Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[Fatty McButterpants]

Was just reading the Sun and noticed an online poll asking whether people liked the design of the veil. So far around 55% have said yes and 45% said no. About half of us don't like it. That sounds about right to me.

[JFFournier]

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/09/park-in-lansdowne-park-ready-to-open

Just seven more days and the park portion of Lansdowne opens up. This summer has already witnessed the opening of TD Place — home of the RedBlacks and the Fury.

Here’s a look at some of the park features and upcoming attractions at Lansdowne.

1. More ice (if there wasn’t enough already)

Ottawa is racking up its share of outdoor refrigerated rinks. If the Rideau Canal Skateway isn’t enough, the new rink at Lansdowne will add yet another canal-side skating option. Yes, on top of the Rink of Dreams at City Hall. The city is attempting to bring back curling at Lansdowne on the new rink, too. The Horticulture Building once was home to curling sheets.

2. Sweet skateboard park

Dude! Like, it was a such surprise when a small, but gnarly skatepark popped up during construction of the urban park since it wasn’t in the original concept. Beginners and posers alike will be stoked about the sick obstacles on the concrete pad, including multiple ramps and grind bars.

3. Civic Centre facelift

It has to be one of the more bizarre junior hockey barns in the country with a wall of seats on one side of the ice under the north-side stands of TD Place. The 45-year-old home of the Ottawa 67s will be ready in October. The roof was replaced, the lower-level salons were rebuilt and the concessions were updated. The new anchor retail tenant of the arena will be GoodLife Fitness.

4. A place to picnic

Finally, a place to spread out a blanket and each lunch at Lansdowne. Symbolically, the Great Lawn represents a return to the civic property (part of it, anyway) being a park. Mayor Jim Watson likes to point this out every chance he gets. With a new park will come playground equipment, an orchard and an Algonquin teaching circle.

5. The return of the farmers’ market

The Ottawa Farmers’ Market will return to Lansdowne in 2015 after a successful run at Brewer Park. The market was forced to relocate during the redevelopment. It’s still a fairly young market; it started in 2006 with 19 vendors. Now there are more than 100 and they will set up shop outside the Aberdeen Pavilion. The pavilion will also host market events.

6. Putting the Horticulture Building to use

The 100-year old Horticulture Building will be part of the urban park but it will still take a few more months to complete the interior fit-up. The $10-million relocation and restoration will open the building to community uses and cafes this fall.

7. New major events

With a refurbished stadium and arena, Lansdowne is ready to host major events, starting with the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2015. Large outdoor stadium concerts are a possibility again and the Civic Centre will be available to host those musical acts that require a venue smaller than Canadian Tire Centre, but bigger than the National Arts Centre. The city hopes it can land an NHL outdoor game, too.

8. Star movie treatment

The 10-screen Cineplex cinema will fill another void for downtown moviegoers looking for those big blockbuster flicks. The theatre is being billed as “state of the art,” with one auditorium equipped with extra-awesome screens and sound. There will also be VIP booze service during some movies. The company said the theatre should be open later this year.

9. Drop a bundle

The rest of the retail landscape will feature several restaurants like Joey and Local, an LCBO, a Whole Foods grocery store and Sporting Life. There will be staggered openings for the stores, starting later this year. There will also be a few mainstays of malls, like a Booster Juice and The Source.

10. A reopened Aberdeen Pavilion

Even though there have been massive changes in every corner of the Lansdowne site, the cornerstone heritage building has pretty much stayed the same. No big changes happened at the old Cattle Castle during the redevelopment, but the building will be available again to big events that were displaced during construction.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Fatty McButterpants

Was just reading the Sun and noticed an online poll asking whether people liked the design of the veil. So far around 55% have said yes and 45% said no. About half of us don't like it. That sounds about right to me.

OK, so you don't like the South Side Stands either? Forget the fact that the stadium was built between 1966 and 2014 for a sec. South side alone, what's wrong with it? Whatever your answer, you can't say that what we have now is not a huge improvement over Frank Clair Stadium during the Renegades era.

[Fatty McButterpants]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

OK, so you don't like the South Side Stands either? Forget the fact that the stadium was built between 1966 and 2014 for a sec. South side alone, what's wrong with it? Whatever your answer, you can't say that what we have now is not a huge improvement over Frank Clair Stadium during the Renegades era.

But the south side is not alone. And don't ask me. Ask the 45% of respondents who said they don't like it.

[jimmyjones]

Originally Posted by Fatty McButterpants

Was just reading the Sun and noticed an online poll asking whether people liked the design of the veil. So far around 55% have said yes and 45% said no. About half of us don't like it. That sounds about right to me.

Selection bias

[rocketphish]

The Veil creates funky cover to Lansdowne

Ottawa Sun
First posted: Sunday, August 10, 2014 10:02 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, August 10, 2014 10:51 PM EDT



The Veil, the canopy that encapsulates the new south stands of TD place at Lansdowne, was created by CannonDesign. This organic and fluid geometric form serves both as an enclosure to the grandstands and a welcoming facade to Lansdowne.

