LeBreton Flats | 14 fl (Ph.1)|Completed | 13 fl (Ph.2)|Completed

[RTWAP]

Originally Posted by ajldub

We need to figure out a way to get a major sports hub that is home to the sens, 67s, CFL and soccer on the rest of this land. Preferably in two buildings. I can't think of anything that would go further in pulling this city together.

I believe that ship has sailed, my friend.

Although it wouldn't be a bad idea to reserve enough land to do as you suggest. In 30 years we'll probably be looking at replacements for Lansdowne and SBP, and the NCC will probably be only half way done with Lebreton. ;-)

We should build a combined NHL and CFL facility, with the arena built under the stadium. And the stadium playing surface (natural grass, of course) should slide out of the way so we can host outdoor games using the 20,000 arena seats below and the 30,000 stadium seats above. Brilliant!!!1!

[K-133]

Originally Posted by RTWAP

I believe that ship has sailed, my friend.

Although it wouldn't be a bad idea to reserve enough land to do as you suggest. In 30 years we'll probably be looking at replacements for Lansdowne and SBP, and the NCC will probably be only half way done with Lebreton. ;-)

We should build a combined NHL and CFL facility, with the arena built under the stadium. And the stadium playing surface (natural grass, of course) should slide out of the way so we can host outdoor games using the 20,000 arena seats below and the 30,000 stadium seats above. Brilliant!!!1!

That would be nice - I'm not sure how the Scotiabank place owners would feel about it though.

[RTWAP]

Originally Posted by K-133

That would be nice - I'm not sure how the Scotiabank place owners would feel about it though.

He'll be old and senile by then. He won't notice.

[ajldub]

Has it sailed? We're looking for a new structure for CFL football, and possibly soccer as well. SBP is now 14 years old. I don't know what the lifespan for this kind of building is, but let's say it's about 45 years for argument's sake. If you were to build a grass stadium on Lebreton/Bayview, you could open up all of Lansdowne for a total overhaul. By the time that was completed, a CFL franchise was revived, and soccer brought to town, let's say that's 10-15 years knowing this is Ottawa. Then you are reaching your lifespan for scotiabank. You build a new rink a little prematurely on Lebreton, and have it share its ice with the 67's. Give Melnyk the right of first refusal on the soccer and football teams to bring him onboard with moving the sens. Put it next to a major O-train stop, and have the two complexes share one large multilevel parking lot. War museum opens up its parking lot on gamedays for extra space and revenue. Fans come to and from the games on the parkway, on the bridge from Hull, down Wellington or Bronson, on foot from Mechanicsville, Little Italy, Centretown, the market, Glebe, or by O-train, and the pilgrimage down the 417 is avoided. Downtown lights up after the big wins, as the fans can drink at the games and continue doing so at local bars. Property development for the rest of Lebreton, Hintonburg, Booth Street and Tunney's picks up as people and businesses really want to be there. It's a big, thirty year plan but it would rewrite the way Ottawans live. And it would be the best chance for sustainable CFL and soccer in this city. The biggest problem I see, after building the political will to do it, would be to find a place for the 67's to play in between demolition of Lansdowne and construction of Lebreton stadium.

It is a massive plan, not one which Ottawa is accustomed to executing well at all. It would require the cooperation of the Feds, City, and Sens. Nonetheless, a man can dream.

[K-133]

As a resident of this project I would support this idea. And considering the attitude of the Glebe'ites, I'm sure they'd be happy to be rid of the attention such venues bring to their neighbourhood. The largest barrier which I can see is how the city would manage the traffic congestion this might cause.

What I'd like to see most however, is a major grocer somewhere in the South-West corner. Once 1200+ people are living there, I'm sure someone will start to see the market for such a business in the area.

[waterloowarrior]

vl04 flickr

[Radster]

I have to say, compared to other cities developing unused plots, this is just so bland and uninspiring. Why can't Ottawa get a bit Vancouver-esque for example, on Lebreton???

[K-133]

Originally Posted by Radster

I have to say, compared to other cities developing unused plots, this is just so bland and uninspiring. Why can't Ottawa get a bit Vancouver-esque for example, on Lebreton???

I think a lot of people feel this way today - and even more so last year. Let it fill in. When its completed, it will look and feel much better.

I'm pretty happy with the way its coming together. Especially when looking at it, driving over from Hull on the bridges.

[AuxTown]

Once we get to phase 4 or 5 and some of the smaller-scale buildings are in place we will start to really see what this area will look like. It's gonna be probably be 5 years before we can see that.

[jcollins]

I'll echo what everyone else said in terms of it taking time. I agree. But this would have been a great opportunity for some serious density. Not 13/14 floors.

