Zibi Ottawa Ontario | U/C

[kwoldtimer]

"(G)randmothers in the prophetical sense"?

[rocketphish]

Zibi developers unhappy about Booth Street bike plans

David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: July 8, 2016 | Last Updated: July 8, 2016 6:41 PM EDT

The people behind the billion-dollar redevelopment of the Domtar industrial site in the Ottawa River are not at all happy with Ottawa’s decision to make the area hard to reach by bicycle.

Windmill Developments bills its Zibi project as an attempt to build “the world’s most sustainable community.” The plan is to turn Domtar’s defunct mills on Chaudière and Albert islands into a commercial and condo neighbourhood, opening up access to the long-enclosed waterways, and threading the whole area through with pedestrian and bike routes.

The main way in and out will be Booth Street, which the city has decided will have no bike lanes, let alone separated bike tracks, because — follow this if you can — the city’s planners decided it’ll be safer to have cyclists leapfrogging in the road with buses and trucks there, contrary to its own policies. This is on a bridge over the new light-rail line that the city is building from scratch.

“It doesn’t help us. We would still have a good connection in that the multiuse pathways on both sides of the river will get you right into our development, but it does create a series of roundabout ways for people,” says Rodney Wilts, a Windmill partner. The big problems are the crummy access it’ll create to and from a major transit hub, and — looking at the bigger picture — the poor routes for cyclists trying to pass through the area.

The Zibi development “was born on a bike,” he says. Windmill’s office is on Wellington Street West; Wilts commutes by bicycle and was riding across the islands on Booth Street years ago when the thought of redeveloping the Domtar property began glimmering in his head.

“It should be the best (bike) connection between downtown Gatineau and downtown Ottawa. It’s flat, it’s historic, you’ve got amazing views on either side,” Wilts says.

The old bridges across the islands make things tricky but Windmill has devised a plan for buffered bike lanes on Booth Street and Rue Eddy, its continuation on the Quebec side of the border, to get in and out of the Zibi district. The hard part, if the city’s plan sticks, will be getting to those bike lanes.

“My immediate response was oh, my goodness, there’s no bike connection. We’re putting in bike lanes and the bike lanes are going to die. So this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Wilts says.

The constant complaint road cyclists make about biking in Ottawa is that its many good cycling routes are poorly connected — you can have a great pathway here and a safe bike lane there, but in between is a stretch of narrow busy road nobody feels safe on. I wrote earlier this week, based on internal city documents, that the planners know that’s exactly what they’re building on the Booth Street bridge but decided to do it anyway.



“Thinking about the national capital region as a whole — what does it do for someone who’s shopping on Rue Eddy and wants to make it up to Preston Street, or working at Terasses de la Chaudière but living in Ottawa or near the LRT and saying I’d like to bike the last little bit?” Wilts asks. “Those are the things that start falling apart.”

Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney, who represents the area, agrees. “We just have to make sure that all those pieces fit together and we’re building a community,” she says. “It’s important not to work in silos.”

The good news is she met Mayor Jim Watson’s staff Thursday and believes there’s hope for the new Booth Street bridge.

“The initial aspect of the meeting was to talk about all the reasons why it couldn’t be done,” she says. “As we got into the details a bit, I think they started to see some of the possibilities.”

Another city hall meeting is scheduled next week with transportation planners, she says.

The new Booth Street bridge is already under construction, which complicates things. A wider bridge would have accommodated bikes more easily.

“We can’t change the structure of the bridge today, so some opportunity is lost, but there are opportunities that remain that we can take advantage of,” McKenney says.

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...rs-unhappy-about-booth-street-bike-plans

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Zibi developers unhappy about Booth Street bike plans

David Reevely, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: July 8, 2016 | Last Updated: July 8, 2016 6:41 PM EDT

The people behind the billion-dollar redevelopment of the Domtar industrial site in the Ottawa River are not at all happy with Ottawa’s decision to make the area hard to reach by bicycle.

Windmill Developments bills its Zibi project as an attempt to build “the world’s most sustainable community.” The plan is to turn Domtar’s defunct mills on Chaudière and Albert islands into a commercial and condo neighbourhood, opening up access to the long-enclosed waterways, and threading the whole area through with pedestrian and bike routes.

The main way in and out will be Booth Street, which the city has decided will have no bike lanes, let alone separated bike tracks, because — follow this if you can — the city’s planners decided it’ll be safer to have cyclists leapfrogging in the road with buses and trucks there, contrary to its own policies. This is on a bridge over the new light-rail line that the city is building from scratch.

