2940 Baseline Rd. | 25-49m | 13/15/18f | U/C

[S-Man]

Yes, the children. Time and again I hear how adding 20, 30, 60 units of housing to an entire neighbourhood will result in untold amounts of traffic, and yes, dead children everywhere.
But if that one building can be scrapped in favour of having hundreds or thousands of homes built a couple of kilometres away in the suburbs - homes whose owners drive through said neighbourhood every day to get into the city - that is very much preferrable.
Out of sight, out of mind...once again.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by reidjr

The one good thing is this council seems more open to devlopment items pass quicker etc.

You mean the suburban-minded council is more open to approving infill developments in urban wards since those increase tax revenue while relieving development pressure in their own wards. What remains to be seen is if they are as willing to do the same in their own backyards where their constituents are far noisier than are residents of urban wards.

[Ottawan]

Firstly, I think this is an excellent development. There can be no doubt that the city desperately needs more rental housing, and that this location is a great one for increased density.

Secondly, I think we might be putting the cart before the horse on alot of the issues that are being discussed in this thread. Despite the understandable temptation to extrapolate from past (often sour) experiences, I think it's more reasonable to take a wait-and-see approach to both NIMBYism and Councillor's hypocracy rather than deriding these groups preemptively.

Finally, regarding the thread issue: we have debated the meaning of "Downtown and City of Ottawa" vs. "The Suburbs" a number of times in several threads. The current operational consensus seems to be that "The Suburbs" in fact does include what I consider 'inner suburbs', ie, those within the Greenbelt. Therefore, on the traditional definition, this development should be in the suburb forum. However, personally I would be happy to have things as Inside vs. Outside the Greenbelt.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

Finally, regarding the thread issue: we have debated the meaning of "Downtown and City of Ottawa" vs. "The Suburbs" a number of times in several threads. The current operational consensus seems to be that "The Suburbs" in fact does include what I consider 'inner suburbs', ie, those within the Greenbelt. Therefore, on the traditional definition, this development should be in the suburb forum. However, personally I would be happy to have things as Inside vs. Outside the Greenbelt.

As the starter of this thread, let me say that I intentionally placed it within "Downtown and City of Ottawa" because my definition of the word 'suburbs', like S-Man's and others, refers to being 'outside the greenbelt' (Orleans, Ottawa South, Barrhaven, Kanata, Stittsville, etc.). Rockcliffe , the Glebe and Westboro all used to be the suburbs many decades ago, but as the city expands, so must our notion of what is central, and what is not. At the present moment in time, the Greenbelt provides an easily understandable boundary separating nearer from farther.

[gjhall]

Won't someone save our precious heavy equipment storage yard!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by gjhall

Won't someone save our precious heavy equipment storage yard!

It's historic, isn't it?

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

It's historic, isn't it?

no but it is of appropriate height and density for a lot that is within one kilometre from both major highways in the city and directly connected to those highways by four lane roads. know what i mean? that's where one story equipment sheds belong.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Harley613

no but it is of appropriate height and density for a lot that is within one kilometre from both major highways in the city and directly connected to those highways by four lane roads. know what i mean? that's where one story equipment sheds belong.

Sure, there shouldn't be a campaign to get rid of them, but if the market dictates it's worth more as residential than storage, it's probably time to move on.

[Harley613]

oops i meant to be sarcastic there, i'm all for getting rid of the damned equipment yard. this place is perfect for high density. stupid typo.

[ArchiCAD]

Originally Posted by Harley613

absolutely fantastic idea and location...and some VERY much needed new rental units in the west end.

That would be sweet. This area is void of any real commerce. It'd be nice to have a cafe and bistro nearby. The area west of the Greenbank-Baseline towards the Queensway Carleton is like a ghost town for pedestrian living. I live here and I wish I could less dependant on my car.

