Category: infill

145 Elm, Elm Street, infill, LRT, Preston street, Uncategorized2 Comments

Archeological Dig on Elm Street

Westsideaction

  Some infill houses are going in on the west end of Elm Street, near the Just Rite storage building, which formerly was the Vimy House war museum workshops, and before that the Champagne Streetcar Barn. Champagne was a mayor of Ottawa. The old barn is the building to the left, in the picture; it has a new stucco façade facing the street but the original brick walls on the residential sides. The backhoe is digging trenches in the street to connect to sewer and water mains. Looking at the piles of dirt dug up, notice all the timbers. These are … Continue reading Archeological Dig on Elm Street

Chinatown, chinatown arch, condos, infill, somerset street, streetscaping, Uncategorized6 Comments

Planning Exercise (v): Chinatown lives

Westsideaction

  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

Booth St, infill, intensificatioin, Uncategorized3 Comments

Any news, anyone?

Westsideaction

If you frequent Booth Street, you will recognize this “garage” on the east side, between Somerset and Gladstone. It’s Cousin Eddy’s and (Uncle?)*   Chado’s Auto Body. Here’s another view: It’s all known by the municipal address 357 Booth Street. The general state of disrepair has been a source of despair. Note the burnt out hulk to the right: according to this Citizen article,   http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=606c1117-859b-4168-83b8-f72616bab4a5&k=34712   it was also owned by “Cousin” Eddy Aoun, who torched his own rental property to evict the tenants he thought were dealing drugs. Such neighborhood concern did not extend to the mysterious loss of trees along the … Continue reading Any news, anyone?

145 Elm, infill, intensificatioin, Uncategorized1 Comment

Elm Street infill

Westsideaction

  Until a week or so ago, this was the view out my back door. The house behind me was very convenient — it had no windows so my backyard was very private. With a couple of judiciously planted trees, it was possible to have no suntan lines. Here’s the view from Elm Street: However, as mentioned in some previous posts, this was not to last. The small house on a 56×100′ lot is to be replaced by four infill houses, each of about 2000 sq ft, constructed in that very modern shoebox design with flat roofs, big windows, plywood panels, bent … Continue reading Elm Street infill

infill, intensificatioin2 Comments

Heritage in context

Westsideaction

I was delighted to read David Reevely’s Citizen blog today.   I do understand that a heritage building might have additional value if left in the context of other heritage elements. In San Diego, they took a bunch of their heritage houses and relocated them into a separate out-of-the-downtown enclave, put stores in them, and presto, heritage mall. Like Upper Canada Village, it is a theme park built with heritage elements. Fun places, but not exactly genuine. Ditto saving a farmhouse and reusing it as a community centre as plastic-siding boxes are built around it. Is the Horticulture building at Lansdowne Park different? All … Continue reading Heritage in context

Carling Ave, DOTT, infill, intensificatioin, LRT, NCC, O-Train, Scott street, Transit13 Comments

West LRT, part ii: Carling options

Westsideaction

  I suggest you read Part i — the previous post — before reading this part. Some points are valid from post to post, and it would be boring to repeat them each time. Reading the comments is also fun and educational. This review of the options always starts at the Bayview Station (top right corner), ie I talk from east to west. The O-Train corridor option uses existing transportation corridors to take the LRT south then west. It would bump the Otrain off its track, forcing it to terminate at Carling. This LRT option is unlikely to be selected as it has some severe engineering … Continue reading West LRT, part ii: Carling options

housing policy, infill3 Comments

Neat and tidy reno

Westsideaction

This neat and tidy reno is on Arlington, right behind the Harvey’s that faces Bronson. That’s the Qway sound barrier you can see in the left backround. Neat aluminum siding. Quality front door, stained glass window. New window units throughout the house. Soon, a large front porch. The chimney and dormer wall are not yet finished. So, what is so special about this house? Well, a few months ago the bank-owner applied to demolish it as unsalvagable. The Dalhousie Community Assoc felt it could be fixed up, and opposed the demolition. The City agreed. The property was sold. It looks like it will … Continue reading Neat and tidy reno

