Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitchissippi
I live in Westboro, I can see the Metropolis from my window, and I have absolutely no problem with its height. What is really stupid about that project is the uneven, unbalanced density — they had a huge parcel of land, and they built a 30+ storey building surrounded by crappy townhouses completely unintegrated with the Transitway station right beside it. It's a suburban car-oriented development devoid of street-level activity. Go out there and take a walk or bike ride around, and you'll see it is a completely wrong interpretation of intensification.
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While you make some valid points as per usual, lets not forget how the Metropole development came to be in its currents form. If you recall Minto had submitted an application for three 12 storyish condo towers on the property; at which point the CA & NIMBYS freaked and demanded (ironically/surprisingly) one tall tower to lessen the views blocked of the river from up on the Churchill escarpment, etc..
Also, it will be interesting to see what position the city takes on this and how they try to defend their position; it will likely be a precedent for future developments in the inner-city outlying the CBD. Its specifically interesting as the property does not lie on a Parliament sight-line, does not have residential neighbours adjunct, its close to rapid transit, along Ottawa's main road arterial and a km from HWY417, 2km to CBD, Carling is about to be resurfaced and may potentially receive LRT or alternative transportation, Preston just had its century old piping retrofitted and can now support the emerging demands being placed on the area.