Building LeBreton Flats - Master Planning

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Some info from Open NCC last Saturday.

• NCC is working with the City, Avenue 31 Capital Inc. and Cogir on the Flats District. We should maybe see something on DevApps in 2026.
• The Francophone High School that has been discussed for the Flats will go across from the library, the land created by removing old Slater Street. Said it would be an urban concept, so I'm imagining high school in a tower podium.
• Aqueduct District may be prioritized to build that entertainment district to support the Sens.

I don't see how you don't incorporate the aqueduct district into whatever the Sens are doing. Ideally, as I think most of us agree a portion of the tracks will be decked over. Perfect opportunity to more or less run Booth st. north and go over the tracks into the western edge of the aqueduct. Doesn't have to be that linear but the concept should be the same. Absolutely ideal connection between active neighbourhoods/districts.

[Richard Eade]

I think that you might mean running PRESTON St. north, over the tracks. (Booth already has a huge bridge over the tracks that incorporates Pimisi Station.)

My understanding is that Preston will be extended as an active transportation corridor (MUP bridge) over the tracks. I believe that the Sens group will be responsible for building (and financing) that structure.

I have my doubts about the tracks getting decked over. Yes, there will be the MUP bridge, but I think that that will be all. I have a few reasons for this expectation:
a) The City, and especially OC Transpo, don’t play nicely with others. They are very protective about the air-rights over their property. I am astounded that both Carleton U. and the new Ottawa Hospital were able to get permission to build garage structures above the tracks. (But those are structures for cars that would directly compete with the trains, so maybe it is not so surprising after all.);
b) Looking at the rise of Booth St. as it goes from Albert to Pimisi Station, it might be that the top of any decking would need to be about half a storey up from the level of Albert St. That would lead to needing steps and ramps that would break up a plaza.;
c) If there are supposed to be bars and retail along the aqueduct, any on the south side would be under the decking – which might give it a ‘cave-like’ atmosphere; and
d) There would need to be several stairs, ramps, elevators, funiculars, or what-have-you, so that people could get between the deck and the walk along the aqueduct edge – all of which could take space from the retail along that strip.

[J.OT13]

I wish we would deck over the O-Train, as was the plan with Rendez-Vous LeBreton, but I doubt that will happen. I'd love to see something like the Riverwalk in Chicago, with retail/restaurants a level below the street, on the water. They managed accessibility fairly well with a lot of stairs, decent amount of ramps and a few elevators.


https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/food-drink/chicago-riverwalk-restaurants-and-bars/

The train is also quite loud. During Open NCC, the guy stopped talking any time a train passed by. Decking it would solve some of those noise issues.

[Kitchissippi]

Similar but closer to the scale of the Aqueduct, is San Antonio's Riverwalk.

[pattherat]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Similar but closer to the scale of the Aqueduct, is San Antonio's Riverwalk.

Yes please!

[qprcanada]

Originally Posted by pattherat

Yes please!

A more recently constructed (2007) river walk in Monterey, MX built on recovered industrial land with a more urban feel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Luc%C3%ADa_riverwalk

[Djeffery]

I remember over 20 years ago in London they had some San Antonio folks come up and talk about their Riverwalk project, as city council here was talking about doing something along the Thames River. Of course it takes vision and money, something both lacking at the City Of London, but they also pointed out the very short useful seasons for something like that to justify the costs.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Djeffery

I remember over 20 years ago in London they had some San Antonio folks come up and talk about their Riverwalk project, as city council here was talking about doing something along the Thames River. Of course it takes vision and money, something both lacking at the City Of London, but they also pointed out the very short useful seasons for something like that to justify the costs.

A bit of imagination could make it useful year round, istm.

[Marcus CLS]

The problem with the aquaduct is it's only purpose seems to be to have enough water to cover the pipe. It does not seem to have any flow by itself. At the peak of the hot summer months it becomes a blue- green algae toxic cesspool.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Marcus CLS

The problem with the aquaduct is it's only purpose seems to be to have enough water to cover the pipe. It does not seem to have any flow by itself. At the peak of the hot summer months it becomes a blue- green algae toxic cesspool.

The main flow of the water actually goes through a second "newer" aqueduct that is covered:



The heritage aqueduct could easily be cleaned up and then have the water in it recirculated and filtered like a pond or pool. My fantasy would be to create a walking circuit by putting linear pools above the covered aqueduct (which can't be built over anyway) and the heritage aqueduct with a series of animated fountains and water features which would be lit up at night. Put focal water fountain displays at the Headworks and by the pond at the old pumping station, and you could have a signature attraction throughout the warm months. I'm thinking along the lines of the Circuito Màgico del Agua in Lima, Peru. After all, doesn't Canada have 20% of the world's fresh water?

• Video Link

[SkeggsEggs]

per their plan, they want to uncover the northern aqueduct, or if not feasible, put in a water thing over it.

[golfguy9]

I find it quite sad how we do not incorporate any of the industrial heritage of this region into our architecture. I guess it's more a comment for Zibi than Lebreton but other cities seem capable of preserving it ie Highline in NYC or even the Distillery district in TO.

