Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by eltodesukane

Too bad the Claridge towers have made street level Rideau a worse place than before.

You clearly don't remember what they replaced... RJ's Boom Boom Saloon and that whole block looked straight out of 1980's Yekaterinburg, Russia.

[cr872190]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I disagree. Claridge Icon while not particularly pretty have resulted in a net improvement to Rideau Street at sidewalk level. There's retail facing the sidewalk and the tall tower portions are set back behind a podium. Much better than that 'Rideau Mews' eyesore that was there before. When the next CP phase is built on the Metro site it will make it even better, as that giant parking lot will be eliminated.

whut?

The Claridge Icon?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by cr872190

whut?

The Claridge Icon?

Think he meant Claridge Plaza.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by cr872190

whut?

The Claridge Icon?

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Think he meant Claridge Plaza.

Yes I did. Typos blech. Editing my post shortly.

[c_speed3108]

One of the two pedestrian crossings over Rideau street will be torn down.


From the Ottawa Business Journal

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2015-01-29/artic...-GM-gives-update-on-renovation-project/1

Speaking at Eggs ’n Icons, a breakfast series co-hosted by OBJ and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Cindy vanBuskirk said the western elevated crossing over the Rideau Centre will be demolished and the eastern crossing refurbished.

Ms. vanBuskirk, who is also a member of the board at the Rideau Street BIA, called the two existing elevated crossings eyesores.

[1overcosc]

I actually like this. Having two skybridges is a bit much and it pollutes the street a bit. Plus the western one is only really useful for a connection to the Bay, considering how you have to go through quite a bit of the store to get the escalator down to street level. As opposed to the eastern one which connects right to the escalators to street level and is also located directly above the bus stops.

[rocketphish]

Full article. There are other tidbits in here...

Rideau Centre GM gives update on renovation project

OBJ Staff
Published on January 29, 2015

One of two pedestrian crossings above Rideau Street that connect The Bay department store with the Rideau Centre will be torn down, the general manager of the shopping complex told an Ottawa business audience on Thursday.

Rideau Centre general manager Cindy vanBuskirk, speaking at Eggs 'n Icons Jan 29.

Speaking at Eggs ’n Icons, a breakfast series co-hosted by OBJ and the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, Cindy vanBuskirk said the western elevated crossing over the Rideau Centre will be demolished and the eastern crossing refurbished.

Ms. vanBuskirk, who is also a member of the board at the Rideau Street BIA, called the two existing elevated crossings eyesores.

The remark was part of Ms. vanBuskirk’s presentation on the Rideau Centre’s $360-million renovation project.

The massive expansion project undertaken by its owner, Cadillac Fairview, will add 230,000 square feet of retail space, a “premium dining hall,” connections to the new LRT system, a pedestrian boulevard to open access to the Arts Court area and, of course, the arrival of major retail brands such as Nordstrom, Simons and J. Crew.

With the right mix of retailers now signed up, Ms. vanBuskirk said the shopping centre will focus on customer experience. The goal is to increase what retailers call “dwell time” in the shopping centre.

She told the audience the Rideau Centre isn’t becoming a luxury shopping destination. That might be too high-end for Ottawa, she said. Rather, the city is more of an “aspirational luxury” marketplace, one step down from shops such as Louis Vuitton and Prada.

Briefly addressing the collapse of Target in Canada, she said the arrival of Nordstrom is a best-practice example of how new retailers enter Canada. She specifically pointed to Nordstrom’s plan to raise almost $200,000 for local charities with a launch event to benefit the United Way and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation.

As the Rideau Centre expansion wraps up, Ms. vanBuskirk said her attention could soon be directed to future development potential on lands already owned by Cadillac Fairview. These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where an old land registry building sat.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2015-01-29/artic...-GM-gives-update-on-renovation-project/1

[Aylmer]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

One of the two pedestrian crossings over Rideau street will be torn down.

Good god, finally.

One down, one to go

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Full article. There are other tidbits in here...

Briefly addressing the collapse of Target in Canada, she said the arrival of Nordstrom is a best-practice example of how new retailers enter Canada. She specifically pointed to Nordstrom’s plan to raise almost $200,000 for local charities with a launch event to benefit the United Way and the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre Foundation.

Good on them! Nordstrom is also an official sponsor for Winterlude (one of the top 3). Too bad they aren't open yet though.

[kevinbottawa]

Ms. vanBuskirk said her attention could soon be directed to future development potential on lands already owned by Cadillac Fairview. These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where an old land registry building sat.

Can't wait to hear more.

[MoreTrains]

[QUOTE=rocketphish;6894778] These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where an old land registry building sat.
[QUOTE]

The registry building is gone? I am assuming that this is a typo.

[Norman Bates]

[QUOTE=MoreTrains;6894812][QUOTE=rocketphish;6894778] These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where an old land registry building sat.

The registry building is gone? I am assuming that this is a typo.

Let us pray.

[mykl]

I was just complaining (yet again) about those walkways yesterday. I'm going to complain more often and hope that people overhear me and get things done. I wish they'd both be removed (they're really quite unnecessary) but one gone is better than none!

I feel like they are putting so many large new stores into the current expansion that they're not happy enough, and need another expansion to add more names.

[eternallyme]

Originally Posted by mykl

I was just complaining (yet again) about those walkways yesterday. I'm going to complain more often and hope that people overhear me and get things done. I wish they'd both be removed (they're really quite unnecessary) but one gone is better than none!

I feel like they are putting so many large new stores into the current expansion that they're not happy enough, and need another expansion to add more names.

They will likely need to acquire land from other owners to expand farther, or build a 4th floor (if possible). The easiest lateral expansion is probably to the east, across Nicholas. Depending on how much land they can acquire, they could expand it as far as Waller.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by mykl

...I'm going to complain more often and hope that people overhear me and get things done. I wish they'd both be removed (they're really quite unnecessary) but one gone is better than none!

I like them... even as they are but I won`t complain about a facelift. Adds sort of a futuristic pizzazz to an otherwise ordinary streetscape (from both inside and outside). Makes me quite sad that one is going to be removed

[1overcosc]

I have to disagree with the sentiments against them both. I think the east one should be kept, as its a useful way to dodge the cold weather in the winter when travelling from the mall to the market. I do agree that the west one, which is rather useless, should go.

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by 1overcosc

I have to disagree with the sentiments against them both. I think the east one should be kept, as its a useful way to dodge the cold weather in the winter when travelling from the mall to the market. I do agree that the west one, which is rather useless, should go.

Same here, I use it all the time in the winter to head down to the market or vice versa.

[citydwlr]

I never liked that Western-most overpass. It makes sense that they would choose to keep the Eastern one since it's twice as wide, it's connection to the Bay is much more central, and it can be used as swing space to sell product(s). And, as 1overcosc mentioned, the added benefit of escaping the elements in the Winter is great too

What I'm wondering now is what will be done with that large gaping hole in the façade of the Bay when they remove the western overpass? I kinda want to see the Bay evacuate that building, so it can become it's own entity (Saks 5th ave? Uni-Qlo? Top Shop? etc...); then the Bay can concentrate on properly renovating the Freimans Building.

[c_speed3108]

I like having the connection between the buildings. If it were my choice it would have been moved underground since the Bay has a basement and more retail space could be put down there along with more connection to the LRT station.

That would brighten up the street.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by MoreTrains

The registry building is gone? I am assuming that this is a typo.

They changed it.

These could include the “red parking garage” – a four-level building on the corner of Nicholas Street and Daly Avenue – and property where a land registry building sits.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/2015-01-29/artic...-GM-gives-update-on-renovation-project/1