General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[J.OT13]

I'm not familiar with Cornwall Council dynamics, but if it's anything like Ottawa, I assume a slight majority of Council didn't like him because he didn't tow the line and told it like it is. Maybe Steve K.'s available now.

[rocketphish]

Former NCC, City of Ottawa planning boss Willis to lead Stantec’s federal infrastructure practice

David Sali, OBJ
November 22, 2024

A former senior planning official with the National Capital Commission and the City of Ottawa is spearheading a major consulting firm’s campaign to win more business from the federal government.

Stantec has appointed Stephen Willis its new federal sector leader for infrastructure projects in Canada, the Edmonton-based professional services company announced this week.

Willis, who spent the past two years as the firm’s senior principal for community development, will “proactively work to enhance awareness of the firm’s services within Canadian federal agencies,” Stantec said in a news release.

The company said the veteran professional planner will help Stantec pursue “short- and long-term growth initiatives within the federal infrastructure space in Canada.”

In his new role, Willis will help identify potential opportunities for the federal government, Crown corporations and federal agencies to invest in upgrading infrastructure through initiatives such as the $33-billion federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, Stantec said.

<more>

https://obj.ca/willis-to-lead-stantec-infrastructure-practice/

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

Mercer, the large international human resources company has published its new list of the world's cities Quality of Life. Vancouver comes in at number 7 in the world. Toronto is number 13. Ottawa and Montreal are tied at number 20 along with two Australian and one Scandinavian city. The highest ranking USA city is Boston at 32.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by LeadingEdgeBoomer

Mercer, the large international human resources company has published its new list of the world's cities Quality of Life. Vancouver comes in at number 7 in the world. Toronto is number 13. Ottawa and Montreal are tied at number 20 along with two Australian and one Scandinavian city. The highest ranking USA city is Boston at 32.

I was told Canada was broken?

[rocketphish]

Co-op scraps long-simmering plans for affordable Hull grocery store
Councillor says city will need to find another way to serve the community's needs

Gabrielle Huston · CBC News
Posted: Jan 13, 2025 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 6 hours ago

A co-operative dedicated to opening an affordable grocery store in downtown Gatineau, Que., is giving up on its plans after 20 years of work.

"It was heartbreaking and [upsetting] to propose this," said Réjean Laflamme, chairman of the board of directors for La coopérative de solidarité Épicerie de l'île de Hull, in a French-language interview with Radio-Canada.

Gatineau's Hull neighbourhood has been labeled a "food desert" by residents. The problem has been brewing since 1999, when the only major grocery store at the time shut down, according to Steve Moran, the councillor for the Hull-Wright district and a member of the co-op.

The co-op was formed by residents in 2005 to solve that problem.

It had several false starts through the years, but things seemed to be looking up in 2021 when the City of Gatineau reserved land for the co-op to build on.

But rising construction costs and interest rates since the COVID-19 pandemic have made the co-op's profit margins too small to be sustainable, said Laflamme.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/co...-affordable-hull-grocery-store-1.5173477

[Skyway]

Strip mall at Rideau & Nelson (First Choice, Circle K) to be demolished soon for high rise.

[SL123]

Originally Posted by Skyway

Strip mall at Rideau & Nelson (First Choice, Circle K) to be demolished soon for high rise.

I did notice the circle K was gone but i never thought someone would be interested in building residential right in front of the injection site.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by SL123

I did notice the circle K was gone but i never thought someone would be interested in building residential right in front of the injection site.

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

[NOWINYOW]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

If renting, you're probably correct. If buying, not so much. I presume this new highrise is rental.(?)

[SL123]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

I'm a renter downtown and I definitely care but maybe that's just me!

[OTSkyline]

Interesting... nice to see the transformation of Rideau east of King Edward continue.

The site isn't incredibly big though so can't imagine too much height at this location. What do we wager, something like 18fl? or will they try to cram the usual 28?

[phil235]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

Not sure I'd agree. People are choosing apartments downtown because of the amenities that are nearby, including work. They will generally be walking to these places, so what they are walking through is pretty relevant.

[Uhuniau]

Not the heritage Circle K?

[DTcrawler]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

Just because I'm renting downtown, why would that make me ok with having drug zombies outside my front door?

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

I was never more aware of my neighbourhood than when I was living in my condo in Centretown. I loved how safe it felt walking around at all hours of the night (and still does IMO). I've been in big American cities (Baltimore, Hartford, Philly) where I really felt unsafe in some of their downtown (adjacent) areas and we really need to avoid this at all cost. It is a sure sign of a dying urban fabric.

[YOWflier]

When I was apartment hunting downtown back in the day, quite literally the first thing I cared about was what was outside and in the vicinity of the building.

As an owner downtown now, quite literally the first thing I care about is what’s outside and in the vicinity of my buildings.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Do people who choose apartments in downtown highrise towers care about what's outside their building? Generally not, I'd wager.

I think they do. We haven't reached the status of Robocop's New Detroit where people live downtown in fortified buildings and leave the fortified underground parking garage in fortified vehicles to go everywhere.

That said, I also notice there is a bit of lag in perceptions about downtown from both developers and buyers/renters.

While it's nowhere near US cities as AuxTown mentioned, I still think the 2025 reality is it's not as safe or civil as it was 10-15 years ago.

So my guess is that there is still a lot of residual confidence in The Canadian Way which historically has tended to smooth over or at least camouflage the worst of our social problems.

Downtown Ottawa (and indeed the downtown of every major Canadian city) still has that perception going for it. At least for a while.

[magi]

do we know how many stories this build will be for sure? looking at purchasing a condo in the Soba building right behind

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by magi

do we know how many stories this build will be for sure? looking at purchasing a condo in the Soba building right behind

No, there hasn't been any formal development application submitted yet, that we're aware of. Stay tuned, I guess.

Welcome to the forum!

[todayistuesday]

Originally Posted by SL123

I did notice the circle K was gone but i never thought someone would be interested in building residential right in front of the injection site.

I have just been assuming that the condos in the sketchy part of downtown are mostly being bought by out-of-town investors...