Spotted in Chinatown: Sideguards on large trucks have very much been in the news lately. It’s not readily apparent from the photos that the guard angles in under the truck at the front end when it starts to taper to a point (just where the reflected light puts a bright spot in the pic below): Thanks to Loblaws for at least trying them. Continue reading PC Buttered Cyclist in Chinatown
Work crews are rushing to finish up the Somerset Street reconstruction projects. The section west of Preston, to Bayswater, has its final coat of pavement, the sidewalks are down, and the work crews are putting up the light fixtures: In the above picture, the concrete base for the fixture has been erroneously installed too low. Instead of being 4″ above the finished sidewalk, in which case the concrete protects the base of the light fixture from being dinged by the sidewalk plows, a few of these were installed flush with the sidewalk. Here’s the row of lights installed (on their raised … Continue reading Avenue of Lights
The City held an open house last evening to explain to the public what is being done on Somerset Street this year. It was a mix of old news — the section west of Preston remains unchanged from last year except for some details — and new news for the section east of Preston up to Booth. The new stuff comes in several formats. The consultants and city staff had all the public consultation team members on hand, with name badges, to explain what is proposed and to tell their neighbours about some of the tradeoffs that were made to get to these results. … Continue reading Somerset dog-and-pony show — new priorities
For several years Chinatown has been struggling. The arrival of big-box asian-food supermarkets in the suburbs, and the shift of Asian families to suburban living, has resulted in a number of vacancies along Somerset Street. The construction of the Chinatown Royal Arch is the first step in rejuvenating the area. The second step is the construction, in 2011, of new streetscaping from Preston up the hill to Booth. This will include new, wider brick sidewalks, lots more trees and plantings, new ped-scale lighting, benches and other street furniture. This has made a major improvement to Preston; similar but unique streetscaping should boost Chinatown’s … Continue reading Planning Exercise (v): Chinatown lives
There is another Chinatown in Ottawa, one less visited than Somerset Street. These photos are of the “Other Chinatown”: above: The entrance gateway is much more modest than the Somerset one. But then, the dead lead quieter lives. Pavillion with red posts, green roof tiles. The vocabulary of the construction is similar to the Somerset royal arch. The lane in the background goes out to the St Laurent Blvd entrance to Beechwood Cemetery. The Chinese interment grounds are close to St Laurent. In Chinese tradition, Dragon had nine sons. Chiwen likes high places, and is usually found on the roof ridge … Continue reading Chinatown Dead
View of emergency vehicles passing under the chinatown arch. Continue reading Perilous View
Volunteers work to build a play structure in Dalhousie at a housing project. Volunteers came from China and Ottawa. Many hands make … play. Continue reading Community Building is Play
The huge Chinatown Royal Arch on Somerset Street is being decorated with real gold foil by Chinese artisans. The finished results are stunning, and the process itself is well worth a look. Continue reading Chinatown Arch being foiled …
On July 29 Somerset Street was reopened under the new Chinatown Royal Arch, after a two month closure to vehicles. The No 2 bus route resumed passage through Chinatown. The sidewalks have been relaid and provide a more comfortable and direct route for pedestrians again. The scaffolding remains around the Arch for the use of the painters coming from China who will apply 17 coats of paint to the make the arch more colourful. Meanwhile, just a few blocks further west on Somerset, construction has started for the new utilities and streetscaping. Major work will be completed this fall, but … Continue reading No 2 resumes passage, further blockage expected
On July 29 Somerset Street was reopened under the new Chinatown Royal Arch, after a two month closure to vehicles. The No 2 bus route resumed passage through Chinatown. The sidewalks have been relaid and provide a more comfortable and direct route for pedestrians again. The scaffolding remains around the Arch for the use of the painters coming from China who will apply 17 coats of paint to the make the arch more colourful. Meanwhile, just a few blocks further west on Somerset, construction has started for the new utilities and streetscaping. Major work will be completed this fall, but … Continue reading No 2 resumes passage, further blockage expected
Woodblocks with Chinese wishes on them, to be stamped into the red cement at the Chinatown Royal Arch. Placing the imprint at the corners of red cement inserts beneath the arch. Detail of the roof tiles. The road detour at the Chinatown Arch comes off at the end of this week. Chinese artisans arrive next weekend for the next phase of the Arch project: installing 17 coats of paint on the arch. For more frequent Arch pictures and news, go to http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/ Continue reading The east is red
Woodblocks with Chinese wishes on them, to be stamped into the red cement at the Chinatown Royal Arch. Placing the imprint at the corners of red cement inserts beneath the arch. Detail of the roof tiles. The road detour at the Chinatown Arch comes off at the end of this week. Chinese artisans arrive next weekend for the next phase of the Arch project: installing 17 coats of paint on the arch. For more frequent Arch pictures and news, go to http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/ Continue reading The east is red
