Lansdowne Park Redevelopment Phase 1 | Completed

[kevinbottawa]

It would be nice to have a few more fashion retailers at Lansdowne. Place d'Orleans is getting one of the first Forever 21 Red stores in Canada. If something like that were at Lansdowne it would help to make it a destination.

[loga0082]

You are probably right, Kevin! Perhaps, one should put a clothes shop, where Rexall pharmacy was supposed to be. Forever 21 would be a good idea! That place looks big enough for a retail Forever 21 clothes shop. They also have a Forever 21 at the Rideau Centre.

Loga0082

[waterloowarrior]

@alistairsteele https://twitter.com/alistairsteele/status/597518081791905792
Seriously, why would anyone pay for parking at #Lansdowne when this is less exception, more rule? #ottcity



@GeorgeFDark https://twitter.com/GeorgeFDark/status/597580970552786944
@alistairsteele really doesn't look great does it - was not supposed to be a surface parking lot that's why it's called Aberdeen Square


The fine in the by-law is $65 ($45 early payment) but people seem to be getting $0 tickets
http://ottawa.ca/en/residents/transporta...parking-infractions-and-associated-fines

https://twitter.com/mhbvickers/status/595759242457554945

[MoreTrains]

What the eff? They should tow all those cars, throw a blitz. Cover the cars with tickets, tow cars that arent moved within X amount of time, keep doing that until people get the point! This will probably be bad for the interlock because I dont believe it was laid with vehicle parking in mind, more pedestrian traffic. Plus, the fines would be pretty good revenue for the city. Just put one by-law enforcer at Lansdowne and they will be able to pull in enough revenue for the entire by-law section it looks like. Such a dissappointment that would definitley make me not want to return if that is the norm.

[1overcosc]

Is it the city or OSEG that is responsible for enforcement of parking rules on site?

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Is it the city or OSEG that is responsible for enforcement of parking rules on site?

A friend of mine works for bylaw and to their understanding and from what their supervisors tell them is that it is a tough situation because technically it is a 'private' road and that the land is not technically owned by the City. Therefore, OSEG would have to be present and request the city to come ticket the cars on their property. The $0 tickets is essentially a warning - hoping people won't do it again. Plus people could fight it and probably win because it is 'private' property.

But seriously... I was there on the weekend for the 10km run for CHEO and this is exactly where the Farmer's Market is set-up. Cars should be banned from anywhere in Lansdowne with the exception of maybe cars with disabled parking permits. The painted lines on the roads and interlock look bad. It should be meant for people and not cars.

On a side note: When all the patios are finished it's going to look spectacular. These patios are like nothing I've seen before in Ottawa and are quite elaborate/cool.

[ars]

Why are cars even allowed to go up there in the first place? Whole thing should be closed off to everything except pedestrian traffic.

[1overcosc]

Out of curiosity, can you 'chain' parking validations? As in, buy a threatre ticket to get 3 hours of parking, then pop by the Whole Foods and get another 1.5 hours, for a total of 4.5 consecutive hours of free parking? A suburbanite friend wants to know.

[c_speed3108]

Originally Posted by ars

Why are cars even allowed to go up there in the first place? Whole thing should be closed off to everything except pedestrian traffic.

This is really the problem at Lansdowne. It is not that clear where cars are and are not supposed to go.

I get the concept of trying to create a pedestrian priority area. It is just that there is a certain way people are used to roads working (at least in North America). Road and sidewalk different materials that contrast, curbs, crosswalks, the whole shebang. It has it's issues but people are used to it.

Perhaps some bollards of some sort would solve the problem.

[Radster]

Originally Posted by MountainView

On a side note: When all the patios are finished it's going to look spectacular. These patios are like nothing I've seen before in Ottawa and are quite elaborate/cool.

Agreed, with the exception of the Milestones patio which wanted to beat all its competitors so they opened a bare bones minimalist type of patio. The ones they are constructing at Joey's and Local look insane! I think Jack Astors is also building one, and surely the pizza place by Milestones has room for one as well. Once FIFA rolls around, and RedBlacks games, the square with all the patios and crowds of people will totally transform this area!

[Radster]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

Out of curiosity, can you 'chain' parking validations? As in, buy a threatre ticket to get 3 hours of parking, then pop by the Whole Foods and get another 1.5 hours, for a total of 4.5 consecutive hours of free parking? A suburbanite friend wants to know.

My family, myself, and a few of my friends have the same question. I posted this a few pages ago, no answer. Is there a general e-mail address or phone number for Lansdowne where one can send questions?

[Boxster]

Originally Posted by loga0082

To me, there are enough restaurants at Lansdowne park and a few down Bank Street. Why don't they put something else there? When there is a lot of competition with restaurants close together, one is eventually going to close down. I know that they are putting a dentist close to PetSmart. However, won't the rent be too expensive for a dental office.

loga0082

IMHO, I believe Lansdowne Park needs a 24 hour drive through Macdonald's.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by Radster

Agreed, with the exception of the Milestones patio which wanted to beat all its competitors so they opened a bare bones minimalist type of patio. The ones they are constructing at Joey's and Local look insane! I think Jack Astors is also building one, and surely the pizza place by Milestones has room for one as well. Once FIFA rolls around, and RedBlacks games, the square with all the patios and crowds of people will totally transform this area!

