Category: Chinatown

Chinatown, chinatown arch

Aloha Chinatown Honalulu

Westsideaction

I had heard and read a lot about the Chinatown in Honalulu. Large, bustling, exotic … instead I found it not-so-large, very decrepit, and unfortunately co-existing with the flophouse/druggie scene reminiscient of Vancouver’s lower east side. The streets were strangely empty for a workday at 4.30. As visible in the picture, the downtown core is barely a block away. Two sides of the Chinatown were surrounded by enormous high rise blocks (40 stories) of condos and student residences but they seemed to somehow ignore the Chinatown area. As part of urban renewal or some such scheme, a newish structure is shown … Continue reading Aloha Chinatown Honalulu

Chinatown, chinatown arch

Aloha Chinatown Honalulu

Westsideaction

I had heard and read a lot about the Chinatown in Honalulu. Large, bustling, exotic … instead I found it not-so-large, very decrepit, and unfortunately co-existing with the flophouse/druggie scene reminiscient of Vancouver’s lower east side. The streets were strangely empty for a workday at 4.30. As visible in the picture, the downtown core is barely a block away. Two sides of the Chinatown were surrounded by enormous high rise blocks (40 stories) of condos and student residences but they seemed to somehow ignore the Chinatown area. As part of urban renewal or some such scheme, a newish structure is shown … Continue reading Aloha Chinatown Honalulu

Chinatown, little Italy, pedestrians, Plouffe Park, Preston street, somerset street, streetscaping

Somerset Streetscaping – can it get back on the road?

Westsideaction

The first meeting of stakeholders got together on Tuesday evening to discuss the streetscaping project on Somerset Street. The 2010 portion is from Preston to West Wellie. The portion shown above is in the Preston BIA catchment area. The portion beyond the bridge is in Hintonburg (Kitchissipi ward) and the Hintonburg BIA. In 2011 the section from Preston to Booth will be done. That is the area behind the viewer in the above picture. It falls in the Chinatown BIA. Yup, in a territory walkable in barely five minutes, there are two wards, 3 BIAs, 2 community associations, and other stakeholders. A nice streetscaping project might be do-able … Continue reading Somerset Streetscaping – can it get back on the road?

Chinatown, cycling in Ottawa, Plouffe Park, Preston street, somerset street, streetscaping

West Siders can get involved to get the city they want …

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The first meeting of the Bayview-Carling CDP group will be this week…while intended primarily for those who were in the prior process to reacquaint themselves and review the previously identified issues and recommendations, I would think anyone else keen to get involved should contact randolph.wang@ottawa.ca .  The study area is from Bayview along the Otrain track to Carling, and includes the undeveloped/underdeveloped/industrial lands along the route. The initial Public Advisory Committee meeting on Thursday, December 10th, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Room 4102E/4103E, City Hall. The rooms are located on the fourth floor at City Hall. A public advisory group … Continue reading West Siders can get involved to get the city they want …

Booth St, Chinatown, Dalhousie

New Residential Building, Booth near Somerset

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Shown is a interim elevation of the new senior’s residence building proposed for the corner of Booth and Eccles Street, just south of Chinatown’s main drag: Somerset Street. It has 42 residences, common facilities, a brick and well-detailed exterior finish. It complements the Somerset West Community Health Centre across the street. It should give a real boost to the appearance of Booth Street and the Dalhousie neighborhood as a whole. Anthony Leaning is the architect. Construction beings in 2010 for completion in 2011. Continue reading New Residential Building, Booth near Somerset

Chinatown, infill, somerset street

Lotus Court green roof

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Lotus Court is a mixed use project by Phoenix DCR developers at the corner of Rochester and Somerset Streets. The upper levels consist of townhouse units and stacked townhouse/loft units that are accessed off a central courtyard 3/4 of a flight up off the street. Under the units facing Somerset there are storefront offices. Under  the units facing the back (Eccles Street) are another level of residential units. Somewhere under the whole thing is underground parking. Resales seem to be brisk. The building seems to function well for the location. However, the courtyard and thus the upper units – some … Continue reading Lotus Court green roof

Chinatown

Festival Asia parade on Satuday

Westsideaction

No Chinatown event would be complete without dragon dancing. On Saturday, there were three dragons, plus drummers and cymbals. Gentlement always wear skirts kilts. Umbrellas were brought for rain, but the son shone. Sword fighting. Stilt walking troupe from China. The only child member seen here at the front left is only 8 years old. After the parade, they performed complicated dance routines, hopping, and acrobatics on stitlts. Yours Truly pays due homage to China Doll’s 90 carot diamond ring. Dance routines on the City stage. All photos by M.Lafontaine. Continue reading Festival Asia parade on Satuday

Chinatown

Red Friday Rally at Dundonald Park

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Pleasant folk songs in Dundonald Park. The ever-popular Andrew Lay’s SunnyDays cart catered the event. Andrew’s cart was missing from Bank/Sparks for two years while he lived – and catered – in China. And got married. In the background, Igor Gouzenko’s apartment building. The Federal plaque manages to avoid mentioning his defection started the Cold War in earnest. The City plaque manages to be unreadable. The Gouzenko’s apartment building on Somerset beside The Beer Store. The composition of the Glashan girls school choir reflects the Dalhousie neighborhood: all religions, creeds, nationalities, ethnicities. Neighborhood MP Paul Dewar welcomes the rally. A … Continue reading Red Friday Rally at Dundonald Park

