Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[Nepean]

I have lived in the Glebe for a couple of years now and I have to say that the Lansdowne redevelopment is the best thing to have happened in my neighbourhood. I regularly play in the park with my children -- which, BTW, will improve once the splash pad is complete -- love going to Fury and Redblacks games, and have been impressed with the restaurants, e.g. Locals is really good.

I am starting to think that Lansdowne may soon start rivaling the ByWard market as a destination. As for complaints about the grass, you have to remember that the park is not even finished yet.

The Phil Jenkins article in the Citizen was complete utter bullshit. He did not "see" Lansdowne, rather he made up his mind on what to say beforehand, and then forced himself to walk to the new development because he had to. To argue as he does that the current development is worse than what was there before is insane.

You can have an honest disagreement on whether the development was as good as it could have been, or whether the process to pick a developer was poor, or even on what needs to be improved. But in my view, what is beyond dispute is whether the current development is better than the abandoned industrial dump that used to exist there before.

As a sidenote, I should note that a good portion of Glebe residents like this development, as can be witnessed by the fact that their children play next to mine in the park, or they can be found drinking/eating at one of the establishments. Friends of Lansdowne do not speak for me, nor a large part of the community. In fact, it would not shock me to find out that their viewpoint is a minority even in the Glebe.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

If somebody complains about the grass not being green, there is clearly nothing else to complain about.

And if that person's idea of hell is 7-day underground parking, his or her tolerance level is not great.

[JFFournier]

Originally Posted by Nepean

The Phil Jenkins article in the Citizen was complete utter bullshit. He did not "see" Lansdowne, rather he made up his mind on what to say beforehand, and then forced himself to walk to the new development because he had to. To argue as he does that the current development is worse than what was there before is insane.

Yeah, maybe if he played that "what had been to my left before?" game in other parts of the Park and a little more honestly, his conclusion might differ.

Too bad the grocery store's mission statement made him gag. They have some wicked good food in that place.

[kevinbottawa]

I see that Crust & Crate Public House is going where the Gabriel's Pizza sign used to be below the Cineplex. I wonder if Gabriel's will be using another spot or if they won't be at Lansdowne at all. Makes me think that Rexall won't be at Lansdowne since the signs at their space are gone.

[daud]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I see that Crust & Crate Public House is going where the Gabriel's Pizza sign used to be below the Cineplex. I wonder if Gabriel's will be using another spot or if they won't be at Lansdowne at all. Makes me think that Rexall won't be at Lansdowne since the signs at their space are gone.

I think Crust and Crate is a new conceptual Gabriels brand/format that they will be trying at Lansdowne for the first time.

[1overcosc]

There are fair and valid criticisms one can make about Lansdowne.

However, saying that it is worse than what was there before (say, what it was in 2008) is not one of them.

[daud]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

There are fair and valid criticisms one can make about Lansdowne.

However, saying that it is worse than what was there before (say, what it was in 2008) is not one of them.

I think Lansdowne will shine during game days for the redblacks. It may build on that success during the course of this year.

That being said, we went to Jack Astor's for an early dinner a few weekends ago. What amazed me was how dead the retail was (Saturday Afternoon) and as soon as we left, we turned north on Bank and the street was full. That walking traffic on Bank does not seem to be penetrating Lansdowne much; at least from what I could see and the whole retail overall seems off to a very slow start.

Still, the project beats an aging parking lot and I am sure it is going to be an awesome place this summer on game nights.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Nepean

I have lived in the Glebe for a couple of years now and I have to say that the Lansdowne redevelopment is the best thing to have happened in my neighbourhood. I regularly play in the park with my children -- which, BTW, will improve once the splash pad is complete -- love going to Fury and Redblacks games, and have been impressed with the restaurants, e.g. Locals is really good.

Yep, we find ourselves down at the play structure regularly and it is always busy. There is also starting to be quite a buzz around the square with the restaurant windows open and the patios coming on line. I can't wait to see how it comes together for the Women's World Cup in June and then the Redblacks later on.

I've even managed to get by the Whole Foods slogan and go shopping there a few times. It's a little pricey for an every day grocery place, but it is a beautiful store with quality food that is good for supplementing my normal groceries.

I love that there are people down walking the streets at all times.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Makes me think that Rexall won't be at Lansdowne since the signs at their space are gone.

Odd, I heard nothing about that. I wouldn't be too disappointed though, as they are taking some prime real estate that would be much better used as a restaurant fronting on Bank or a Redblacks/67s/Fury team store.

