General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[acottawa]

I like the idea of converting the old Eddy site and it might get more attention if it is close to the museum of civilization. Several former-factory museums are quite interesting and the capital region has destroyed much industrial infrastructure - it would be nice to have an old building get reused. The last proposal was killed by a very high price tag - hopefully the next proposal can be a little more modest.

[Acajack]

I believe I heard earlier this week in the news that the EB Eddy site had been ruled out. And that the Sci and Tech museum people were launching (yet another) relocation study.

[Skyway]

Human landscapes in SW Florida. Ideas to maybe avoid?

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/09/human_landscapes_in_sw_florida.html

[waterloowarrior]

Carlingwood YMCA sold to Claridge

[Mille Sabords]

Originally Posted by Skyway

Human landscapes in SW Florida. Ideas to maybe avoid?

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/09/human_landscapes_in_sw_florida.html

Those picture are wild. The comments are also interesting. So many people viscerally defending the Florida sprawl... as in, "the crisis wasn't our fault!" and "this is what everyone really wants!"

[AuxTown]

Those neighbourhoods would be amazing if everyone could work from home, but I can only imagine the commuter chaos that thousands of acres of such development would create!

[p_xavier]

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

Those neighbourhoods would be amazing if everyone could work from home, but I can only imagine the commuter chaos that thousands of acres of such development would create!

Again, it shows how horrible city-living can be without non-grid patterns. You just need to compare 19 with 24.

[waterloowarrior]

WCA http://lovewestboro.wordpress.com/2010/10/07/westboro-development-updates/

Westboro development updates
7
10
2010
by Gary Ludington

Development in Westboro seems to have taken on a life of its own. Currently the WCA is aware of two major proposals, the Westboro United Church site and the Fendor site on Roosevelt Avenue near the transitway. Members of the WCA Board of Directors have met with both of the developers so that they could explain what they are proposing for their respective developments.

1. We met with Springcress Properties Inc on August 19th to hear what they were proposing for the property at 450 Churchill (the Church property at Churchill and Ravenhill Avenue). As well as three members of the WCA BoD there were two representatives of the Churchill Parents Group. David Spillenaar from Sprincress, Barry Hobin & Mark Monahan (from BluesFest). We heard of their plans to give the original church building to Mark Monahan’s group for $1.00 which then could be known as the Westboro Music Hall. Besides concerts (which would attract people from across the region) it was suggested that with the involvement of Kitchissippi United there could be programmes created for the children from the Carlington area as well as Van Lang.

We also heard about their intent to build up to a six storey condo building along Edison and a commercial condo on the East side of the property of about three storeys.

The WCA expressed concerns about traffic, parking and the impact of a 5/6 storey building on Edison where the current zoning permits a height limit of 8M and they were proposing 15/16M for the condo. The Churchill Parents group also expressed concern about traffic and access to the proposed underground parking.

The WCA has not given their ok on any aspect of this proposal. Springcress told us they would have an open house which they did on Sept 14th. There was a subsequent meeting on Sept 30th to which only Edison residents were invited but many others showed up. The message from the residents was about reaching a compromise regarding the Edison development and that all neighbours be invited to all meetings and addressing potential traffic issues arising from the entire development.

2. Members of the BoD also met with Uniform Developments regarding their proposal for the Fendor site. Again, we felt what was being proposed would have an impact on traffic issues that already exist as well how the neighbours would feel with two towers with a total of approximately two hundred units. Uniform hosted a meeting for neighbours surrounding the property at Dovercourt in August. There were about 20 residents in attendance although Uniform delivered 90 flyers to the surrounding residents. There was to be another meeting September 29th but that was cancelled and is to be rescheduled. The residents of Roosevelt from Richmond Rd to the transit way had a meeting on August 31 and there were approximately 20 residents at that meeting and a number of their concerns were discussed.

3. The property at 463 Kenwood (near Golden Ave.) is again on the agenda of the Committee of Adjustment for Oct 20th. The owners/applicants wish to sever the lot into two that does not conform to the Zoning By-law and build a new house on one of the proposed lots. Numerous minor variances are requested.

[aesthetic]

Wasn't sure where to put this but...The (completed) Chinatown Arch



ETA. Yeah, sorry, this is c/o the Citizen.