Made of Alaskan yellow cedar, the Veil contains more than 750,000 parts and is 154 metres wide and 25.5 metres high at its tallest point.

*One of the hardest known softwoods in the world, Alaskan yellow cedar offers exceptional durability and resistance to rot and decay. Left untreated, it weathers to an attractive silver-grey.

*The wood, found abundantly along the northern Pacific coast of North America, was glue-laminated into the desired shapes before being shipped to Ottawa for installation.

*The Veil is composed of 24 uniquely shaped primary vertical supports that vary in length from 13 to 22 metres and give the structure its complex curvature. Placed end-to-end, total length of the primaries would be 1 km.

*The secondary structural beams -- known as purlins -- are like tree branches, extending from those primary supports. They provide rigidity and help to define the curve. Placed end-to-end, total length of the secondaries would be 11.5 km.

*There are more than 1,800 unique purlins. The ends are all notched where they attach to the primary supports, allowing them to straddle the vertical spines. To achieve that, each one requires a unique cut -- a total of approximately 3,600 computer-guided cuts, to ensure that the purlins are parallel to the face of the stands.

*The volume of wood in the Veil would make 900 million toothpicks.

*The Veil contains 350,000 lbs. of steel and more than 3,500 bolts, which if placed the bolts end to end would be the length of seven football fields.

-- Courtesy City of Ottawa

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/08/10/the-veil-creates-funky-cover-to-lansdowne

[bikegypsy]

Originally Posted by Fatty McButterpants

But the south side is not alone. And don't ask me. Ask the 45% of respondents who said they don't like it.

Sure but it's from Sun readers... Mostly a bunch of cranky old useless suburbanites who think any activity conducted outside a car is an act of liberalism and who approve of only things done by other old geezers as long as these said things are performed in a car or for cars. Fuck them.

[Fatty McButterpants]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Sure but it's from Sun readers... Mostly a bunch of cranky old useless suburbanites who think any activity conducted outside a car is an act of liberalism and who approve of only things done by other old geezers as long as these said things are performed in a car or for cars. Fuck them.

Classic response on this forum. If you don't like someone's opinion, attack them personally. Classic.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Fatty McButterpants

Classic response on this forum. If you don't like someone's opinion, attack them personally. Classic.

Fair enough. But let's not pretend that an online Sun poll is in any way representative of public opinion on an issue.

I've honestly not heard a single person say that they didn't like the design (present company excepted). And my personal sample includes a healthy component of the FOL-types who inhabit my neighbourhood, though they are admittedly not likely to be Sun readers.

[Fatty McButterpants]

Originally Posted by phil235

Fair enough. But let's not pretend that an online Sun poll is in any way representative of public opinion on an issue.

I've honestly not heard a single person say that they didn't like the design (present company excepted). And my personal sample includes a healthy component of the FOL-types who inhabit my neighbourhood, though they are admittedly not likely to be Sun readers.

Fair enough right back at you. But regardless of anyone's opinion of "Sun readers", they are still people (presumably) and their opinion matters just as much as anyone else's. I don't think we should "fuck them", as suggested.

Here's what I would be interested in seeing: a poll where the opionions of the fanatical outliers were factored out. The reality is that most people are either indifferent or haven't given the project much attention. This is the silent majority. I would bet most of these disinterested people would consider the final Lansdowne project "not bad" or "pretty good", which is exactly how I would characterize it.

[S-Man]

Sure but it's from Sun readers... Mostly a bunch of cranky old useless suburbanites who think any activity conducted outside a car is an act of liberalism and who approve of only things done by other old geezers as long as these said things are performed in a car or for cars. Fuck them.

Says a commenter named 'Bikegypsy'. Couldn't have seen this response coming...

What the friggin' hell does car ownership have to do with whether or not people find a certain type of wood structure attractive or not? I own a car. I've been to the woods. I can comment on this too, if I wanted. If I'm allowed...

[phil235]

.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Fatty McButterpants

Here's what I would be interested in seeing: a poll where the opionions of the fanatical outliers were factored out. The reality is that most people are either indifferent or haven't given the project much attention. This is the silent majority. I would bet most of these disinterested people would consider the final Lansdowne project "not bad" or "pretty good", which is exactly how I would characterize it.

Sort of like figure skating - throw out the marks from the French and Russian judges.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by bikegypsy

Sure but it's from Sun readers... Mostly a bunch of cranky old useless suburbanites who think any activity conducted outside a car is an act of liberalism and who approve of only things done by other old geezers as long as these said things are performed in a car or for cars. Fuck them.

I hardly fit into this category... but I have to honestly say I've never been crazy about the veil. Really doesn't seem functional in any way, shape or form. I can only picture the water streaming on to those underneath during a rainy day.