infill, Primrose2 Comments

Lego build a house …

Westsideaction

This house looks like it is being built with Lego blocks. Located by the stairs connecting Primrose (lower) with Primrose (upper) and Upper Lorne Place, the infill lot is about eight feet above the Primrose street level. The house will be four stories high. The bottom floor, two stories down from Upper Lorne but “at grade” at Primrose, with be a studio — bedroom, room, kitchenette, bath — with its own exit on the Primrose side. The second floor will be bedrooms. The third floor, to be at grade with Lorne Street, will have the entry and a garage (yup, you park your car … Continue reading Lego build a house …

condos, infill, intensificatioin, Richmond road, Uncategorized, west wellington5 Comments

Our Lady of the Condos, more Archly

Westsideaction

The redevelopment of the Soeurs de la Visitation site on Richmond Road is a great opportunity for infill development and intensification. The City had the chance to buy the site for a park, and passed on it. An eight to twelve storey building along Richmond and 4-6 storey buildings behind it is appropriate. Some aspects of the current design are not my first choice, but then I am not building it. Previous posts featured the Rowe’s Wharf project in Boston. See  http://westsideaction.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/our-lady-of-the-condos-archly/ I thought it was a good inspiration for the Richmond facade of the project here in Ottawa. I like the idea of keeping the convent “cloistered”, ie … Continue reading Our Lady of the Condos, more Archly

Claridge, condos, cycling in Ottawa, downtown, housing policy, infill, intensificatioin2 Comments

383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Westsideaction

The pictures above show the Claridge proposal for three residential (condo) towers in downtown Ottawa. As noted in a post a few days ago, they are to be built on the lot between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and 151 Bay condos. The current parking lot location abuts Barabarella’s dancing establishment, which will remain after this project is built. The two 28 storey and one 22 storey towers will have approx 481 apartments. They are located directly above the proposed west downtown LRT station which is under Albert Street. Perhaps those delighted looking ladies in the photomontage just exited the LRT … Continue reading 383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Claridge, condos, cycling in Ottawa, downtown, housing policy, infill, intensificatioin

383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Westsideaction

The pictures above show the Claridge proposal for three residential (condo) towers in downtown Ottawa. As noted in a post a few days ago, they are to be built on the lot between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and 151 Bay condos. The current parking lot location abuts Barabarella’s dancing establishment, which will remain after this project is built. The two 28 storey and one 22 storey towers will have approx 481 apartments. They are located directly above the proposed west downtown LRT station which is under Albert Street. Perhaps those delighted looking ladies in the photomontage just exited the LRT … Continue reading 383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

infill, Primrose1 Comment

Cliff becomes hole

Westsideaction

The view from Primrose of the lot beside the staircase up to Upper Lorne Place and the upper section of Primrose. The former cliff becomes a squared-off hole, ready for footings. Neighbours tell me there will be a 3 storey house, with entrance and parking garage off Upper Lorne and the house having secondary entrances off the staircase. That is similar to what was there a number of years ago, when the existing red house at the foot of the stairs had its main entrance on its second floor off a landing on the stairs. Continue reading Cliff becomes hole

infill, Primrose

Cliff becomes hole

Westsideaction

The view from Primrose of the lot beside the staircase up to Upper Lorne Place and the upper section of Primrose. The former cliff becomes a squared-off hole, ready for footings. Neighbours tell me there will be a 3 storey house, with entrance and parking garage off Upper Lorne and the house having secondary entrances off the staircase. That is similar to what was there a number of years ago, when the existing red house at the foot of the stairs had its main entrance on its second floor off a landing on the stairs. Continue reading Cliff becomes hole