I noticed that too this weekend but their patio was packed and it was only 5pm. I also tried the Jack Astor's and their menu and inside is nothing like a typical Jack Astor's. They have 40 beers on tap, of which 20 are craft beers - which I was very impressed by. I will definitely be back.

I can't wait until the first FIFA game and Redblacks home opener.

[loga0082]

Bolster, in my opinion; the place where Rexall pharmacy was suppose to go is to big a space for a MacDonald's. Most people do not like MacDonald's that much. Some people complained that the food tasted like cardboard. Furthermore, MacDonald's is bad for one's health.

Parking can be a nuisance. Sometimes, it is even difficult to find parking space in the Glebe and Ottawa South. You have to pay even for parking on Bank Street. Maybe for Lansdowne park cinemas, they should give 4 hours free parking instead of 3, because some movie can go over 3 hours. They always show advertisements and previews, before the movie starts. They have free parking, if you shop at Whole Foods and LCBO. I do not have a car and I always walk to Lansdowne park. Therefore, parking is not a problem for me. I would say that people really should just take the bus, bike, or walk to Lansdowne park. It is far cheaper than driving a car and safer. One should also take shuttles to Lansdowne park.

Loga0082

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by Boxster

IMHO, I believe Lansdowne Park needs a 24 hour drive through Macdonald's.

I told my wife this past weekend that I'd like to see a McDs at Lansdowne. It wouldn't go with the vibe of the development but it would be convenient. There aren't any fast food places around there.

[loga0082]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I told my wife this past weekend that I'd like to see a McDs at Lansdowne. It wouldn't go with the vibe of the development but it would be convenient. There aren't any fast food places around there.

When I walked pass Lansdowne park last week, they are opening a NYF at the Frank Clair stadium near South Street burger. The Teriyaki is a fast food chain. I ate there over a month ago, because it was faster than the other restaurants. The Lavazza also has a few tables in which you can order sandwiches. I presume that NYF is a fast food chain. So, these places at Lansdowne may not be MacDonald's, they are still fast-food chains to me.

loga0082

[eemy]

Perhaps a slightly more upscale or unique fast food place. Chipotle or Carls Jr or something along those lines.

[rocketphish]

City worried about Lansdowne car 'culture'

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Monday, May 11, 2015 10:47 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, May 11, 2015 10:54 PM EDT

Lansdowne Park is becoming exactly what the local councillor wanted to avoid when the city was designing the urban park and shopping district.

"I think it's terrible," Capital Coun. David Chernushenko told the Sun Monday. "There's far more vehicle traffic on the whole site than what was envisioned."

Chernushenko said the city will need to do something before a car "culture" becomes prominent on the site.

The most glaring evidence is the pop-up parking lot that has occasionally taken over Aberdeen Square, an area between Aberdeen Pavilion and the Cineplex.

The city put up "no parking" signs but motorists still pull in. Chernushenko said, based on anecdotal evidence from security, motorists say they are just quickly visiting a store. More barriers or traffic control staff might be necessary, he said.

Lansdowne has a paid underground parking lot and some paid surface parking. The city and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group anticipated that would be enough parking when combined with street parking in the Glebe.

Lansdowne was designed to be friendlier to other modes of transportation -- cycling and walking -- and to naturally discourage car traffic.

It's still early in the life of the redevelopment but Chernushenko noted some conflict between the modes.

"I'm surprised and disappointed by the evolution," Chernushenko said. "We have to do a serious rethink about the amount of vehicles allowed on the site."

A spokesman for the OSEG, the retail landlord for Lansdowne, there have been no parking-related complaints from retailers. OSEG says it's working with the city on parking signage and enforcement in the public realm as people get used to the new Lansdowne.

Bylaw chief Roger Chapman said OSEG has deputized staff and contracted security to enforce parking, although warnings instead of fines have been issued in some cases where cars are parked illegally.

"Lansdowne Park continues to be under construction and in transition to full operations," Chapman said in an e-mail. "As such, not all parking signage is in place and therefore, where that is the case, warnings are issued to drivers, as appropriate. Additional signage will be installed shortly."

Parking isn't the only problem for Chernushenko.

He said at Lansdowne, like on Elgin St., pedestrians are starting to feel "squeezed" by patios. Restaurants have been building patios -- in some cases, pulling up new paving stones for infrastructure -- that jut from their storefronts.

"They are very, very big patios. I'm really getting the feeling like there's a new building," Chernushenko said.

Twitter: @JonathanWilling

http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/05/11/city-worried-about-lansdowne-car-culture

[loga0082]

In my opinion, people should just take the bus, walk, or cycle instead to Lansdowne park. I knew from the beginning that parking at Lansdowne park will be a problem. Who needs a car anyway in Ottawa, when there is a good transportation system. It is NOT Los Angeles!

Loga0082

[Radster]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Perhaps a slightly more upscale or unique fast food place. Chipotle or Carls Jr or something along those lines.

Oh I can't wait for the day Ottawa gets its first CHIPOTLE location!!!