Rideau Centre Expansion | Completed

[Norman Bates]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

Can we not get a Crate and Barrell, West Elm or Pottery Barn in this city?!?!?!

No.

[OTSkyline]

^Although those would be nice I don't think the Rideau Centre would be the ideal place for them given the high rent $$$ - most people don't go to Rideau to shop for furniture or home décor... I do think one of those would be nice though at places like Lansdowne, Tanger Outlets or Trainyards.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

No.

I agree. No, we cannot not get 1 or more of those here. In other words, it's only a matter of time. Crate and Barrel will be the likely entrant.

But I agree with OT, Rideau isn't the place for them. Lansdowne, Trainyards, and Tanger would be best, in that order.

[JM1]

Does anybody know if it's true that they plan to close off Rito Street between Sussex and Dalhousie as a pedestrian mall? If so, wouldn't this be a serious problem for East West traffic from Montreal Road?

There are not that many good connections between Cummings bridge and down town for those coming from the east. Without the Rito Street connection, where will traffic go? Is there a smooth awaiting final it onto the Mackenzie King bridge?

[Aylmer]

Well, Rito [sic.] is currently closed to non-bus traffic at the moment and the sun still rises in the East. I for one would welcome the idea of a permanent transition to a pedestrian or shared space (which would still allow for buses, bicycles and perhaps a lane of traffic). Rideau is already so crowded with people ― often dangerously so ― and with the arrival of LRT, it'll only get more flooded with pedestrians and people waiting for a bus connection.

I would actually want to keep the buses on Rideau because all the people they attract serve as a near-guarantee of activity on the street at all hours of the day, one of Pedestrian Streets' big challenges. People waiting around are potential customers, spectators or just passive observers and I think it would be risky to shoo them away. I'm certain that Sparks would have been much more successful had they kept the streetcars, for example.

If you reduced the carriageway to just two lanes for buses and alternating bus bays near William, you will have an extra 4-7m of sidewalk space. I can see some much-needed benches, trees, bike corrals and patio seating or store displays.
It would also fill the need to have an actually pleasant pedestrian link between the Market, the Rideau Centre and Downtown via Sparks. I actually wish they'd try this with other heavily-walked streets like Bank north of Laurier or several streets in the Market.

Plus, as the past months have demonstrated, it doesn't make traffic all that bad to close it off to cars. Heck, from my own observations, I'd say traffic at Sussex/Rideau has even improved since the car ban in August!

[sestafanos]

I support the closure of Rideau Street to car traffic as stated above, but I think we should do something about all those awkward "cul de sacs" in Sandy Hill. I have circled the blocks one time too many because of the amount of times where I hit an intersection where I can't continue. That's just ridiculous.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

I agree. No, we cannot not get 1 or more of those here. In other words, it's only a matter of time. Crate and Barrel will be the likely entrant.

But I agree with OT, Rideau isn't the place for them. Lansdowne, Trainyards, and Tanger would be best, in that order.

I think Trainyards would be the best place for Crate & Barrel. I'm still not sure if anyone actually goes to Lansdowne for anything other than steaks and drinks and Tanger is technically an outlet mall so it wouldn't fit.

[McC]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Well, Rito [sic.] is currently closed to non-bus traffic at the moment and the sun still rises in the East. I for one would welcome the idea of a permanent transition to a pedestrian or shared space (which would still allow for buses, bicycles and perhaps a lane of traffic). Rideau is already so crowded with people ― often dangerously so ― and with the arrival of LRT, it'll only get more flooded with pedestrians and people waiting for a bus connection.
.

If you reduced the carriageway to just two lanes for buses and alternating bus bays near William, you will have an extra 4-7m of sidewalk space. I can see some much-needed benches, trees, bike corrals and patio seating or store displays.
It would also fill the need to have an actually pleasant pedestrian link between the Market, the Rideau Centre and Downtown via Sparks. I actually wish they'd try this with other heavily-walked streets like Bank north of Laurier or several streets in the Market.
!

That's exactly what Vancouver did on a similar stretch of Granville when the Canada line Subway was built.

[1overcosc]

Originally Posted by sestafanos

I support the closure of Rideau Street to car traffic as stated above, but I think we should do something about all those awkward "cul de sacs" in Sandy Hill. I have circled the blocks one time too many because of the amount of times where I hit an intersection where I can't continue. That's just ridiculous.

These were built on purpose to prevent traffic from cutting through side streets while still allowing pedestrians to freely move. Allegedly, stopping johns from circling for hookers was another reason.