infill, Primrose4 Comments

Nanny Goat Hill infill

Westsideaction

An infill house is being constructed at the north end of Upper Lorne Place, where the staircase goes down to Primrose Street. This picture is taken from the bottom of the stairs. The back of the Dominican College library is in the background, which holds some Dead Sea scrolls.  View from the top of the stairs. The house will be three floors, with a garage on the Upper Lorne Place side.This house will have high visibility from all four sides — thus far we have no idea about what quality the exterior will be or what its design is. Primros Continue reading Nanny Goat Hill infill

infill, Primrose

Nanny Goat Hill infill

Westsideaction

An infill house is being constructed at the north end of Upper Lorne Place, where the staircase goes down to Primrose Street. This picture is taken from the bottom of the stairs. The back of the Dominican College library is in the background, which holds some Dead Sea scrolls.  View from the top of the stairs. The house will be three floors, with a garage on the Upper Lorne Place side.This house will have high visibility from all four sides — thus far we have no idea about what quality the exterior will be or what its design is. Primros Continue reading Nanny Goat Hill infill

Boston, condos, infill, intensificatioin2 Comments

Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Westsideaction

The Ashcroft proposal for redeveloping the Sr of the Visitation site on Richmond Road got a rough hearing the first time out. I am not a great fan of public meetings where dialogue and idea sharing is replaced by sound bites, but hey, it takes all types. And it does serve for some people to vent. The proposal had many reasonable elements, such as keeping the wall along the sides and back, additional setbacks for the 4-5 storey structures in the back half. It had some I didn’t like too much: the height and size of the middle building (a … Continue reading Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Boston, condos, infill, intensificatioin

Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Westsideaction

The Ashcroft proposal for redeveloping the Sr of the Visitation site on Richmond Road got a rough hearing the first time out. I am not a great fan of public meetings where dialogue and idea sharing is replaced by sound bites, but hey, it takes all types. And it does serve for some people to vent. The proposal had many reasonable elements, such as keeping the wall along the sides and back, additional setbacks for the 4-5 storey structures in the back half. It had some I didn’t like too much: the height and size of the middle building (a … Continue reading Our Lady of the Condos, archly

housing policy, infill2 Comments

The Bell tolls for Peyton Place (ii)

Westsideaction

the new facade shows evidence of good planning. The brick facade and new storefront treatment gives the building weight at the bottom. From the sidewalk, the emphasis will be on a three storey height, with the glass tower slightly less visible above it. the current store fronts at street level proposed: steel arches, new glass facades existing west facade seen from Gladstone proposed: west facade Continue reading The Bell tolls for Peyton Place (ii)

housing policy, infill

The Bell tolls for Peyton Place (ii)

Westsideaction

the new facade shows evidence of good planning. The brick facade and new storefront treatment gives the building weight at the bottom. From the sidewalk, the emphasis will be on a three storey height, with the glass tower slightly less visible above it. the current store fronts at street level proposed: steel arches, new glass facades existing west facade seen from Gladstone proposed: west facade Continue reading The Bell tolls for Peyton Place (ii)

housing policy, infill

The Bell tolls for Peyton Place

Westsideaction

One of the earliest apartment complexes built in Ottawa are the three towers on Bell Street. Back in the 50’s, adult children usually lived at home until married. Those who moved out … lived single … without mom’s supervision … must have been immoral. There was a popular TV show at the time called Peyton Place, the term became attached to early apartment buildings that catered to singles. The view below must be familiar to everyone: Well, the bell tolls for Peyton Place. After years of deterioration, the building has been sold to a redeveloper who will renovate the interiors … Continue reading The Bell tolls for Peyton Place

housing policy, infill

The Bell tolls for Peyton Place

Westsideaction

One of the earliest apartment complexes built in Ottawa are the three towers on Bell Street. Back in the 50’s, adult children usually lived at home until married. Those who moved out … lived single … without mom’s supervision … must have been immoral. There was a popular TV show at the time called Peyton Place, the term became attached to early apartment buildings that catered to singles. The view below must be familiar to everyone: Well, the bell tolls for Peyton Place. After years of deterioration, the building has been sold to a redeveloper who will renovate the interiors … Continue reading The Bell tolls for Peyton Place