Month: November 2009

pedestrians

Driving school children

Westsideaction

Grade school in Orleans with large circular driveway at the front for dropping off the kids. I am astounded when I (occasionally) go to Orleans or the western suburbs and see new primary schools with huge driveways/waiting queues just for parents to drop off their kids. Back when my kid went to St Mary school I was on the PAC. The safety issue of children walking to school came up repeatedly. I thought most concerns totally unreal. I did not realize back then that most of the kids never walked anywhere and had no “common sense” for using sidewalks or … Continue reading Driving school children

Preston street

Erotica, Objectification — Thoughts on Preston Street

Westsideaction

Worker gives final dressing to a piece of new sidewalk on Preston. A few months ago I read a 1980’s book by Camile Paglia. In it, she thought construction workers would never stop whistling or hooting at passing females. In Camile’s mind, this was good; feminists who objected to this behaviour were bad/deluded. This year I have noticed how well trained construction workers along Preston have been. They are polite and helpful to pedestrians, especially the elderly. They stop moving big intimidating pieces of equipment when we approach. They do not hoot nor holler at women or school girls in … Continue reading Erotica, Objectification — Thoughts on Preston Street

Albert St, Booth St, cycling in Ottawa

They Tried …

Westsideaction

There is a traffic detour around the sewer control station being reconstructed on Booth Street immediately north of Albert. The four lanes are very narrow and the traffic persists in moving too fast. This week, safety no doubt improved immeasurably with the addition of a yellow sign in each direction showing a car beside a bike. Does this mean “no passing” or “share the lane”? In either case, the temp lanes are so narrow no one can pass a cyclist in the same lane. Continue reading They Tried …

capital crime writers, writing

Writing Wrongs in Ottawa

Westsideaction

Paul Dewar, MP, gives the welcoming remarks to the weekend conference of crime writers and wannabe’s held at the OPL. The CBC’s Alan Neal read the exerpts from Rick Mofina’s newest book “Vengeance Road”. For some reason, he selected paragraphs dealing with reporter proceedure. If I ever write a book, I’d get Alan Neal to read it aloud – what an excellent reader! Continue reading Writing Wrongs in Ottawa

Bayview, bike path, ottawa river

Gates of Lemieux Island re-installed

Westsideaction

The access road to Lemieux Island water plant has been badly torn up for the construction of the high pressure water mains to the Island. Finally, the road is reappearing, although as you can see from a careful examination of the photo the new road is relocated to the left. During the construction, the ornate gates — which look like they belong to Her Highness the GG instead of here — were removed and this shows the eastern side gate and pailings reinstalled. Continue reading Gates of Lemieux Island re-installed

Albert St, City Living, streetscaping

The City taketh away …

Westsideaction

Just a block down Albert Street from the new tree planting at the parking lots, the City has removed a dozen trees from their City Living housing projects. These trees were in front of the project at the corner of Albert and Booth, and Albert and Rochester (the trees were removed on the Rochester street side) and the corner of Albert and Preston. As shown in the pictures, these were mature trees, planted about 25 years ago when the housing projects were built. The housing is now undergoing “renewal” by recladding the stucco with artificial wood; and removing the brick sound … Continue reading The City taketh away …

Albert St, streetscaping

The city giveth …

Westsideaction

I rejoice when the City provides some nice landscaping in Dalhousie neighborhood. The City owns some temporary parking lots along Albert Street, between Bronson and the transitway turnoff at the Good Companions centre. They spent some time last month rigorously pruning and thinning the existing tree and shrub growth around the lots, possibly to improve the social safety of the parking lots by making them more open and exposed. Then they added some topsoil, mulch, and planted a dozen trees at the entrance of the lot, which faces Brickhill Street (a tiny street that services the parking lots and connects … Continue reading The city giveth …

little Italy, Preston street

The Little Park that could (n’t?)