(rest snipped)

There's a defunct bridge to Chaudiere Island behind the War Museum, right along the path! Trains even used to run across it to service the old Eddy plant. Not sure why they can't turn that into a bike / ped. path.

[Urbanarchit]

Originally Posted by MarkR

There's a defunct bridge to Chaudiere Island behind the War Museum, right along the path! Trains even used to run across it to service the old Eddy plant. Not sure why they can't turn that into a bike / ped. path.

You're thinking of Prince of Wales Bridge, which has some sort of plan for use discussed in Moose Metro.

The PoW is enough of a distance away that, while great for recreation and for some additional trips, there does need to be a bike lane that connects and goes through LeBreton and Hull. It's perfect because it goes from Gatineau to Ottawa by passing through Zibi, and connects to an LRT station.

[Buggys]

Originally Posted by MarkR

There's a defunct bridge to Chaudiere Island behind the War Museum, right along the path! Trains even used to run across it to service the old Eddy plant. Not sure why they can't turn that into a bike / ped. path.

Are you talking about a path/bridge between the War Museum and Chaudiere Island?

...I think the Zibi developers (like some of us on this forum) are referring to poor (bike) design for the Booth bridge closest to the new Pimisi LRT station.

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Urbanarchit

You're thinking of Prince of Wales Bridge, which has some sort of plan for use discussed in Moose Metro.

The PoW is enough of a distance away that, while great for recreation and for some additional trips, there does need to be a bike lane that connects and goes through LeBreton and Hull. It's perfect because it goes from Gatineau to Ottawa by passing through Zibi, and connects to an LRT station.

Nope, I know what the PoW Bridge is.

Check this image:



The bottom-most bridge is what I'm talking about. Right off the bike path, no reason why it can't lead into ZIBI.

As for my rail comment, if you look up images of The Flats when rail abounded you may be able to see that a single track went over this bridge to service the E.B. Eddy complex from the south side (they of course had service to the north side from the spur off the PoW line).

[Buggys]

It's not the most direct route from the new LRT station. Why make slower folks (pedestrians & bikers) take a more convoluted route with more crossings (from the station), while giving users of modal shares that we're trying to decrease (cars) the more direct route? It's not logical on principal and design.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by MarkR

The bottom-most bridge is what I'm talking about. Right off the bike path, no reason why it can't lead into ZIBI.

It's not access to the island they're concerned about, it's links to the rest of the city. They've based their development on official plans given to them.

Booth street has long been identified as an important link in Ottawa's Cycling Plan, which has gone through numerous stakeholders and public review (annex E, page E5, item P2-13). What's the point if the city can't even implement its own plan?

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by MarkR

As for my rail comment, if you look up images of The Flats when rail abounded you may be able to see that a single track went over this bridge to service the E.B. Eddy complex from the south side (they of course had service to the north side from the spur off the PoW line).

The Booth st bridge in question is over LRT tracks and station, not over Ottawa River. That bridge is not in your picture even.

[AndyMEng]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

The Booth st bridge in question is over LRT tracks and station, not over Ottawa River. That bridge is not in your picture even.

Another rundown:

1. The booth street bridge: I was walking past yesterday from the wellington side, and to go south to preston/china town, the hill is very long, it looks similar to the death-trap that is the bank street bridge at the canal. Should make for some stand-up, sweaty, white knuckle, thigh burning, bus exhaust rides. From Preston travelling north to Zibi, the only option will be to white-knuckle it over the booth bridge, but on a downhill path, it shouldn't be as crazy. However it won't matter because:

2. Biking across the zibi lands to Gatineau, or back to Ottawa, the bridges are also a death trap. Cars are squeezed from 2 lanes to 1.5 lanes on the main bridge over the river, I regularly expect to be squashed, then squeegeed along the guard rail until little bits of me fall into the river. Not to mention that all the catch basins are 2 feet deep concrete and hitting one would send you over the rail anyways, and all the buildings are right up to the road. I'd like to see what kind of magic road-expanding Zibi plans, to be able to allow sidewalks, bike lanes, and the same volume of traffic as now. However:

3. The area is littered with bike paths, especially on on the river front, where 90% of bikers currently travel, but its a bit curly-cue to get downtown from the war museum on the regular bike path. Definitely not a stern, direct, wear-a-suit, commuter biker route. There's also a defunct bridge (with repaired Ottawa-side approach) that was shown in that previous photo, which is planned to become a new pedestrian/bike bridge. That should be a good connection separate from traffic, but yes, it isn't a direct route at all, but its a tiny island in a raging river carrying a glorified highway and what else can you expect?

