Not everyone pleased with new alignment of Cleary LRT station
By Melissa Murray
Ottawa West News, Apr 19, 2016
The city may be labelling the new the Cleary light rail transit station realignment as an improvement, but not everyone agrees.
The city now plans to have the station front onto Richmond Road. To do that, the plaza at 747 Richmond Rd. will need to be acquired by the city in its entirety. Previously, the route cut through the Unitarian Church campus, which drew heavy opposition from members of the church and the 130 senior tenants of Unitarian House.
The station is part of the plan for Stage 2 of the city’s LRT project — a plan to add 30 kilometres of track and 19 stations — which the city hopes to launch in 2023.
During a presentation to residents, city staff touted the benefits of the alignment, including improved station accessibility and community presence, reduced property acquisition costs and a reduced number of properties with development impacts.
Lynn McCuskee, who works at Christina Thompson’s consignment and antique store, Treasures Anew, one of the businesses that will be forced to close or relocate because of the city’s new plan to tear down 747 Richmond Rd., questioned the city’s need to push approval through in such a short period of time. Council will consider the realignment on May 11.
“What’s the rush, given that there are so many question marks?” she said.
When Thompson began the business, she spent $20,000 just to get the doors open.
“Not everyone is on board,” McCuskee said of the new plan.
“But we have no choice,” Thompson said, adding, “Fait accompli.”
Both women were surprised just how soon the city would move to acquire the property, either by purchasing it or through expropriation.
“Eight months is not enough time to relocate or sell off and shut down,” McCuskee said.
No matter council’s decision on the fate of the plaza, McCuskee and Thompson hope the area will remain walkable, open and accessible to all demographics. They also hope any new development will capture the flavour of the existing neighbourhood.
“I wish they talked more about the larger plan and how this fits with it,” McCuskee said.
On behalf of the owner of the plaza, his lawyer, Timothy Cullen with McMillan law firm, expressed disappointment — for both the tenants who have been in the plaza for more than 10 years and the missed development opportunity.
“They are disappointed with the last minute change to the route,” Cullen said.
Other residents, especially those living in condos at 57 Cleary St., raised concerns about noise and vibration, both during construction and after, when LRT is up and running.
Chris Swail, city director of LRT Stage 2, explained the city has a number of options to mitigate noise and vibration concerns, including resilient fasteners, which absorb vibrations. Those fasteners will be used nearby, he said.
“We will design the track system to mitigate, using resilient fasteners to the point that you won’t be able to feel it,” Swail said.
Evaluations of the nearby buildings will also be done before, during and post construction, including photos, and any damage will have to be remedied, a process also undertaken during Stage 1 of construction.
But not everyone who asked questions of staff were against the proposal — others expressed a sigh of relief.
“Given all of the problems that the original proposal created, I think this looks like a very good solution to the problem, despite the fact that we’ve heard some issues,” David Jeanes, treasurer of Transport Action Canada, said at the meeting.
Kitchissipi Coun. Jeff Leiper opened the meeting with his approval as well.
“Let me be clear about something — this alignment is going to be a good thing for residents and a good thing for the city overall,” Leiper said.
According to city documents, the realignment will go back to the finance and economic development committee on May 3, where committee members will hear from the public. The matter will be considered by council on May 11. If all goes to plan, property acquisition would begin in the first quarter of 2017 with construction beginning in 2018.
Melissa Murray is a reporter with the Ottawa West News. She can be reached at
[email protected] .
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/n...y-lrt-station/
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This is a huge improvement, not because it appeases the Unitarians, but because it brings the station out to Richmond Road where it should have been in the first place.
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