Maison Riverain [2 Montreal Rd] | 76/94/106m | 22/28/32f | U/C - Page 19

Uhuniau · #**361** Posted **Jul 23, 2026, 1:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

I know you've been advocating for like 10 years on our little website Uhuniau. In your opinion, say the line connected St. Laurent Mall with Rideau Station, what's the magnitude of work compared to, say, Eglinton Crosstown, the buried portion (assuming the whole thing is buried).

No idea. And better transit for Vanier and other urban neighbourhoods that are simply not served by LRT doesn't have to be LRT or a Montreal-Bank subway or anything else of that order, at least not yet.

But it DOES need to be something other than absolute garbage bus service. However, no one in any position of power is working in any meaningful way on that. Some of them, in fact, have gone out of their way to make things worse. And the downtown councillors are apathetic on the subject, and really, truly, do not understand how bad it is.

It's bad.

I really need to finish making my map showing the population and dwelling count changes along Rideau-Montreal in recent years, along with projected project, like at this site. It pairs well with certain transit-related data.

phil235 · #**362** Posted **Jul 23, 2026, 3:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

I know you've been advocating for like 10 years on our little website Uhuniau. In your opinion, say the line connected St. Laurent Mall with Rideau Station, what's the magnitude of work compared to, say, Eglinton Crosstown, the buried portion (assuming the whole thing is buried).

I think it's about half in terms of distance. 10km of tunnel for the Eglinton line, versus something around 5 for Rideau-Montreal, assuming the line was buried all the way to St. Laurent.

Personally I would see that corridor as prime for higher-order transit. The case is probably stronger than the case for burying the line on Richmond west of Westboro. Projects like this one, for all its faults, are evidence of the potential for densification. Also I a higher concentration of transit-dependent residents, I would expect.

Uhuniau · #**363** Posted **Jul 23, 2026, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by phil235

Personally I would see that corridor as prime for higher-order transit.

Me too, especially if we can finally institute some land-use reforms and value-capture financing instruments in this country that might induce such projects into existence.

Alas, the best we can expect is (checks notes) worse bus service.

kevinbottawa · #**364** Posted **Aug 16, 2026, 7:55 PM**

I was in Ottawa again yesterday with my family. We spent most of our time in our old neighbourhood in Vanier so I finally got to see this one in-person. Such a big disappointment. After Releve, I'm surprise main + main would build something like this. Just just the towers, but the podium too.

SL123 · #**365** Posted **Aug 16, 2026, 8:35 PM**

I dont have a pic, but the art piece is being put up

SL123 · #**366** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 12:25 AM**

Went back and took some pics

rocketphish · #**367** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 1:35 AM**

Hmmm... I don't get it. N 45.4371° W 75.6590° is in the middle of Montreal Rd near the Wabano Centre. The sculpture is at N 45.4328° W 75.6697°.

Coho · #**368** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 2:04 AM**

Is it a soccer net?

urbanforest · #**369** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 1:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Hmmm... I don't get it. N 45.4371° W 75.6590° is in the middle of Montreal Rd near the Wabano Centre. The sculpture is at N 45.4328° W 75.6697°.

Hahah. Thank you for checking. I immediately wondered if they actually got the coordinates right. I guess not.

SL123 · #**370** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 1:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Hmmm... I don't get it. N 45.4371° W 75.6590° is in the middle of Montreal Rd near the Wabano Centre. The sculpture is at N 45.4328° W 75.6697°.

I’m not sure what the coordinates are meant to indicate, whether it’s the location of the sculpture or something else, but for what it’s worth, when I enter them into Google Maps, they bring me to the exact location where the name “Vanier” appears on the map. so that could be the intention, I dunno.

Uhuniau · #**371** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 2:02 PM**

I don't quite get the hate for this one. If the street level can get a little animation, this is actually adding a lot of mass and energy to what has until now been a very neglected corner of town.

J.OT13 · #**372** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 2:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SL123

Went back and took some pics

That is horrifying. Looks like Maman got wrapped in her own web and then melted.

I wish we had gotten an art piece that was more... well just colourful because this just blends in with the shades or greige in the background.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I don't quite get the hate for this one. If the street level can get a little animation, this is actually adding a lot of mass and energy to what has until now been a very neglected corner of town.

Was there ever a building design you didn't like?

I think we can all agree that the addition of the residential units and retail is good, but I can't understand why anyone wouldn't be able to see why the design is extremely disappointing. Design quality wise, I genuinely preferred the old Eastview Plaza, even with the parking lot.

Uhuniau · #**373** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 3:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Was there ever a building design you didn't like?

Frequently! Immediate example that comes to mind, the various new condos or apartments at the north end of Parkdale; terrible street presence.

Heights, finishes, claddings, balcony styles, etc., don't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. What makes buildings good is how they function at ground. Street-killing buildings are the ones that I don't like.[/QUOTE]

J.OT13 · #**374** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 3:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

Frequently! Immediate example that comes to mind, the various new condos or apartments at the north end of Parkdale; terrible street presence.

Heights, finishes, claddings, balcony styles, etc., don't matter all that much in the grand scheme of things. What makes buildings good is how they function at ground. Street-killing buildings are the ones that I don't like.

You mean the Dale because some entrances are a bit elevated from the street? And I assume the planter beds at both the Dale and Parkdale Collective?

I think Parkdale Collective looks quite good from street level. I might have liked it if they had given a bit more of the space to widen the sidewalk.

The Dale is supposed to get a sports bar, so some of that elevated platform will probably be a terrace, which might improve the street presence.

That said, none of that has to do with architectural design. It's an important aspect, I agree, but our criticisms with Riverain isn't the street interaction but the overall design and materials used.

Charlesfort's The Gardens is a objectively very nice development, but the street level relationship with the city is not particularly good. Story of Rideau is pretty ugly (especially the east, west and north elevations with random crosses), but the street level is quite good.

OTownandDown · #**375** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 4:20 PM**

Ahh, the outline of the north coast of Lake Superior. Classic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SL123

Went back and took some pics

Uhuniau · #**376** Posted **Aug 18, 2026, 4:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I think Parkdale Collective looks quite good from street level.

It's not the looks that concern me. It's the function.

Quote:

That said, none of that has to do with architectural design.

That's because they don't particularly matter, at least not to me.