Quote:
K133's comments above ring true though, there's hardly any life at all around the area! Considering the proximity to Parliament and downtown, I would have expected a little more foot-traffic. From all I've heard, the Firefighters' Monument sure isn't going to change that.
|
There's only one phase open and the buildings are basically surrounded by empty space. There's nothing to really generate any foot traffic except for the few residents that live there now. Most visitors to the war museum arrive by car or tour bus. It will eventually get better as new phases are completed but it's never going to be like the Byward Market / Glebe / Elgin or Bank Streets which have been around for many, many decades.
The only thing that might change the dynamics of the Flats would be a MAJOR sports / entertainment / shopping complex on the west side of Booth Street that would attract lots of activity and pubs, restaurants, shops, etc. - but I somehow doubt that the city / NCC would ever allow that to happen on the Flats. I think they're more interested in densification through residential and light commercial development for that area.
Quote:
Another negative would be the courtyard currently in between the two buildings. Would anyone know if that stands to be landscaped much, MUCH, more?
|
They'll clean it up when Phase II is done and maybe add a couple of more trees and shrubs, but I really wouldn't expect too much. The trees in the courtyard will be nice in 5-10 years when they grow in. Ultimately it will be up to the two condo boards to decide whether to make any major landscaping changes or upgrades to the courtyard.
Personally, anything that they might do within the courtyard pales in comparison with the natural landscape available within steps of the building along the aqueduct, Ottawa river, pathways, Wellington, etc. For me that's the beauty of the Flats - surrounded by natural beauty but within a 15 min walk from downtown Ottawa and Hull/Gatineau.