The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape
The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape
Six sections of roof will be installed on the Chinese Arch on Thursday. Today, in preparation for that lifting, the pieces were moved out onto Somerset street below the arch. For more details, subscribe to http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/ Continue reading Chinese arch progress
Six sections of roof will be installed on the Chinese Arch on Thursday. Today, in preparation for that lifting, the pieces were moved out onto Somerset street below the arch. For more details, subscribe to http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/ Continue reading Chinese arch progress
The squares above are just two of dozens embedded in the sidewalk piazza near the Chinatown Arch in Boston. Are they fossils? Rock carvings? Chinese characters? The Boston sidewalk squares shown below are definitely Chinese. They were located on the sidewalk leading up to the Chinese arch. The centre portion was scribed granite block, surrounded by ordinary concrete pavers, set in the join of regular poured concrete sidewalk. The Ottawa Chinatown BIA is considering something similar for the reconstruction of part of the Chinatown sidewalks in 2011. Continue reading Square Boston
The squares above are just two of dozens embedded in the sidewalk piazza near the Chinatown Arch in Boston. Are they fossils? Rock carvings? Chinese characters? The Boston sidewalk squares shown below are definitely Chinese. They were located on the sidewalk leading up to the Chinese arch. The centre portion was scribed granite block, surrounded by ordinary concrete pavers, set in the join of regular poured concrete sidewalk. The Ottawa Chinatown BIA is considering something similar for the reconstruction of part of the Chinatown sidewalks in 2011. Continue reading Square Boston
Last week saw the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chinatown royal arch. In the photo above, Grace Xin of the Chinatown BIA puts incense into a holder. From left to right, Senator Vivian Po, John Baird, Bob Chiarelli, Yasir Naqvi, Chinese Ambassador, Councilors Holmes and Wilkinson. Shown below are two of the first concrete castings made for the arch. The casting yard is on Cambridge, behind the Yangtze. Stone lions, to guard the base of the arch, from China. As a lot will be happening at this gateway site, I have set up a separate blog site to follow … Continue reading Chinatown Arch gets own blog
Last week saw the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chinatown royal arch. In the photo above, Grace Xin of the Chinatown BIA puts incense into a holder. From left to right, Senator Vivian Po, John Baird, Bob Chiarelli, Yasir Naqvi, Chinese Ambassador, Councilors Holmes and Wilkinson. Shown below are two of the first concrete castings made for the arch. The casting yard is on Cambridge, behind the Yangtze. Stone lions, to guard the base of the arch, from China. As a lot will be happening at this gateway site, I have set up a separate blog site to follow … Continue reading Chinatown Arch gets own blog
Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson. The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring … not cheap!… is being borne by the Chinatown BIA. Continue reading Chinatown arch
Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson. The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring … not cheap!… is being borne by the Chinatown BIA. Continue reading Chinatown arch
The City and consultants held a well-attended (approx 125 persons) open house for the Somerset reconstruction project last week. The zone of reconstruction was from Bayswater (in the west)(which is where reconstruction left off last summer) up and over the viaduct over the Otrain, to Preston street. The above section of street was scheduled for this year, 2010. Then next year, the reconstruction process would move up Somerset, from Preston to Booth. These two long blocks will be finished in a new Chinatown look in 2011. However, the Chinatown Arch (artists impression shown) is being constructed a few blocks further east … Continue reading Somerset reconstruction zone expanded
The City and consultants held a well-attended (approx 125 persons) open house for the Somerset reconstruction project last week. The zone of reconstruction was from Bayswater (in the west)(which is where reconstruction left off last summer) up and over the viaduct over the Otrain, to Preston street. The above section of street was scheduled for this year, 2010. Then next year, the reconstruction process would move up Somerset, from Preston to Booth. These two long blocks will be finished in a new Chinatown look in 2011. However, the Chinatown Arch (artists impression shown) is being constructed a few blocks further east … Continue reading Somerset reconstruction zone expanded
Chinatown in Honalulu has a large reputation preceeding it, one that I felt on my visit wasn’t totally warranted. Pictured above is their Chinatown gate — pedestrian archway on a slightly arched bridge that crosses a canal waterway. Note also the small plaques mounted along the bridge. Much of Chinatown H has a uniform architecture. That was because of a fire in the early twentieth century. A fire that has been attributed to several causes: burning down the neighborhood as it was the centre of a plague sweeping the island; or it was an accident; or it was designed to … Continue reading Aloha Chinatown Honalulu (ii)
