General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[Cre47]

Does Ottawa would be a good place for Rogers to launch a station like CITY-TV in Toronto. Considering CTV and Bell are going in freefall mode, I think Rogers might have a big opportunity here. I know CBC might get a boost thanks to this fiasco and now with a less hostile government in place.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Ottawa would be a good place for Rogers to launch a station like CITY-TV in Toronto. Considering CTV and Bell are going in freefall mode, I think Rogers might have a big opportunity here. I know CBC might get a boost thanks to this fiasco and now with a less hostile government in place.

I was thinking something along those lines tonight as well. But, seeing as more people are getting their news from online media sources, I was thinking a company like Rogers would be smart developing a 24-hour online news service, specifically targeting cord-cutters who have bought into Netflix (or Shomi), for example. Maybe even set it up like an App for the Roku, Chromecast, Playstation, XBox, or AppleTV. Heck, they could even make it a low-fee subscription service ($1-2 a month, for example) and I think enough people would buy in, especially if they hired reputable (even veteran) anchors...

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by Cre47

Does Ottawa would be a good place for Rogers to launch a station like CITY-TV in Toronto. Considering CTV and Bell are going in freefall mode, I think Rogers might have a big opportunity here. I know CBC might get a boost thanks to this fiasco and now with a less hostile government in place.

We had our own version of city tv. It was called the new RO. That market media mall was built for them.

Then CJOH burnt down and the corporate takeovers started.

Mr. Greene is at least a decade past even Bismarck's age of retirement. No matter how many bankruptcies and failed ventures he's had nothing seems to stop him. The power of his own ego is that strong. Physically he's a very imposing man. Intellectually not so much. If you ever listen to American talk radio you'll recognize that much of his schtick has been lifted from people like Michael Savage and the now deceased David Brudnoy.

[lrt's friend]

And the spiral to the bottom continues, necessitated by an economic revolution. Yet, our democracy depends on a strong press and it is worrisome as we move to a very splintered, more opinion based Internet news model.

[Acajack]

That's very sad for Mrs. Meehan, who was by all accounts an extremely nice and classy lady in addition to being an excellent anchorwoman.

It was only a couple of years ago that her husband died in tragic circumstances.

Rough times.

[McC]

Glad they're moving rapidly to rebuild at Bank and Fifth, but it's unfortunate that a consequence is missing the opportunity to put in a midrise instead.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/glebe-building-rebuild-1.3322819

...many of the original tenants — including Mac's Milk and Pizza Hut — have expressed an interest in coming back, partly because the new building will hold true to the old design.

"We made a commitment after the fire that we'd rebuild exactly what was there," he said.

"If we actually deviate from the site plan, it would take months to get the new site plan process in place. We don't have months. We have tenants who are eager to come back in. They want to get their businesses re-established."

The owners are expecting the contractor to break ground in February 2016, and are aiming for a completion date of September 2016.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

We had our own version of city tv. It was called the new RO. That market media mall was built for them.

Then CJOH burnt down and the corporate takeovers started.

Mr. Greene is at least a decade past even Bismarck's age of retirement. No matter how many bankruptcies and failed ventures he's had nothing seems to stop him. The power of his own ego is that strong. Physically he's a very imposing man. Intellectually not so much. If you ever listen to American talk radio you'll recognize that much of his schtick has been lifted from people like Michael Savage and the now deceased David Brudnoy.

I think if looking at media for Ottawa and a new source, the easiest path might be for someone to set up a new TV station at the border from one of their companies...with news focused on Ottawa and the transmitter pointing straight north. Any new entrant would be shot down by Bell et. al. in Canada, despite them not caring at all.

[rocketphish]

The purpose of this zoning by-law amendment is to add "broadcasting studio" as a permitted use at 1391 Wellington Street West, to accommodate CHIN radio station within the existing building on the lot. It is proposed to accommodate the radio station within the existing two-storey building at 1391 Wellington Street. The building is currently for lease. A large reception area will occupy the front portion of the first floor of the building. The broadcasting studio will occupy the front portion of the second floor of the building, with large, sound-proofed windows facing the street. The radio signal will be transmitted via an internet connection, with no external broadcasting antenna. Parking will be provided in an existing parking area at the rear of the lot.

Zoning application:
http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__0R95VP

Sounds glamourous, doesn't it? Until you see the building in question...

Streetview:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.3980705,-...Mc-jD4RRspP0w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[kevinbottawa]

Bank Street commercial rebuild has rental apartments on the horizon

Paula McCooey, Ottawa Citizen

Published on: November 19, 2015 | Last Updated: November 19, 2015 12:46 PM EST

A Glebe commercial plaza that was deliberately torched this spring will rebuild in the new year with plans to include rental apartments on top, says the property owner.

The fire began at 857 Bank St. with a series of explosions late in the evening of April 9 inside the Beaver’s Mug coffee shop and destroyed the neighbouring businesses. The Ottawa police arson unit confirmed the fire was deliberately set. However the file is now considered “inactive” until the force gathers more evidence to make an arrest.

“We are still waiting for a file report from the Office of the (Ontario) Fire Marshal,” said Ottawa police Sgt. Dave Christie. “They’ve taken some samples and sent them for testing.”

Shortly after the devastating spring fire, the owners George Helal and Sam Bellama stood out front of the charred block and vowed to rebuild. They are following through with the plan, and given Lansdowne now draws more visitors, they hope to have a mixed-use building that will include six commercial spaces and as many as 30 rental apartments.