4. Biking on Wellington isn't any better than the Zibi lands. There's a painted bike lane going East on Wellington until you get to Bay, then sharrows, then there's a jutting curb and double-right hand run-you-over lane at Lyon, then nothing at all to get you to the market. They trick you into going that way with the nice bike lane, then run you over.

5. Leaving the area towards Bronson/Slater isn't any better. There's a nice bike path through the white-water area thing, then up the hill next to the train lay-down area at Albert/Bronson on Fleet Street, and then you're sandwiched between the all-seeing, City Planner Special, giant white concrete barricade, detour 300m downhill then uphill, ridiculous interchange. You either bike in a straight line through albert towards slater, risking being squished between a 5 foot concrete wall and fast-moving car (new) OR you go west down albert, cross the road, then east up albert (a workout) to be on the correct side of the barricade. Guess which way everyone takes.... What a crock of sh*t that is... Not to mention continuing west down Albert and having to cycle through a series of bus shelters.

http://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-con...bikeway-connection-new-multi-use-pathway
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.4136073,-...1c2p5EkEGu2BbAtcZ9Z-Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[rocketphish]

Not just one 'legitimate voice' on indigenous issues in Zibi project, judge says

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: November 18, 2016 | Last Updated: November 18, 2016 6:42 PM EST

The Algonquins of Ontario isn’t the only group with a right to address indigenous concerns about the Zibi development on Chaudière and Albert Islands, according to an Ottawa judge.

Justice Charles Hackland ruled a group led by architect Douglas Cardinal doesn’t have to cover the legal costs of the City of Ottawa and Windmill Development Group related to a failed land-use appeal of the Zibi project.

Cardinal and the group lost their appeal of Windmill’s development at the Ontario Municipal Board. They asked the divisional court if they could appeal the OMB decision, but the judge found no reason to allow it.

The city was claiming about $35,411 in legal fees and Windmill claimed $31,137.

The judge found the costs reasonable but ultimately ruled that the appellants don’t have to pay the money because they are public interest litigants. The city and Windmill are able to cover their own legal costs, the judge said in a written decision released this week.

“The appellants are concerned individuals attempting to address indigenous issues of broad concern which may impact the public generally,” the judge wrote.

Indigenous religious sites are “important issues of public interest” that go beyond the interests of anyone involved in the OMB case, the judge wrote, noting that sacred site litigation is a “developing aspect of indigenous law.”

The judge said there is not just one group to speak for the Algonquin people when it comes to the issue of development on the islands between Ottawa and Gatineau.

Ten Algonquin communities are part of the Algonquins of Ontario, which has been negotiating a land claim with the provincial and federal governments. Windmill signed a letter of intent with the organization to promote Algonquin culture in the Zibi development.

Not all Algonquin communities, however, are represented by the Algonquins of Ontario.

“Accordingly, while it might be argued that the Algonquins of Ontario organization has the sole legitimate right to address the indigenous concerns relevant to this development, I would not see that as necessarily being the case,” the judge wrote. “That organization should not be viewed as having the only legitimate voice so as to exclude other persons from advancing a legal position that can be characterized as in the public interest.”

Windmill is working with Dream Unlimited Corp. on the $1.2-billion mixed-use development to transform old industrial land formerly occupied by Domtar. The area, especially around the Chaudière Falls, is considered sacred by the Algonquin people.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...genous-issues-in-zibi-project-judge-says

[lrt's friend]

If any new project should drive the building of a modern streetcar line in Ottawa, this is one. We need a downtown circulator streetcar that connects downtown Ottawa to Zibi, all the major tourist attractions and downtown Hull office buildings.

But there is nobody with clout who is willing to champion it. It just seems to be beyond our politicians to deal with any significant interprovincial transit projects. Nobody is willing to work together to make something this important to happen.

Building cycling infrastructure is not enough and a bus shuttle is such a dated idea for a location that is supposed to become iconic and futuristic.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

If any new project should drive the building of a modern streetcar line in Ottawa, this is one. We need a downtown circulator streetcar that connects downtown Ottawa to Zibi, all the major tourist attractions and downtown Hull office buildings.

But there is nobody with clout who is willing to champion it. It just seems to be beyond our politicians to deal with any significant interprovincial transit projects. Nobody is willing to work together to make something this important to happen.

Building cycling infrastructure is not enough and a bus shuttle is such a dated idea for a location that is supposed to become iconic and futuristic.

A circulator bus would do the job perfectly well, imho. If you need futuristic, how about electric, self-driving buses?

[J.OT13]

The Downtown Loop is the only time I would EVER support a streetcar project.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The Downtown Loop is the only time I would EVER support a streetcar project.

