Month: September 2009

Dows Lake, Rideau Canal2 Comments

The Unfinished Deck

Westsideaction

I first noticed this steel girder structure in early Spring. There is a similar one on the other side of the concrete pier that extends out to the Dow’s Lake Pavillion (surely one of the better NCC projects, it adds needed life to the Lake). It looks like the steel should be topped with thick wood planks or concrete pavers, to widen the pier and improve the alignment to the new entrance to Mexicali Rosa’s and Malone’s Restuarant. Anyone know why the project has not yet been finished? Continue reading The Unfinished Deck

Dows Lake, Rideau Canal

Naval Flotilla on the Rideau

Westsideaction

I got rather excited to see Navy uniforms on Saturday cruising up the Canal. Mind you its not as fast as the Bras d’Or (hydrofoil)* or big as the Magnificent or Bonaventure (aircraft carriers), all now noticeably absent from our navy fleet. My dad was in the Navy forever, and being a navy brat, moved every year or two. I attended 9 schools before I graduated from high school. Maybe that’s why I haven’t moved from my Dalhousie neighborhood in the last 30 years. *I recall this story, I don’t know if it is true. Trudeau was PM. To make … Continue reading Naval Flotilla on the Rideau

Primrose, Woodpecker1 Comment

More Woodpeckers

Westsideaction

One of the first blogs I ever posted, in April past, was of a large woodpecker on Primrose Street. It got lots of comments and people stopped me on the street for weeks afterword to tell me what type of bird it was. Maybe it was fruitful and multiplied, because I have been watching two much smaller ones in the Flemish Beauty Pear tree in my backyard all week. Only the red-headed one is shown in these pictures; sometimes there is a very similar bird without the red head. To find the previous post, use the word cloud at the … Continue reading More Woodpeckers

Dalhousie, DCA2 Comments

New Dalhousie Community Association Blog

Westsideaction

The Dalhousie Community Association has a new information blog. It can be found at http://www.dalhousiecommunityassociation.blogspot.com/. The DCA represents the area from Bay Street on the east, to Bayview/O-Train on the west;from the Ottawa River/LeBreton Flats south to Carling Avenue. Dalhousie is one of the least known neighborhoods in the City, and its name is seldom recognized. With the new blog, they aim to improve communication and reach more residents. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to get updated news. Continue reading New Dalhousie Community Association Blog

Preston street, streetscaping

Icebergs … on Preston Street

Westsideaction

  A few days ago, I wrote of a meteorite – made of Luigi-ite – being found on Preston. – Now, icebergs ! – Icebergs float, but just barely. Most of their bulk is unseen underwater. – Who knew that fire hydrants had a similar tale? Shown here is a nice four-pack of hydrants, waiting for installation along Preston Street. Below the bright yellow tops, is a red pipe and way way down, is a valve point, to which a pipe runs to the water main. – I have made a point of looking for fire hydrants in a number … Continue reading Icebergs … on Preston Street

Booth St, condos, Dalhousie2 Comments

New plans on Booth Street

Westsideaction

Shown is the old Desjardins IGA/Loeb Booth Street, located just a few metres south of where Booth crosses Somerset. – The building has been vacant for several years. Attempts to find a new grocer have failed. A government funded study on installing a food coop floundered. The building has a typical industrial facade, but behind the facade I hear there are several old houses joined together. The result is uneven and shifting floors bridging stone foundations. – Thirty years ago Desjardins had the current Loblaws marketing plan in place. There were grocieries, and furniture, a hardware aisle, and upstairs a … Continue reading New plans on Booth Street

Dalhousie2 Comments

Blog Radio

Westsideaction

A number of MSM (Main Stream Media) read this blog. Several stories I have written about appear at day or two later in the local dead trees, twice as front pagers. Coincidence no doubt. A few days ago I wrote about police foot patrols in my Dalhousie neighborhood on the west side of the downtown. CBC radio did a followup interview today. Broadcast is estimated for Friday, 7.15am, 91.5 on your dial. Continue reading Blog Radio

bike path, NCC, ottawa river

NCC Oversight ?

Westsideaction

roof deckspiral ramp up in all its majestic ugliness Scene of the crime: Remic Scenic Overlook, along the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway at Tunney’s Pasture, between the parking lot and the river–Object: brutal concrete round structure with spiral ramp up to viewing area on its “roof”. The Guggenheim museum it is not.–Function: cobwebby door to interior. Sound of large pumps or motors working constantly. Probably pumps cool Ottawa River water through heat exchangers to chill the cubicle farms located in high rises immediately to the south (in area called a “Pasture”).–Worth climbing to viewing platform? No, not really. The roofscape … Continue reading NCC Oversight ?