As for how the exterior will look, Bellama said he can’t comment until they meet with builder Bassi Construction Ltd. this week.
A fireman walks past the remains of the Beaver's Mug Cafe and Silver Scissors Hair salon after a structure fire that ultimately spread to the neighbouring Pizza Hut, Mac's corner store and the Encino Taco shop at 11pm on Thursday, April 9. The Bank St. fire started from an explosion in the Beaver's Mug and continued long into the night.

“We don’t know yet, we’ll meet with the builder and we’ll take it from there,” said Bellama. “We can’t wait to see it finished … the tenants have been calling us every day. They want to come back, and now with the Lansdowne Park now, it’s going crazy that area.”

Bellama said Mac’s Convenience store will return and has requested to double its space, and Pizza Hut is on board with an extra 100 square feet. However he said the coffee shop will not be returning.

He said the rent will also increase from about $25 per square foot to $40.

Don Herweyer, manager, urban development review confirmed the property is zoned “Traditional Main Street TM (15) with a 15-metre limit.

“Residential is permitted/encouraged above the ground floor,” said Herweyer in a written response. “Based on the existing zoning and height limit, a four-storey mixed-use building could be constructed.”

He said that in terms of approval, the owners would need to submit for site plan control approval and a building permit application for the redevelopment of the site, which they have yet to do.

“The owners have not had discussions with City staff regarding a mixed commercial/residential development,” he said.

Silver Scissors owner Eli Saikaley moved his business to another location on Bank Street after the fire. He confirmed they will be opening another salon style business when the location is rebuilt, but Silver Scissors will stay put. Also, he said his son place to reopen his restaurant Encino Taco shop, of the businesses destroyed in the fire. As for the rent increase, he says, it’s on par with surrounding commercial spaces given the buzz around Lansdowne.

“Lansdowne Park is hot now and the Glebe is hot, market values have gone through the roof, so all the rents have gone up,” said Saikaley. “But you are going to get more exposure, more walk-in, more clientele, more traffic.”

[email protected]

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...ild-has-rental-apartments-on-the-horizon

[McC]

Weird, that's the exact opposite of what they told CBC this week.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by McC

Weird, that's the exact opposite of what they told CBC this week.

Hmm rundown low-rise building in prime location burns down and then is rebuilt with more height. Funny how these locations seem to burn down a lot.

[citydwlr]

Walked by the old Laura Secord at Bank and Queen and noticed a new Roast & Brew is moving in, sadly. That corner could have used something better in my opinion.

[citydwlr]

Suzie Q Doughnuts just announced that they are officially moving to the old spot occupied by the West End Well, in Hintonburg:

‏@suzyqdoughnuts:

So it's official, we ARE moving!

Within a few weeks, you should see us at the ol' West End Well location, 969 Wellington St W

Excited???

[J.OT13]

Long time coming.

City seeking theme park, "House of Sport" to boost economy

OBJ StaffPublished on November 25, 2015

The city is hoping to land a theme park or other large-scale tourist attraction and is eyeing a home for major sports organizations as part of its economic development strategy, a new report says.

The document, which will be presented at next week’s finance and economic development committee meeting, outlines the city’s key priorities for fuelling economic growth in 2016 and beyond.

The report says Events Ottawa will continue its effort to attract “major sporting and cultural events” to the capital and will work with Ottawa Tourism to lure “potential entertainment-themed tourism attractions” to the city.

A strategic plan funded by the province concluded Ottawa “could support a number of entertainment tourist attractions including a theme park, upscale recreation vehicle park, a hotel/indoor water park, a Ripley’s-type attraction (Odditorium, 4-D Theatre, and Louis Tussauds Waxwork), a regional theme park, and a first-rate entertainment facility,” the report adds.

The city and Ottawa Tourism are also looking into the possibility of creating a “House of Sport” in the capital. According to the report, the facility would bring together a host of national sports federations and associated organizations and businesses under one roof.

“A House of Sport is to the major event and sporting industry what an incubator is to entrepreneurs and startups,” the report says, adding the city is still determining whether a “solid business case” exists for such a building.

On the 2017 front, Celebrations Ottawa, the non-profit agency in charge of planning Canada’s 150th birthday activities in the capital, will continue to announce major public and private funding commitments as well as “a series of high-profile blockbuster events” over the next year, the report says.

To guard against a birthday economic hangover, the city will host a one-day Tourism Summit in early 2016 to discuss strategies for sustaining growth in the hospitality sector beyond 2017.

The city also says it will work with the Ottawa Champions Can-Am League baseball team to explore ways of using the city’s 10,000-seat baseball stadium for other sporting and special events.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/City-Hall/2015-1...ark%2C-House-of-Sport-to-boost-economy/1

[YOWflier]

About time. But talk is cheap...need to execute.

[waterloowarrior]

Colonnade Management merging with BridgePort Realty
http://www.colonnadedevelopment.com/inde...ltemplate=news_detail&cntnt01returnid=68

[bartlebooth]

Exciting news for the National Gallery of Canada today with the announcement of a $10 million donation from Scotiabank to start a Canadian Photography Institute.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nati...cotiabank-david-thomson/article27506410/

Also, significant contributions from David Thompson for the institute. Big day for the gallery.

[YOWflier]

I saw someone driving a Tesla (Model S, I think) here in town yesterday. I was a bit surprised because I didn't think they had a showroom here in town. So, I checked.

The short answer is that they don't ... yet. This is what Tesla's web site shows:

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

I saw someone driving a Tesla (Model S, I think) here in town yesterday.

I see them in Kanata all the time. But it might be the same half-dozen again and again... I don't know.

[kevinbottawa]

That map is showing the World Exchange Plaza. Odd location.