Yes, I tend to agree with you. There needs to be considerable degree of right of way segregation otherwise.

I just feel that it is time to move Ottawa into the big leagues. Once Zibi and Lebreton get moving, Ottawa's downtown will be too big to walk across and the Confederation Line will only service parts of it.

We need to make it easier to move around the downtown area without having to go up and down into a subway and transfer one or two times.

I see this as Ottawa's version of Toronto's Lakeshore streetcar route. If we want to make Zibi a people place, we need to make it easily accessible without lengthy walks.

From the tourist perspective, a bus will be something you are afraid that runs every half hour or hourly or takes you to the boonies. A streetcar you expect to run frequently and can easily be marketed distinctively.

I think this is a key in allowing Ottawa's night life to spread out beyond just the Market area.

[J.OT13]

Agreed. Having a clear transit line (nothing clearer than a simple streetcar loop) running around the downtown, servicing the entertainment districts, main tourist destinations and major government buildings would go a long way to better serve tourists and downtown workers alike.

And since its clear we won't have any other kind of integrated rapid transit between the two shores in a long time, this is a simple, fairly affordable solution.

[rocketphish]

Windmill wants up to $62 million from the city to clean up and redevelop Zibi site

Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: December 15, 2016 | Last Updated: December 15, 2016 5:14 PM EST

The companies behind the massive Zibi development are seeking up to $60 million from the City of Ottawa to restore heritage buildings, remove soil and clean up toxic chemicals on the former Domtar site.

The return for the investment, say the companies, will not only be a cleaned up and accessible community and tourist draw, but an increase in property tax revenues of more than $10 million a year by 2019. The community is expected to include 1,200 residential units, businesses, retail, parks and a hotel.

Windmill Development and Dream Unlimited, developers of the planned $1.2-billion residential, retail and commercial community on the islands around Chaudière Falls on the Ottawa River, applied for funding under the city’s brownfields rehabilitation grant and development charge reduction programs, which offer incentives to encourage redevelopment of post-industrial and heritage properties.

The city is reviewing the application. The pricetag is currently being negotiated, according to Jeff Westeinde, founding partner of Windmill Development.

In an early draft of its application to the city, the developers said remediation, including removing most of the soil, building rehabilitation and demolition, and environmental design and infrastructure work would cost about $124 million. The number approved will likely be lower than that. If approved, the developers are eligible for about half that amount in grants and tax rebates.

The grants are paid incrementally each year based on the difference in property taxes before and after development.

The developers cite 16 areas of “potential environmental concern” on the site in their application, including former acid storage tanks, former sulphite storage, various sites that contain fuel, oil and kerosene, PCB storage, areas of former pulp and paper manufacturing and processing and the remnants of the “great fire of 1900.” It has also identified asbestos in buildings that will be demolished as well as some that will be redeveloped.

Westeinde said the program, which reduces development charges and pays grants to offset costs of environmental remediation and heritage development, is a way of offering incentives that encourage development of previously shuttered or underused sites.

The biggest part of the money the companies are seeking, he said, is for redevelopment of heritage post-industrial buildings, some of which will become offices, businesses, retail space, a convention centre and a hotel.

Municipal incentive programs for brownfield development have become relatively common across Canada. Toronto’s distillery district and Winnipeg’s The Forks are both examples of restored former industrial sites that have become popular tourist draws.

“It is an economic development incentive by the city for challenging sites. It is about getting underutilized, contaminated and distressed sites on to the tax roll sooner at a much lower cost for the city,” said Westeinde.

Westeinde said there were “no surprises” about the extent of contaminants on the site.

“This site has been industrial for up to 200 years, so there is a real range of contaminants present on the site.” He added: “There is nothing that can’t be addressed with current technologies.” Once the remediation is done, he said, the site will meet generic provincial standards, meaning it will be considered a natural site without contaminants.

The site and the area around Chaudière Falls are historically significant territory for indigenous people who have gathered there for centuries. Some indigenous groups and others oppose the development. An Ontario Municipal Board appeal filed by opponents of the development was rejected.

City council will eventually be asked to approve the application and enter into an agreement with the developers.

[email protected]

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...city-to-clean-up-and-redevelop-zibi-site

[waterloowarrior]

last phase of Kanaal coming out on Thursday
http://zibi.ca/residence/kanaal2017/

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

last phase of Kanaal coming out on Thursday
http://zibi.ca/residence/kanaal2017/

Dear lord... new winner of Worst Development Name Evar contest?

[Aylmer]

Nope, that distinction will forever go to Wateridge Village at Rockcliffe.