Westsideaction

Several previous posts have featured this little garden strip at 301 Preston, immediately north of the Queensway in Little Italy. It was installed several years ago when part of the playing fields at Commerce / Adult HS were removed and paved over as pay parking lot. During the construction of Preston, I have seen giant steel trench boxes, outhouses, lumber, hoses, tools, you name it, all stacked or dumped on the garden. Yet each time the junk was removed, the garden plants (lillies, grass, few shrubs) resurrected themselves.  This last set of damage is more fatal. Whole sections of garden were … Continue reading The Little Park that could (n’t?)

pedestrians, Preston street, Primrose

Put my foot in it …

Westsideaction

I have been known to put my foot in it … some may feel I always do. But in this case, it was literally not figuratively. I was walking on the new sidewalk along Preston at Primrose – you know, the one with the missing sections and occasional mountain goat sections where you have to leap over walls, scramble up gravel mounds, etc. I steped into an area of sidewalk that had been filled around a utility hatch. It was a good foot below the finished sidewalk level so I got some good momentum. Alas, the cement there was not … Continue reading Put my foot in it …

housing policy

East Berlin, c1976

Westsideaction

There are lots of stories in the papers and MSM these days about the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. After graduating from University I went backpacking in Europe for a few weeks. Airfare was $640 on a 747; it is not much more today for advance purchases. I crossed into East Berlin at Checkpoint Charlie. It was compulsory to convert some West Marks into East Marks at the (poor) official exchange rate. It was not permitted to reconvert the East Marks upon exiting the “Democratic Republic”. I had to wait for several minutes at the crossing while the … Continue reading East Berlin, c1976

condos, downtown, infill, intensificatioin

Slow Progress

Westsideaction

Minto built these stacked townhouses (a two or three-storey unit above a two storey unit, each with sidewalk-level private entrances) a few years ago. Earlier this summer, there was a fire in one of the units. The whole row of houses was evacuated, and remains empty to this day. Some units are boarded up at the rear. Others sit with six month’s accumulation of grime and dust on the windows and porches. The units are wood-frame construction. There is not a sprinkler system. In addition to townhouse-looking stacked units, a number of low-rise apartment buildings in the city are also … Continue reading Slow Progress

Bayview, DOTT, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC

Dalhousie Community Assoc responds …

Westsideaction

Wearing my other hat, and with much input from other members of the Dalhousie Community Association board, the DCA sent two letters. One to the Marie Lemay of the NCC regarding the bad idea for bringing Rapibus to Ottawa over the POW bridge; and the other is detailed comments on the current state of the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel study. You can read both of these letters at http://www.dalhousiecommunityassociation.blogspot.com/ Continue reading Dalhousie Community Assoc responds …

little Italy, parks

Smells like Lawyers

Westsideaction

St Mary school was one of the Little Italy and Civic Hospital neighborhood english-catholic french-immersion grade schools for west siders. My daughter went there (that was years ago…). The school was small, but attracted a local clientele and was not closed in part because the alternative catholic school was not perceived by parents as being an attractive choice. Over time, the board eroded the school, removed the french-immersion program, and eventually managed to kill the school. It is now a teacher ed centre, I think. The building sits on a huge block also occupied by another school building (rented out to … Continue reading Smells like Lawyers

Bayview, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, Prince of Wales Bridge, Transit

NCC to Quebecers: Back [on the] Bus

Westsideaction

  Proposed modernist Bayview LRT station is elevated and long. The proposed STO bus terminal would be off the left. Click to enlarge photo. Planning in a Federal capital region is not just about good planning on utilitarian “planning’ terms. A good chunk of it is political planning and symbolism too. In the past,  separatist elements in Quebec made hay from the disparate images of the Quebec side of the river (low rise, lower income housing, industrial mills) and the Ottawa side of the river (shiny high rises set high on a green hill). They drew a direct line to the … Continue reading NCC to Quebecers: Back [on the] Bus