If they are intent on developing the aqueduct they should model it off the Regent's canal at Kings Cross in London.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by golfguy9

I find it quite sad how we do not incorporate any of the industrial heritage of this region into our architecture. I guess it's more a comment for Zibi than Lebreton but other cities seem capable of preserving it ie Highline in NYC or even the Distillery district in TO.

If they are intent on developing the aqueduct they should model it off the Regent's canal at Kings Cross in London.

Welcome to the forum!

[golfguy9]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Welcome to the forum!

Thank you! Been lurking for a while, figured it was time to contribute to the conversation

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

I think that you might mean running PRESTON St. north, over the tracks. (Booth already has a huge bridge over the tracks that incorporates Pimisi Station.)

Hopefully this time they won't screw it up like they did with the Booth bridge design.

[Richard Eade]

“screw it up like they did with the Booth bridge” in which way: Building a massive 4-lane bridge that leads to a 2-lane river crossing? Or building a huge WALL that divides what was supposed to be a pedestrian area? Yes, the Booth St. Bridge is a big disappointment in several ways. (Maybe the two good things are the preservation of the historic stone bridge underneath the new monstrosity; and allowing access to Pimisi Station from either side of the bridge and from the lower level. For its location, there is good access to Pimisi Station – probably one of the best on the entire system now that the buses stop directly in front of the station doors.)

That is Booth, though, and the future bridge over the LRT and aqueduct is not supposed to be one for motor vehicles – it is meant to be a link for active transportation, they are telling us.

That said, I do believe that Preston Street will be extended north, into new development, and that Vimy Place will be extended south, into the area north of the aqueduct – therefore, I fear that the two roads will be connected for vehicles, despite what is being said now. But when it comes to the City, I am a cynic. Experience has taught me to always expect the worst.

[J.OT13]

Proposal at Bassin Peel in Montreal that could serve as inspiration for the aquduct.



https://www.clc-sic.ca/real-estate/wellington-basin

And Pointe-de-Longueil.



https://www.clc-sic.ca/real-estate/pointe-de-longueuil

[OTSkyline]

Beautiful, one can hope

[rocketphish]

City staff call for scrapping Preston Street Extension in Official Plan
City staff said the extension would attract additional traffic and worsen congestion on surrounding streets.

By Paula Tran, Ottawa Citizen
Published Jan 31, 2026 | Last updated 4 hours ago

City of Ottawa staff are proposing amendments to the city’s Official Plan to remove the proposed Preston Street Extension and to replace it with an active transportation bridge.

The extension, which would have extended Preston Street between Albert and Wellington streets through LeBreton Flats, was pitched as an arterial road to connect LeBreton Flats to Kichi Zībī Mīkan.

In a report published ahead of Wednesday’s housing and planning committee meeting, city officials said the proposed amendment was necessary to enable the continued advancement of transforming LeBreton Flats into a vibrant community with diverse transportation options.

Staff also conducted a transportation impact assessment that concluded the extension would attract additional traffic and worsen congestion on surrounding streets. The extension would also require a bridge twice as long as Booth Street, which would make it difficult to access LeBreton Flats.

Replacing the arterial road with an active transportation bridge would improve the experience of pedestrians and cyclists as well as access to public transit such as O-Train stations, the report read. It also supports the city’s Secondary Plan, which prioritizes transit, walking and cycling.

Staff concluded that the amendment would support the city’s vision for growth. The proposal will be debated in the upcoming planning and housing committee meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 4.

“The proposed approach aligns with the (National Capital Commission’s) Master Concept Plan for LeBreton Flats and supports the creation of a high-quality public realm and a complete, 15-minute neighbourhood,” the report said.

“Staff are satisfied that the proposed amendment, together with supporting agreements and implementation tools, appropriately addresses risks and protects the City’s interests while advancing Council-approved growth and transportation objectives.”

The proposed amendments come as the NCC and the Ottawa Senators are working on all the details before finalizing the sale of 11 acres of land for the new arena, which NCC CEO Toni Nussbaum said should be the crown jewel of the area.

The Senators don’t yet have firm plans for what the arena will look like, but have said they plan to have space for a district with restaurants, housing and a hotel on the land.

A report by the NCC also said it planned to build 4,500 residential units in the area along with 80,000 square metres of commercial space to create a mixed-used community that “meets the daily needs of both residents and visitors.”

In September 2022, the NCC applied to have the Preston Street extension removed from the City of Ottawa’s Official Plan.

“The intent is to enter into a separate three-party (memorandum of understanding) prior to developing the new active transportation bridge or Major Event Centre and would focus on construction phasing (such as moving the Cave Creek collector), managing the timing and design of Albert Street, traffic/intersection impact mitigation during and after construction,” city staff wrote in the housing and planning committee report.

City staff also argued that the active transportation bridge would support Ottawa’s Climate Change Master Plan, a planning framework that aims to mitigate and adapt to climate change over time. Building a compact and connected city that consumes less energy for transportation is part of that strategy.

“Given that almost half of the city’s total emissions originate from the transportation sector and that the location of the proposed arterial road replacement with an active transportation bridge is within an area that can support and enable higher mode shares by transit and sustainable modes, the proposed (Official Plan amendment) is appropriate,” the report read.

With files from Bruce Garrioch.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/preston-street-extension

[J.OT13]

Weird that Bruce Garrioch wrote an article about transportation planning. If the Sens are even remotely involved, he gets the gig?