Sure... it's an improvement over what existed before... though maybe I've just been spoilt by seeing the shiny new Winnipeg Stadium up close... THAT is how to put together a rockin new stadium.

P.S.... I know I'm new... and I am a huge fan of all things construction So just to emphasize... this is not the ramblings of a "cranky old useless surburbanite"... there are some normal folk who are underwhelmed.

[Fatty McButterpants]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

I hardly fit into this category... but I have to honestly say I've never been crazy about the veil. Really doesn't seem functional in any way, shape or form. I can only picture the water streaming on to those underneath during a rainy day.

Sure... it's an improvement over what existed before... though maybe I've just been spoilt by seeing the shiny new Winnipeg Stadium up close... THAT is how to put together a rockin new stadium.

P.S.... I know I'm new... and I am a huge fan of all things construction So just to emphasize... this is not the ramblings of a "cranky old useless surburbanite"... there are some normal folk who are underwhelmed.

Welcome, and God help you for the wrath you have just unleashed upon yourself. On this thread, dissent is met with hostility. Just tell them you love it and everything will be fine.

[JeffB]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

I hardly fit into this category... but I have to honestly say I've never been crazy about the veil. Really doesn't seem functional in any way, shape or form. I can only picture the water streaming on to those underneath during a rainy day.

Sure... it's an improvement over what existed before... though maybe I've just been spoilt by seeing the shiny new Winnipeg Stadium up close... THAT is how to put together a rockin new stadium.

P.S.... I know I'm new... and I am a huge fan of all things construction So just to emphasize... this is not the ramblings of a "cranky old useless surburbanite"... there are some normal folk who are underwhelmed.

It isn't supposed to be functional. While aesthetics and function are not mutually exclusive, they often don't get equal weighting when it comes to architecture.

But it also should be noted that aesthetics are far more subjective and as a result people are going to disagree on whether something looks nice. Rather than harp on it, people should just be agreeing to disagree. Of course, that likely is too much to ask.

[OTSkyline]

Look at it this way, at least when the Veil weathers to a silver-grey color it will be match the silver/grey color of the concrete on the north side!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by nredding

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

That's funny. People in my neighbourhood squeak, too, but the city blithely ignores them. I'm sure it's entirely unrelated to the income levels in the two different neighbourhoods.

[rocketphish]

City changes Lansdowne shuttle route for next Redblacks game

Carys Mills, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: August 11, 2014, Last Updated: August 11, 2014 6:01 PM EDT

There will be fewer shuttle buses taking Lakeside Avenue for Friday’s Redblacks game, following concerns from some residents of the quiet street.

Capital Ward Coun. David Chernushenko said Monday that changes to the shuttle route for this week’s game will result in at least a 50 per cent reduction in the number of shuttle buses taking Lakeside Avenue, which is close to Dow’s Lake.

“Nothing is permanent, in that this going to be tested. We’ll be crunching the numbers,” Chernushenko said, adding assessment of the “pilot project” will include how long new routes take and whether they cause changes to shuttle usage.

Instead of taking Lakeside Avenue, buses picking people up at the Canada Post and Vincent Massey Park parking lots will use Heron Road and Prince of Wales Drive to get to Queen Elizabeth Driveway and ultimately TD Place.

Also being assessed in the pilot project will be the diversion of out-of-service buses to and from Carleton University and the R.A. Centre. Some deadheaded pre-game buses on those routes will be diverted on to Preston Street and Carling Avenue and timed to judge the effectiveness of the trial route. That diversion could reduce bus volumes on Lakeside Avenue by an extra 15 per cent.

“For sure, it’s a response to community concerns,” Chernushenko said, adding the decision to try new routes for the third home game was made at a Lansdowne transportation management meeting last Friday.

He said it’s possible the shuttle routes could change again soon, depending on how the next few games go. He acknowledged that community concerns about shuttle bus traffic on Lakeside Avenue aren’t new.

“In a way, efficiency and attractiveness of the shuttle for the first couple of games won out — if I could put it so crassly — over the concerns of people on that street,” he said. “Now there’s a shift to try to reduce that impact.”

Lakeside Avenue resident Claire Gardam said she was disappointed it has taken the city so long to act.

“Certainly we’re happy we’ve seen some action, there’s no doubt about it. We’re disappointed we had to get to this point to see some action, considering we’ve been trying to have changes made for the last 18 months,” she said.

Residents counted more than 549 buses travelling on their street before and after the last game, she added.

“Ideally we’d like to see no buses on residential streets,” she said.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story contained incorrect information about the percentage reduction in bus traffic

[email protected]
twitter.com/CarysMills

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...ne-shuttle-route-for-next-redblacks-game

[JFFournier]

Been trying to have changes made for the past 18 months? This would have to go back well before the Lansdowne transportation plan then. What other issues have they been having on that street in terms of traffic?