[m0nkyman]

http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2011/...tremification/

Ken Gray seems to have gone completely off the deep end with this "extremification" crap.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by ArchiCAD

That would be sweet. This area is void of any real commerce. It'd be nice to have a cafe and bistro nearby. The area west of the Greenbank-Baseline towards the Queensway Carleton is like a ghost town for pedestrian living. I live here and I wish I could less dependant on my car.

That horrid little office "campus" of those three squat dumpy towerlettes could be so much more, too.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

That horrid little office "campus" of those three squat dumpy towerlettes could be so much more, too.

But look at all that greenspace in the middle! Paradise!

[S-Man]

Ken Grey is off the deep end - I honestly think he has OCD, coupled with NIMBYism - no level of intensification is acceptable in any existing area of any existing neighbourhood in Ottawa. Two units on one lot would have him in a rage. If you're not going to give a solution to sprawl (one can only assume his idea of growth is ever outwards, and as low-density as possible), then he shouldn't have a forum to air his backwards, unsustainable NIMBY views.

He thinks he's a visionary planner/hero, but he's the exact opposite, and the sooner he shuts up the better.

[ml1471]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

.....
Secondly, I think we might be putting the cart before the horse on alot of the issues that are being discussed in this thread. Despite the understandable temptation to extrapolate from past (often sour) experiences, I think it's more reasonable to take a wait-and-see approach to both NIMBYism and Councillor's hypocracy rather than deriding these groups preemptively.

lol.
Your sentiment was a good one.....in any other city. But not Ottawa. Think i've decided this place is just a lost cause. There is an overall selfishness I find by the residents of Ottawa. I see it in the way they walk, drive, bike, and live. I do hate to generalise but I think a large majority of the residents are completely stuck inside their own heads and lives. This city will never be what it could be until these people learn how to take an expanded view of the whole situation and think beyond their own backyard. And they clearly need to understand some basics of economics. Your property taxes will keep going up until you do allow some density and stop the sprawl.

I don't wish to get in detail about what I do but basically the more sprawl there is, the more money I make. Although sprawl contributes to my finances, I also know it can get way out of control and is the wrong way for a city to grow. I moved to Ottawa because it has such a reputation for being so sprawl-happy. It's like a gold-mine for me. Easy, easy money because it's citizens keep forcing such bad moves. I'm finding it tough though because it is such a difficult city to live. As well, i'm having some moral challenges making money off such clearly bad choices. Not sure I will stay.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by ml1471

lol.
Your sentiment was a good one.....in any other city. But not Ottawa. Think i've decided this place is just a lost cause. There is an overall selfishness I find by the residents of Ottawa. I see it in the way they walk, drive, bike, and live. I do hate to generalise but I think a large majority of the residents are completely stuck inside their own heads and lives. This city will never be what it could be until these people learn how to take an expanded view of the whole situation and think beyond their own backyard. And they clearly need to understand some basics of economics. Your property taxes will keep going up until you do allow some density and stop the sprawl.

I don't wish to get in detail about what I do but basically the more sprawl there is, the more money I make. Although sprawl contributes to my finances, I also know it can get way out of control and is the wrong way for a city to grow. I moved to Ottawa because it has such a reputation for being so sprawl-happy. It's like a gold-mine for me. Easy, easy money because it's citizens keep forcing such bad moves. I'm finding it tough though because it is such a difficult city to live. As well, i'm having some moral challenges making money off such clearly bad choices. Not sure I will stay.

Dude, even though most of my friends and family are in this city, I'm trying to get into the aviation business and I can't wait to leave this city.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

Dude, even though most of my friends and family are in this city, I'm trying to get into the aviation business and I can't wait to leave this city.

Whats your biggest issue with ottawa?

[S-Man]

The answer to that can be found in almost every post on this site...

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by gjhall

But look at all that greenspace in the middle! Paradise!

I know! At lunch hour you can barely get through the crowd of thousands thronging to the beautiful green space!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Ken Grey is off the deep end - I honestly think he has OCD, coupled with NIMBYism

OCDIMBYism?