Chinatown, chinatown arch, Dalhousie, DOTT, LRT

Baird on the Ottawa Transit Tunnell

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Last evening there was a banquet in Chinatown. It had several purposes. It was a birthday celebration for the 60th Anniversary of the current ruling regime in China, and the Chinese ambassador was present. It was a fundraiser for the new archway that will grace Somerset St at Cambridge later this year, and for that welcoming beacon and sign of the Chinese-Asian presence in the Dalhousie neighborhood of Ottawa, significant funds were raised. The final arch design was revealled: it is a royal arch, because Ottawa is a capital city, as is Beijing, which is contributing to the archway here. … Continue reading Baird on the Ottawa Transit Tunnell

Chinatown

Red Friday rally Friday

Westsideaction

There will be a rally on Friday Oct 2 at Dundonald Park in support of the families of Cdn troops. Here is a press release: FestivAsia Celebrates Red Fridays OTTAWA –FestivAsia, in partnership with the Canadian Forces, will formally kick off this year’s festival on Friday, October 2nd, with a Red Rally at Dundonald Park (Somerset Street W. between Lyon & Bay Street). This is an opportunity for the Asian community and the Canadian Forces to show their appreciation and support for each other. Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Commander Maritime Command and the Canadian Forces Champion for Visible Minorities, will be … Continue reading Red Friday rally Friday

Chinatown, chinatown arch, somerset street, streetscaping1 Comment

Chinatown Arch Unveiled

Westsideaction

The Ottawa Chinatown Gateway project aims to construct a Chinese archway over Somerset Street at Cambridge, in the heart of the Asian district, just west of Bronson. See photoshop picture at the top. – There are already Chinatown archways in many North American cities, including one just opened in Toronto. However, Ottawa’s will be the only one with status of a Royal Archway, suitable for an Emperor to pass under. Ottawa is twinned with Beijing, which has supplied the design of the archway and the materials. – Gathered together this morning to announce the construction and design were politicians (Mayor … Continue reading Chinatown Arch Unveiled

Chinatown, Nature, somerset street

DCA garden on Somerset at Empress

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There is a delightful abundant flower garden on the north side of Somerset at Empress street, right in front of the Dalhousie Community Centre. It is a great spot for a garden, in full sun, and raised up several feet above the sidewalk. It was planted by community members and is maintained by DCA volunteers. In the centre of the garden is a yucca plant. The cactus-like plant is blooming now with a magnificent spire of blooms. It blooms once a year. – The Somerset Heights BIA – now the Somerset Chinatown BIA – has donated funds for another garden … Continue reading DCA garden on Somerset at Empress

allotment gardens, Chinatown, somerset street2 Comments

Somerset Street update

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Zen Kitchen has finally opened up on Somerset Street between Percy and Bronson. Frequent users of the street may have noticed film crews there during the renovation, as the story of opening the restaurant were documented for a food tv show. The owners live in the neighborhood too. I like the idea of businesses having both residential and commercial interests in the ward, as these interests are sometimes competing, sometimes complementary. Around the corner on Percy, the vacant lot behind the former Chuck Brown golf has been turned into a large veggie garden. Jill Brown, former alderperson (but not of … Continue reading Somerset Street update

Chinatown, little Italy, parole office, somerset street

Chinatown art festival

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Here is all about it, from their press release. I am so pleased that Grace Xin has organized this. It should help put our neighborhood and its businesses on the map, and raise awareness. Exhibits in unexpected spaces: come see original art in the bakery, giftshop, optician, bookstore, grocery, cafe and restaurants in this multicultural village with Asian flavour. CHINATOWN REMIXED COLLECTIVE is pleased to present the works of over 30 contemporary artists. The artists, mostly local, include the likes of HOWIE TSUI, CYNTHIA O’BRIEN and ADRIAN GOLLNER. More than 15 businesses in Ottawa’s Chinatown, from Percy St. westward to … Continue reading Chinatown art festival

Booth St, Chinatown, condos, little Italy, Ottawa, Preston street

Shrinking Condos

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original Z6 revised Z6 The Z6 is a condo building to be built at the corner of Balsam and Booth, facing St Anthony’s schoolyard and the yellow brick convent. Photo 1 shows the 5 storey building orignally proposed for the site, having 26 units. The second photo shows the building “downsized” to 17 units, only four floors now, with the rounded cornice line at the front now removed. Construction is to commence 1 May with completed scheduled for spring 2010. Immediately to the left of the Z6 are a series of land parcels owned by Fanto. They applied for rezoning … Continue reading Shrinking Condos

Chinatown, little Italy, plant recreation centre, Preston street, somerset street, Vietnamese Monument1 Comment

Vietnamese Museum & Offices

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Test drilling has occured at the vacant lot, corner of Somerset St and Preston. It looks like we might soon see the construction of the Vietnamese centre. It will have a museum, office, and meeting space on the upper floors, and one or two storefronts at ground level. It is diagonally opposite the Plant Recreation centre and existing Vietnamese Monument. The garage entrance is off the Preston side. Question: will sewer and water connections be dug before or after the reconstruction and repaving of Preston? Continue reading Vietnamese Museum & Offices