[Admiral Nelson]

Originally Posted by aesthetic

Wasn't sure where to put this but...The (completed) Chinatown Arch

I assume you were at the unveiling? How was it?

EDIT: nevermind, I see it's from the Citizen

[hhunter]

Originally Posted by aesthetic

Wasn't sure where to put this but...The (completed) Chinatown Arch

ETA. Yeah, sorry, this is c/o the Citizen.

Thanks for the link, the arch is gorgeous.

A local photographer just posted some great photos of the stone lions at the base too: http://www.robink.ca/blog/the-stone-lions/

[rodionx]

Big news: DND is set to buy the Nortel campus and clear out of downtown. Here's the article.

[Aylmer]

Do we get to demolish that god-awful monolith?

[rodionx]

I just re-read the article, and no such luck. Apparently, they are consolidating everything EXCEPT the god-awful monolith, which will remain DND HQ.

[adam-machiavelli]

Regarding DND HQ, it's currently well over capacity so any move of staff out of that building will only reduce occupancy to its intended capacity. What it means for most people who hover around the Rideau Centre is you'll be seeing more people in suits and fewer in uniforms.

[McC]

Originally Posted by rodionx

I just re-read the article, and no such luck. Apparently, they are consolidating everything EXCEPT the god-awful monolith, which will remain DND HQ.

I don't hate the NDHQ itself -- and it's certainly not a monolith, since it has 3 distinct components to make its distinctive 'H'-shape. To me the only really egregious part is the parking lot on the east side; from the canal side and from a distance, I think it's actually a pretty good example of Ottawa's post-war Capital Style. Of course it can't hold a candle to the Railway-era Capital style, but I don't judge it against Ottawa's best, I judge it against the other buildings from the era, and I think it's one of the least-worst at the very least (compare it to the Jeane Edmonds towers, or the big blocks in Vanier at MacArthur, for example).

[KHOOLE]

Originally Posted by McC

I don't hate the NDHQ itself -- and it's certainly not a monolith, since it has 3 distinct components to make its distinctive 'H'-shape. To me the only really egregious part is the parking lot on the east side; from the canal side and from a distance, I think it's actually a pretty good example of Ottawa's post-war Capital Style. Of course it can't hold a candle to the Railway-era Capital style, but I don't judge it against Ottawa's best, I judge it against the other buildings from the era, and I think it's one of the least-worst at the very least (compare it to the Jeane Edmonds towers, or the big blocks in Vanier at MacArthur, for example).

It's as ugly as ugly can be. It should never been built so close to the canal and the Rideau Centre. Now that the exceptionally beautiful Congress Centre is being built and the Rideau Canal is an UNESCO heritage designated place, my only hope is that Tomlinson will come in and make the best fireworks display that Ottawa has ever had. Who designed that god-awful place anyway. An Ottawa firm?

[adam-machiavelli]

I also support lower-security activities happening at the current DND headquarters. The removal of the parking lot and fence could lead to a new bus terminal being built on the ground level, at the foot of the existing building. Imagine buses entering and exiting the core via Nicholas straight to the Queensway. Imagine university students being walking distance from the bus terminal. Imagine the expanded new terminal capable of holding intercity and regional buses (it would be like combining Toronto Coach Terminal and GO's Union Bus Terminal in one building). NDHQ sits on a 4 acre lot, compared to the current terminal's 2 acre lot. All these things would be possible if DND moved all its activities out of that building.

[Mille Sabords]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

I also support lower-security activities happening at the current DND headquarters. The removal of the parking lot and fence could lead to a new bus terminal being built on the ground level, at the foot of the existing building. Imagine buses entering and exiting the core via Nicholas straight to the Queensway. Imagine university students being walking distance from the bus terminal. Imagine the expanded new terminal capable of holding intercity and regional buses (it would be like combining Toronto Coach Terminal and GO's Union Bus Terminal in one building). NDHQ sits on a 4 acre lot, compared to the current terminal's 2 acre lot. All these things would be possible if DND moved all its activities out of that building.

That would be a perfect spot for the intercity bus terminal. As for DND, I think the article might've been a tad speculative... this is not a done deal yet.

[Davis137]

There is still talk of relocating DND to completely new facilities down at Tunney's Pasture too, as a possible option...