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Originally Posted by Tor2Ott
I understand that there are a few residential developments planned. However, they're just that--residential. Barrhaven and Riverside South has many residential units too, but they're way off to the downtown core and shops. Similarly with Central, it's neither walking distance to the core nor to the Glebe, relative to the size of Ottawa (especially with Ottawa winters). Central will never be considered as being a part of the Glebe due to the psychological barrier known as the 417. And unless there will be extensive ubanization going south along Bank St. to Gladstone, Central will not be considered downtown either.
Plus those developments mentioned are in the rumoured/planned/proposed stage. After we weather this economic turmoil, it would be years before any shovels are in the ground, if any.
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It all depends on your frame of reference. If one looks at Ottawa from the perspective of another city, then sure, the Central isn't exactly central in the sense of being downtown. However, Centretown isn't downtown - it's a neighbourhood in its own right, in the same sense that the Glebe and Hintonburg are neighbourhoods. It's located just south of downtown, from Laurier to the 417 and from the canal to Bronson. We've got two community newspapers, a community organization that goes back to the seventies, and a pitbull of a city councillor. As for the area called "downtown," it empties out at 5:30 p.m. You're probably right that the developer was being disingenious, but the Central is technically in the centre of the neighbourhood. The real centre of the neighbourhood, however, is Hartmans at Bank and Somerset. The people moving into Hudson Park, the Mondrian, and the Central will all be spending some time there. That'll make Centretowners of you. Keep your elbows up.