Lofty Westboro [2050 Scott St] | 92m | 30f | Proposed

[rumple-stilts]

I don't think the issue is with the architecture of the individual buildings, although that is very much open to debate. It is what the buildings have done to the street. For comparison, look at the Station development on Richmond west of Churchill and you can see what a step back and volume separations on the south side of the street can accomplish regarding changing the feeling of being in an oppressive lightless canyon to a light filled animated and welcoming place to want to be in. End of story.

[skylerottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Individually, the Richmond canyon buildings are decent. The problem is, Ashcroft bought blocks upon blocks and basically built the same building over and over again. And then proceeded in abandoning the convent, waiting for it to fall down (they have a history of neglecting heritage structures, see the former school they own on O'Connor and the Re's Sparks facade). For me, Ashcroft is at the top of my prominent condo developer black list.

Icon is not bad. Looks good from a distance as long as we're not viewing it from the north (coming down Preston). Examples of good modern buildings IMO are the SoHos, Zibi for the most part, the Mondrian, Westboro Station condos (minus the blank wall of Shoppers), the buildings around the old Grace Hospital on Wellington West. Performance Court, TriBeCa (Metacalfe ground level is superb). Le Viu. The Charlotte. Hudson Park. The new EDC HQ.

All nice developments!

[skylerottawa]

Originally Posted by rumple-stilts

I don't think the issue is with the architecture of the individual buildings, although that is very much open to debate. It is what the buildings have done to the street. For comparison, look at the Station development on Richmond west of Churchill and you can see what a step back and volume separations on the south side of the street can accomplish regarding changing the feeling of being in an oppressive lightless canyon to a light filled animated and welcoming place to want to be in. End of story.

Fair point. I don't think I'm familiar with the development on Richmond you're referring to.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by skylerottawa

Fair point. I don't think I'm familiar with the development on Richmond you're referring to.

The two buildings on this side of the street.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3898...7i16384!8i8192

[skylerottawa]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The two buildings on this side of the street.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.3898...7i16384!8i8192

Agree, both much nicer

[Marshsparrow]

Too bad they didn't have the vision to have them set back with much larger patio space... there is no street mood or presence...

[GeoNerd]

Could the canyon architecture be better? Yes. But I think it's a decent infill project, not the hellscape some people on here describe it as. Canyons exist in every city. That's just urban living baby. I mean Richmond Road canyon is MUCH nicer than Notre-Dame Street canyon in Montreal.


K Street, Washington DC.

Aberdeen Street, Chicago

King Street, Toronto

Notre-Dame Street, Montreal

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by skylerottawa

I actually don't mind these buildings. They're not the greatest but I think they add to the neighbourhood. A lot easier on the eyes than some of the Claridge buildings downtown (Envie) and some older brutalist buildings I can't stand. I think there are worse RLA creations.

Harley (& others), what are some of your favourite buildings in Ottawa? Just wondering as I am somewhat new to the forum and always enjoy reading you rip apart some of the subpar developments.

Personally I'm a fan of the Minto Metropole, the VIU towers in Hull, and this might get some hate on here but the Icon. I also think the cluster of towers further north in Little Italy including the SOHO Champagne look pretty good.

*Side note regarding the Icon - it finally gave Ottawa a little height and from a distance (lol), I always admire it. I was so excited watching it go up from the Carleton campus and even though certain aspects of it are disappointing (specifically the southern facade), I don't think it looks too bad. It has a much bolder design than so many other short, square buildings in this bland city even if the execution wasn't the greatest. Sure, its evident Claridge cheaped out but by Ottawa standard, I feel its a nice addition. Sorry I know this thread is not about Icon so rant over!

Some of my favourite buildings in Ottawa-Gatineau are : Le Viu, Metropole, The Merit, the new building at Albert and Slater where the Lorne Building was, the NAC post addition, all of the museums, the Public Service Alliance of Canada building, 151 O'Connor, Agora in the Plateau, the Brookfield building in Hull, The new red brick office building at Zibi, Kanal at Zibi, 90 George, 100 Murray Street, the US Embassy, the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, old City Hall on Green Island, the Edward Drake Building (CSIS), The Ottawa Airport, the Shaw Centre, the Gatineau Preservation Centre, Library and Archives Canada, Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Langevin Block, Bank of Canada, the British High Commission, 51 Queen St, the Central Chambers, the former train station (now senate), the 'New' train station, World Exchange Plaza, 240 Sparks, City Center (sue me), the Dow's Lake Pavillion, Minto Upperwest, 1000 Wellington, the original Civic Hospital building, La Fonderie, the Hull Casino, Icon when I squint and imagine it with curved balconies, the Dominion Observatory, the Experimental Farm, SITE @ uOttawa, Faculty of Social Sciences @ uOttawa, the Nicol Building @ Carleton U, the Edward Drake building (former CBC), the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Brookstreet Hotel. That's it off the top of my head.