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, Prince of Wales Bridge3 Comments

Memorial on Bike Path

Westsideaction

A small bouquet of plastic lillies and a funeral folder sit behind a small charred spot of grass where the Ottawa River bike path goes under the Prince of Wales railway Bridge. The charred spot looked like maybe a sweetgrass fire yesterday; today it has a votive candle in a holder there. The spot is so peaceful, a steady stream of cyclists, joggers, and pedestrians goes by. The sun shines. Geese swim by. The water looks cool and refreshing. Are we doing something to be remembered by? Cylist Paul Kenneth Dabene was murdered there on July 27, 2009. Continue reading Memorial on Bike Path

LeBreton Flats, little Italy, Preston street1 Comment

Preston Street meteorite identified ?

Westsideaction

The large stone-like lump arrived on Preston Street near Albert earlier this week. Its about 2m on each dimension, and very heavy. – It has no handle, ductwork, conduits, cables, bolt holes, or other humanly useful features. Why on earth would someone have made this giant lump of concrete? Or maybe no one on earth made it … its a meteorite made of Luigite ! Continue reading Preston Street meteorite identified ?

Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

Blinding Urban Development

Westsideaction

It’s not often that I feel dazzled by the Claridge condo at 200 Lett Street on the Flats, but this sunset corrected that. BYW, the condo finally has a street number near the front door, but curiously confuses the viewer by showing the street number but not the street name, instead it is accompanied by the NCC marketing phrase LeBreton Flats. It’s not really 200 LeBreton Flats, it’s 200 Lett Street. Continue reading Blinding Urban Development

cycling in Ottawa1 Comment

Lanark cycling curiousities

Westsideaction

pedestrian sidwalk link from Lanark to Latchford, no sidewalk dip view west from Premier at midblock closing view from Lanark toward Latchford Photo 2 is looking west on Premier Avenue where it intersects Remic Avenue (these streets are just north of Scott, near the 30 storey Metropole condo, opposite the WestVillage townhouse complex). Both sides of the traffic calming closure are Premier Avenue, but the street is not open for cars to carry on to join Lanark Avenue just ahead. This prevents car commuters from short cutting through a residential neighborhood. It is open to cyclists and strollers on the … Continue reading Lanark cycling curiousities

bike path, cycling in Ottawa2 Comments

Real Bike Lanes

Westsideaction

I must confess to being a fan of real marked bike lanes, and not at all enamored of the “its an unmarked lane on a wider car lane” policy favored by our fair City. – The above two pictures are on Island Park Drive, which has wide, quite well maintained bike lanes on both sides of the street from Gatineau through to at least Westgate/Hampton Park (you can guess how far I rode on the street…). Throughout the trip, cars stayed off the bike lane and well into their own lane, except for two taxis that drifted all over it. … Continue reading Real Bike Lanes

Primrose2 Comments

The 100 mile diet

Westsideaction

As seen on Wednesday, on Primrose Ave, some local residents have very much taken to heart the exhortation to eat locally. I am proud to call these young male residents my neighbours. – The dozens of pizzas certainly support local businesses and pizza-farmers; and the variety of beer cartons shows we are dealing with gourmands who are taste-testing their way through the local artisanal beverages (click to enlarge photo to inspect the brands). Such dedication is (fill in your adjective here). – My biggest complaint here is that the garbage is being put out on a Wednesday, when collection day … Continue reading The 100 mile diet

cycling in Ottawa, Scott street3 Comments

Scott Street bike/multipurpose path repairs

Westsideaction

I use the Scott Street multipurpose/bike path at least weekly. It takes me from my house to Loblaws in Westboro. Any user will know the paving is in bad shape (as is the design of the path, but that is for another day…). Some paving repairs have begun by the City. One of the worst sections just west of Tunney’s Pasture Station has lengthy sections marked for repaving. Previous repavings have often been half-hearted patches. I look forward to discovering that this time proper repairs will be done to bring the path back up to point where it is a … Continue reading Scott Street bike/multipurpose path repairs

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, oc Transpo, Westboro Collection

Transitway water bill

Westsideaction

Picture 2 shows water burbling up from the base of this concrete structure. It comes up so fast it creates a 6-8″ high stain on the concrete. The large puddle of crystal clear water (likely from a water main) forms a large puddle then runs down a ditch to a catch basin. The site of the puddle is the northwest corner of the western transitway station at Queensway. It is bloody obvious, and must be apparent to OC Transpo maintenance crews. Yet it appears to have been there for some time as aquatic plants are growing the in the runoff … Continue reading Transitway water bill

Cdn War Museum, green roofs, LeBreton Flats

Greenroofs – CWM

Westsideaction

The bottom photo shows the lower roof of the Cdn War Museum green roof. The grass is green. Further up the slope, beyond the admin offices with the gorgeous views of the River, the green roof is decidedly brown. – There is a N/S bicycle and foot path up the centre point of the museum which takes you to the roof and down the other side. The views are interesting. The path is supposedly open whenever the museum is open (there is a locked gate other times) but I often see it locked mid-day. If you are lucky and see … Continue reading Greenroofs – CWM