a long-term 'age in place' dwelling.

Not the demographic for this development.

YukonLlama · #**815** Posted **Sep 4, 2023, 6:42 PM**

Nice to see the building coming together but wish the developers bumped out the coloured panelling a bit to make it a little less flat. Still not a fan of the colour, plus what seems like 5+ shades of grey but if it looked more dynamic, I would find this much more acceptable.

Curious to see how the Mattamy ones next door to this are fairing. I spot a little bit of red brick in one of the photos.

J.OT13 · #**816** Posted **Sep 4, 2023, 11:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

The view from the balcony.
https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/26010682/634-makwa-private-ottawa-wateridge-village

I drove the parking lot in the winter - it wasn't a pleasant experience.

Quite an ugly, bare bones unit. That laundry... room (?) is just so odd. What a waste of space.

rocketphish · #**817** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 11:41 PM**

I swung by here again this evening and grabbed some photos in the fading light. And the park across the street is now open too.

Overall:

OCH:

Mattamy:

Photos by me
Oct. 12, 2023

Harley613 · #**818** Posted **Oct 12, 2023, 11:48 PM**

The slightly differing heights, mixture of materials, and the orientations of the buildings make this area a lot more attractive than all those horrible midrise projects going up south of Innes in Orleans.

J.OT13 · #**819** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 1:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

The slightly differing heights, mixture of materials, and the orientations of the buildings make this area a lot more attractive than all those horrible midrise projects going up south of Innes in Orleans.

Barely, but yeah.

Does that park have anything other than grass?

OttCity16 · #**820** Posted **Oct 13, 2023, 5:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Barely, but yeah.

Does that park have anything other than grass?

Sure does. Tennis courts, skate park, basketball courts / hockey rink, walking paths, workout stations, plus one of largest playgrounds in the city. I believe lines for a soccer field in the centre will go in next year.

As a resident of the neighborhood it has done an amazing job of tying the community together and is well used most hours of the day. I wish it had better lighting after dark though.