So yes, I am very critical on here, but I do love a lot of the buildings in our City. Hopefully Lofty Westboro joins the ranks!

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Some of my favourite buildings in Ottawa-Gatineau are : Le Viu, Metropole, The Merit, the new building at Albert and Slater where the Lorne Building was, the NAC post addition, all of the museums, the Public Service Alliance of Canada building, 151 O'Connor, Agora in the Plateau, the Brookfield building in Hull, The new red brick office building at Zibi, Kanal at Zibi, 90 George, 100 Murray Street, the US Embassy, the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, old City Hall on Green Island, the Edward Drake Building (CSIS), The Ottawa Airport, the Shaw Centre, the Gatineau Preservation Centre, Library and Archives Canada, Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Langevin Block, Bank of Canada, the British High Commission, 51 Queen St, the Central Chambers, the former train station (now senate), the 'New' train station, World Exchange Plaza, 240 Sparks, City Center (sue me), the Dow's Lake Pavillion, Minto Upperwest, 1000 Wellington, the original Civic Hospital building, La Fonderie, the Hull Casino, Icon when I squint and imagine it with curved balconies, the Dominion Observatory, the Experimental Farm, SITE @ uOttawa, Faculty of Social Sciences @ uOttawa, the Nicol Building @ Carleton U, the Edward Drake building (former CBC), the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Brookstreet Hotel. That's it off the top of my head.

So yes, I am very critical on here, but I do love a lot of the buildings in our City. Hopefully Lofty Westboro joins the ranks!

Quite the list! Love your "City Center (sue me)"!

Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat is an interesting building, but it feels out of place on Sussex near the Market.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by GeoNerd

Could the canyon architecture be better? Yes. But I think it's a decent infill project, not the hellscape some people on here describe it as. Canyons exist in every city. That's just urban living baby. I mean Richmond Road canyon is MUCH nicer than Notre-Dame Street canyon in Montreal.


K Street, Washington DC.

Aberdeen Street, Chicago

King Street, Toronto

Notre-Dame Street, Montreal

K Street at least has some variety. Aberdeen looks like a back street for garage entrances, not not the same traditional mains street context. King Street seems like a good stand-in for that stretch of Richmond. Buildings on Notre-Dame are not quite as imposing (continuous street wall), but the architecture is sub-par. At least they found good tenants.

[skylerottawa]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Some of my favourite buildings in Ottawa-Gatineau are : Le Viu, Metropole, The Merit, the new building at Albert and Slater where the Lorne Building was, the NAC post addition, all of the museums, the Public Service Alliance of Canada building, 151 O'Connor, Agora in the Plateau, the Brookfield building in Hull, The new red brick office building at Zibi, Kanal at Zibi, 90 George, 100 Murray Street, the US Embassy, the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, old City Hall on Green Island, the Edward Drake Building (CSIS), The Ottawa Airport, the Shaw Centre, the Gatineau Preservation Centre, Library and Archives Canada, Parliament, the Supreme Court, the Langevin Block, Bank of Canada, the British High Commission, 51 Queen St, the Central Chambers, the former train station (now senate), the 'New' train station, World Exchange Plaza, 240 Sparks, City Center (sue me), the Dow's Lake Pavillion, Minto Upperwest, 1000 Wellington, the original Civic Hospital building, La Fonderie, the Hull Casino, Icon when I squint and imagine it with curved balconies, the Dominion Observatory, the Experimental Farm, SITE @ uOttawa, Faculty of Social Sciences @ uOttawa, the Nicol Building @ Carleton U, the Edward Drake building (former CBC), the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, the Brookstreet Hotel. That's it off the top of my head.

So yes, I am very critical on here, but I do love a lot of the buildings in our City. Hopefully Lofty Westboro joins the ranks!

Good list! Hopeful Lofty will be a nice addition

[Harley613]

Paging Park River Properties! Any updates on Lofty Westboro and Lofty Riverside?

[ParkRiverProperties]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Paging Park River Properties! Any updates on Lofty Westboro and Lofty Riverside?

Unfortunately, not at this time. We are still working through final approvals on both. Once this has been wrapped up, we will need to review the viability of the development with the current market conditions (higher costs and interest rates).

[originalmuffins]

Well hopefully it works out because I love this development and it'd be a great addition to the area.

[Har13]

Originally Posted by originalmuffins

Well hopefully it works out because I love this development and it'd be a great addition to the area.

I second this.