[YOWflier]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I think Trainyards would be the best place for Crate & Barrel. I'm still not sure if anyone actually goes to Lansdowne for anything other than steaks and drinks and Tanger is technically an outlet mall so it wouldn't fit.

I dont have any data so I can't say for sure either, but I suspect the non-restaurants at Lansdowne are a bigger draw than people think. My perception is that Sporting Life, Whole Foods, and the cinema are pretty big draws.

But I can totally see Trainyards being the spot, too.

Tanger proper is an outlet mall as you say, but the nearby lands (Tanger "area") will have more offerings so a C&B could be appropriate.

[Vanier]

Originally Posted by JM1

Does anybody know if it's true that they plan to close off Rito Street between Sussex and Dalhousie as a pedestrian mall? If so, wouldn't this be a serious problem for East West traffic from Montreal Road?

There are not that many good connections between Cummings bridge and down town for those coming from the east. Without the Rito Street connection, where will traffic go? Is there a smooth awaiting final it onto the Mackenzie King bridge?

The plan is to close Nicholas between Rideau and Besserer streets to create a pedestrian mall.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by Vanier

The plan is to close Nicholas between Rideau and Besserer streets to create a pedestrian mall.

Like so:


[Source]

[phil235]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

I dont have any data so I can't say for sure either, but I suspect the non-restaurants at Lansdowne are a bigger draw than people think. My perception is that Sporting Life, Whole Foods, and the cinema are pretty big draws.

But I can totally see Trainyards being the spot, too.

Tanger proper is an outlet mall as you say, but the nearby lands (Tanger "area") will have more offerings so a C&B could be appropriate.

Not sure that Lansdowne has enough space left, but I could be wrong. If they do have a location that's big enough, I think it's got to be a prime option.

[mac_junkie1]

I think its a fantastic idea to close that little stretch of Nicholas. What puts the icing on the cake is that the area will be forever known, officially as "Ogilvy Square". There's an information session this coming wednesday on the Freiman Bridge about the renewal of Rideau St between Sussex and Dalhousie and some information about Ogilvy Square. Its very exciting. I'm glad its "official" now. It makes for another good blurb in my upcoming Ogilvys book!!

Originally Posted by Vanier

The plan is to close Nicholas between Rideau and Besserer streets to create a pedestrian mall.

[Dundas]

This Ogilvy Square seems pretty cool. I wonder if it could become the main meeting spot in downtown area.

You know how other cities have "main meeting spots" around transit that every citizen of that city knows. If you wanna meet up with someone or friends its easy to find.

Like for example:
The main gate of the main transit station
The big clock at the main train station
A famous statue next to a popular train station
Dundas Square infront of the mall

You know what I mean?

Ottawa doesnt really have this going right now.

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by Dundas

This Ogilvy Square seems pretty cool. I wonder if it could become the main meeting spot in downtown area.

You know how other cities have "main meeting spots" around transit that every citizen of that city knows. If you wanna meet up with someone or friends its easy to find.

Like for example:
The main gate of the main transit station
The big clock at the main train station
A famous statue next to a popular train station
Dundas Square infront of the mall

You know what I mean?

Ottawa doesnt really have this going right now.

We will have one of these spots on the other side of Rideau too

[Dundas]

I'm guessing Ogilvy Square and the one showed above will likely have to be fully built and finished by July 1 2017?

[TheGoods]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

Can we not get a Crate and Barrell, West Elm or Pottery Barn in this city?!?!?!

We might get a Pottery Barn at the Rideau Centre based on these drawings:

[MarkR]

Originally Posted by Aylmer

Well, Rito [sic.] is currently closed to non-bus traffic at the moment and the sun still rises in the East. I for one would welcome the idea of a permanent transition to a pedestrian or shared space (which would still allow for buses, bicycles and perhaps a lane of traffic). Rideau is already so crowded with people ― often dangerously so ― and with the arrival of LRT, it'll only get more flooded with pedestrians and people waiting for a bus connection.

(rest snipped)

I'm sure some / many here have already read this Urbsite series, but in case not:

A history of the Rideau Centre in nine chapters

The old train yards were cleared in the mid-60's, but it took roughly twenty years for the cleared space to get developed into the Rideau Centre. The first proposal for a pedestrian mall was actually along Besserer! Then along Rideau, which evolved into the late and unlamented bus mall. Anyhoo, the above series is a great (if lengthy) read, and eventually gets to the centre's development itself.

[mykl]

Is anyone else disappointed in the new CF Rideau Centre signs/logo? They literally used the default font Calibri from Microsoft Word.