[loga0082]

Jack Astor's restaurant
Silvia Logan
May 4 2015
How was Jack Astor's restaurant? Did you find the food good? What did you eat there? The reason that I am asking that question because my hairdresser ate at the old Jack Astor's at Billings Bridge and she said that the food was lousy. The Jack Astor's at Billings Bridge is closed. Is that Gabriel's Pizza close to the Lansdowne park cinemas going to become Crust & Crate Public House? I suppose that I will go check Lansdowne park tomorrow. I only visit Lansdowne park once every month. There has been no movie except for 'Cinderella' which interested me at Lansdowne park. I only tried 'Teriyaki' a month ago, because I wanted something quick, before I went to the movies. Service at church finished at 11:30 a.m and I had to rush. One day, I might try Milestone's, Locale, Jack Astor's, Joey's, Industria Brassiere Italienne, and South a Street Burger.

Loga0082

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by daud

I think Crust and Crate is a new conceptual Gabriels brand/format that they will be trying at Lansdowne for the first time.

The Crust & Crate signs have the Gabriel's logo at the bottom, which confirms what you said.

[daud]

Originally Posted by loga0082

Jack Astor's restaurant
Silvia Logan
May 4 2015
How was Jack Astor's restaurant? Did you find the food good? What did you eat there? The reason that I am asking that question because my hairdresser ate at the old Jack Astor's at Billings Bridge and she said that the food was lousy. The Jack Astor's at Billings Bridge is closed. Is that Gabriel's Pizza close to the Lansdowne park cinemas going to become Crust & Crate Public House?

Loga0082

Jack Astors is your typical chain restaurant, but it is quite good with good atmosphere. I ate a butter chicken curry bowl.

I also ate at Local and I really liked that place. They had awesome huevos rancheros and I like the open concept, exposed piping and garage door walls which will all open up in the summer I assume. Its also got the best spot across from both the cattle castle and north stands.

Still, Lansdowne, on the 2 cool days I was there was a bit of a ghost town. I think that the CFL season will help expose people to the new retail and restaurants and hopefully it will build from there.

[passwordisnt123]

Originally Posted by loga0082

Jack Astor's restaurant
Silvia Logan
May 4 2015
How was Jack Astor's restaurant? Did you find the food good?

I found Jack Astor's utterly middling and underwhelming. I wouldn't exactly say it was bad, but if I were spending some time at Lansdowne, I wouldn't go there when there's both a Milestones and the Local restaurant in the same complex, both of which are fairly nice.

[Harley613]

I finally saw a movie at the new Cineplex @ Lansdowne last night. Very nice facility, the Ultra AVX theatre is great...unfortunately there are only a limited number of D-Box seats and they were sold out so I had to get a regular seat. I usually reserve the front row of the top section at other theatres for extra leg room, but I'm glad I reserved a seat further back this time as the front row of the top section is VERY close to the screen at this theatre. The bottom section only has two rows, while Silver City has around 5-7 rows. My only issue with the theatre is that there was nobody in the lobby after the movie at 1:20am to validate my parking. Luckily I found the machine myself and took a chance and validated my own parking and it worked.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by passwordisnt123

I found Jack Astor's utterly middling and underwhelming. I wouldn't exactly say it was bad, but if I were spending some time at Lansdowne, I wouldn't go there when there's both a Milestones and the Local restaurant in the same complex, both of which are fairly nice.

and JOEY`S which is amazing too.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I finally saw a movie at the new Cineplex @ Lansdowne last night. Very nice facility, the Ultra AVX theatre is great...unfortunately there are only a limited number of D-Box seats and they were sold out so I had to get a regular seat. I usually reserve the front row of the top section at other theatres for extra leg room, but I'm glad I reserved a seat further back this time as the front row of the top section is VERY close to the screen at this theatre. The bottom section only has two rows, while Silver City has around 5-7 rows. My only issue with the theatre is that there was nobody in the lobby after the movie at 1:20am to validate my parking. Luckily I found the machine myself and took a chance and validated my own parking and it worked.

Just validate prior to the movie next time.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by passwordisnt123

I found Jack Astor's utterly middling and underwhelming. I wouldn't exactly say it was bad, but if I were spending some time at Lansdowne, I wouldn't go there when there's both a Milestones and the Local restaurant in the same complex, both of which are fairly nice.

Jack Astor's is a pretty typical chain restaurant. Good atmosphere for sports. Quite good for kids. Otherwise, the more interesting options are Local and Joey's.

[loga0082]

I went to Lansdowne park today and I saw that Lavazza was opened. They served freshly squeezed orange juice which was good, especially when it is hot. The two young guys working at Lavazza told me that their shop was opened for a week and a half. The Structube already had furniture in the store and the days of the week and its opening and closing hours. Is that furniture shop opened? When I walked pass by that shop, I saw nobody inside. The construction workers are start to put patios outside of the restaurant. The complex where PetSmart is is going to have a dental office. The place where Rexall pharmacy was supposed to be has no sign what the shop is going to be. loga0082

[mykl]

I love orange juice. Its great.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Radster

Just validate prior to the movie next time.

That...that....just makes so much sense...:p