City Living, drug issues, hintonburg, housing policy, transitional housing

Conversion to Transitional Housing

Westsideaction

This elderly blue-clad apartment building on Holland Avenue just north of the Queensway has been purchased by the Ottawa Mission for use as transitional housing. Acording to Ms Vicki’s neighborhood blog the Mission intends for its clientele to occupy about half the units. She does not identify who will occupy the other half – presumably it is market rentals. I support the move to transitional and supportive housing. I strongly feel they need close supervision and much more “tough love” than laissez-faire. I have three “second hand” experiences with apartment buildings undergoing similar changes. In one, my aunt was a long term … Continue reading Conversion to Transitional Housing

little Italy, Preston street, streetscaping

Landscaping takes root on Preston

Westsideaction

One of the true joys of the new streetscaping on Preston street in Little Italy is the abundance of landscaping. The architect has done a marvellous job of squeezing in hundreds of trees (many of small mature size, to fit into small pockets of space) and generous shrub beds. This bed was installed in the spring 09 on part of the street already rebuilt. The rich green shrubs in the foreground are backed up by bright red taller shrubs in the back. This is a pattern repeated in a number of blocks along the street, and is rich in colour … Continue reading Landscaping takes root on Preston

little Italy, Preston street, streetscaping

LaRoma patio

Westsideaction

La Roma restuarant on Preston Street in the heart of Little Italy applied to the committee of adjustment to open a patio on the small rear upper deck of the premises, facing the residential portion of the side street. It was approved by the CofA for a 12 seat deck, provided they put up a higher fence (the original metal railing is visible) and allow patron access only from the interior, not the firestairs. Meanwhile, millions of dollars of your water bill payments are being spent to redo Preston Street at the front of the building, where the restuarant has … Continue reading LaRoma patio

Dalhousie, infill

Infill on Bell & Christie Streets

Westsideaction

This infill project in Dalhousie is just about all complete. The sod is down, slender tree saplings planted, backyard fences completed. The building faces Christie and reads as semi-detached. The presence of side doors that are celebrated with wide steps, fancy door sets, and a little peaked roof suggest otherwise. In fact, the units can be used as a three storey unit with large ground floor rec room or the ground floor can be closed off leaving a two storey unit above with a balcony, and a small independent unit on the ground floor with its own door to the side … Continue reading Infill on Bell & Christie Streets

little Italy, Preston street, streetscaping

Specimen Testing on Preston Street

Westsideaction

I know an Olympic medal triathlete who complains not about the training, the odd hours, the inhospitable facilities, etc, but about the random pee tests. The testers come any day, any time, although she thinks they have a preference to come Saturday nights right after she has just had a potty break. Then they get to sit around for an hour in her apartment while she drinks water until they can observe her fill a specimen bottle. Sidewalks and curbs on Preston Street also undergo specimen tests. Here are three containers of concrete taken from sidewalk pours on Preston at the … Continue reading Specimen Testing on Preston Street

little Italy, Preston street

“Cafe” update on Preston

Westsideaction

The house conversion at 424 Preston to a “cafe” continues. Notice that since the pictures last week, the front foundation wall has been insulated and back filled, and insulation placed on top of the new floor. The presence of rebars suggests that concrete stairs and and concrete floor are to poured in place. This foundation finishing work has all been done since the photo posted last Friday which clearly shows the paper in the front window. The paper in the window is a city “stop work” order, as the renovation lacks building permits, approvals, etc. A portion of the interior … Continue reading “Cafe” update on Preston

intensificatioin, little Italy, Preston street

Infill Mixed Use development

Westsideaction

Watching construction on Preston Street itself is further complicated by the similtaneous construction of this infill mixed-use development. There will be storefronts along the Little Italy widened sidewalk, and six apartments (rentals) above. The building is steel frame with wood construction. Along with the camera-person, there was the usual collection of sidewalk superintendants out all day, every day, ensuring that someone else gets to work. And there is lots to see. This photo shows a three-wheeled fork lift that came piggy-backed on the long flatbed truck, it has picked up a load of floor trusses and is carrying them over … Continue reading Infill Mixed Use development

Bayview-Carling CDP, intensificatioin

Underutilitzed lot on Champagne

Westsideaction

Half way along Champagne Avenue is this drastically underutilized lot behind a 1960’s-era apt building. The lot is used for surface parking, and is not a desirable long-term use of valuable urban land. Given that it has street frontage along Champagne, I expect someday the owners will apply to relocate the parking underground and build condos — either apartment condos or townhouse condos — along the street. Depending on the condition of the existing apartments, they may even demolish the building and start anew. Continue reading Underutilitzed lot on Champagne