[K-133]

Originally Posted by jcollins

I'll echo what everyone else said in terms of it taking time. I agree. But this would have been a great opportunity for some serious density. Not 13/14 floors.

The heights are a bit stubby. Even another 5 floors in the towers might have made a dramatic difference. Looking at that shot from the Peace Tower however, it appears that the towers are at level.

Pehpas the podium could have been made larger. I wonder how much of a requirement density was in their planning.

[AuxTown]

I don't think density is going to be an issue, see this site plan for phase 1:
http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/data/2/rec_docs/384_DL_rgb_02.pdf
the model for blocks 1 and 2: http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/data/2/rec_docs/385_DL_rgb_03.pdf

If the question is height, I would much prefer a dense vibrant neighbourhood with good street interaction than any towers-in-the-park idea like we saw time and time again in the 60's-70's. We should keep the skyscrapers in the CBD and try to plan smart, pedestrian-friendly environments for our residential and mixed-use areas IMO.

[jcollins]

Originally Posted by K-133

The heights are a bit stubby. Even another 5 floors in the towers might have made a dramatic difference. Looking at that shot from the Peace Tower however, it appears that the towers are at level.

Pehpas the podium could have been made larger. I wonder how much of a requirement density was in their planning.

Unfortunately probably not a bit requirement.

Imagine these, the podiums the same, and the towers at 19/20 floors, or even 17/18, they'd look significantly better.

I like the way they look as is, but you said it exactly, they look stubby. Im sure they wouldn't have had any problems selling the extra units either.

[jcollins]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

If the question is height, I would much prefer a dense vibrant neighbourhood with good street interaction than any towers-in-the-park idea like we saw time and time again in the 60's-70's. We should keep the skyscrapers in the CBD and try to plan smart, pedestrian-friendly environments for our residential and mixed-use areas IMO.

They could have done both here though, gone with a significant amount of height as well as developed a pedestrian friendly mixed use area.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by jcollins

They could have done both here though, gone with a significant amount of height as well as developed a pedestrian friendly mixed use area.

I don't think Ottawa's condo market would be deep enough to support such a large project. It's already slow given the current scale and, if we went with taller towers, we'd likely end up with 1 or 2 very tall towers and lots of townhouses etc. surrounding.

[jcollins]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I don't think Ottawa's condo market would be deep enough to support such a large project. It's already slow given the current scale and, if we went with taller towers, we'd likely end up with 1 or 2 very tall towers and lots of townhouses etc. surrounding.

Yea, that's fair. I just think they could have gone with a bit more height. Maybe not both towers, maybe keep one at 14 and have one at 18. That staggering effect can look pretty good.

I think the fact that the ground its on is lower/down a bit of a hill from everything else, that makes the project look a bit "stubbier"

[AuxTown]

Agree completely with the staggering. Hopefully the next phases will be slightly different heights though it doesn't look that way from the models. One thing it does do is makes our CBD towers look taller since it's a row of stubby buildings, then slightly taller towers on Bronson/Laurier, then the 25-30 storey office buildings. Ottawa can use some tall buildings, but what we need more than anything, is height variety....plus 2 40's.

[jcollins]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Agree completely with the staggering. Hopefully the next phases will be slightly different heights though it doesn't look that way from the models. One thing it does do is makes our CBD towers look taller since it's a row of stubby buildings, then slightly taller towers on Bronson/Laurier, then the 25-30 storey office buildings. Ottawa can use some tall buildings, but what we need more than anything, is height variety....plus 2 40's.

I couldn't agree more. Variety is key. In both height and design.

As for this, looking at the link you posted before it looks like there's a tiny bit of height variety, but nothing taller than the 14 floors. When it's done it should give the impression of a bit of height variety though when comparing the townhomes to the condo towers.

I'll be happy to see all the commercial along Booth too. It'll go a long way to making it a true community rather than just purely residential. Would have liked to see a bit more though.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

vl04 flickr

Something that really strikes me looking at this picture is what a huge opportunity there is to transform Tunney's into something really great - put a bunch more tall (hopefully taller) towers there, and it would make for a pretty good skyline of its own. Of course, I'd hope the government would have the foresight to mix in some residential on top of the standard office space.

[jcollins]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Something that really strikes me looking at this picture is what a huge opportunity there is to transform Tunney's into something really great - put a bunch more tall (hopefully taller) towers there, and it would make for a pretty good skyline of its own. Of course, I'd hope the government would have the foresight to mix in some residential on top of the standard office space.

But would the government want to own residential property, or do you mean have them do something like they've done here at Lebretton and involve a developer?