Category: LeBreton Flats

801 Albert, Albert St, Bayview, Bayview Otrain, bike path, bikewest, cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, design, DOTT, LeBreton Flats, O-Train, OLRT, ottawa river, Prince of Wales Bridge, sidewalks, Transit, Uncategorized10 Comments

LRT Stations: (part iii) Bayview Station

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The Bayview Station is quite complex to describe compared to Tunney’s or Hurdman. Basically, it is a long thin platform built atop an earthen embankment, pretty much where the bus shelters are now. But rather than have sloping pedestrian paths connect to the O-train platform about 16′ lower down, under the overpasses, the City proposes to build an escalator connection at the west end of the new platform that takes users directly down to the O-Train platform. This is a great development for users that transfer.  What complicates the Bayview Station is that it is in the middle of an … Continue reading LRT Stations: (part iii) Bayview Station

Bayview, design, DOTT, downtown, LeBreton Flats, LRT, O-Train, OLRT18 Comments

LRT Stations Revealled (part i)

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The design for the Ottawa LRT stations will be shown below. In this post, there will be the inspiration for the Ottawa design, then some initial Ottawa designs both at the surface and in the tunnel sections. In following posts, there will be the detailed station design and layout and approaches to the Tunney’s, Bayview, and LeBreton Stations. Finally, there will be the Rideau Station and Hurdman. So stow your tables, put your seat backs upright, buckle up, here we go: Interior decorators call it the “inspiration shot”, the picture of some other project that captures some of what we want to emulate. The above … Continue reading LRT Stations Revealled (part i)

Fallen Fire Fighters Monument, LeBreton Flats, NCC8 Comments

Rearranging dirt

Westsideaction

  The NCC has started construction on the Firefighters Monument on LeBreton Flats. They scraped off the topsoil first. They stacked the topsoil in a pile, either the better to truck it away, or to store it for reuse later around the monument. But what will they be doing with all the dirt underneath? I would hope they could use it to fill in the bomb crater front yard of the 200 Lett Street condos. At the recent all-candidates debate, it was right to describe the development as flawed. But equally obviously, lots of people DO want to live in buildings … Continue reading Rearranging dirt

801 Albert, Albert St, Bayview, Bayview Otrain, Bayview-Carling CDP, bike path, bikewest, DOTT, intensificatioin, LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Scott street, Transit, Uncategorized8 Comments

Bus shelters vs a station for Bayview

Westsideaction

 The picture below shows the current Bayview Station. It is simply a bus shelter on a hill in the middle of a field. It’s been that way since 2001, and while not ideal, it does function. The City is currently designing its transit stations for the new LRT network. For the first few years of the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel (DOTT) process, they had very elaborate station design for Bayview. It was a long elevated structure with east-west trains on top, and underneath was a second set of platforms for the successor to the north-south LRT that would someday replace the O-Train. Until that … Continue reading Bus shelters vs a station for Bayview

Claridge, Fallen Fire Fighters Monument, LeBreton Flats, Uncategorized4 Comments

New Firefighters memorial

Westsideaction

There is a large patch of grass between the first towers by Claridge on  LeBreton Flats, and the new Wellington Street. This is the site of the new Fallen Firefighters’ Memorial. Construction is supposed to begin this year to build the memorial. I remain sceptical about how well it will function as a people space. I am concerned it may be a dead spot along the road. In the drawing above, the road at the bottom is Wellington, the block at the top is the first podium part of the LeBreton yellow brick condo, and the curvy road is the new Lett Street which … Continue reading New Firefighters memorial

Claridge, condos, green roofs, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

More views from the Flats

Westsideaction

Yesterday’s post had some interior shots and eastward views from the ninth floor of Claridge’s condo tower on LeBreton Flats. Here are some shots in other directions, including the courtyards. The stair and elevator access to the public roof decks is brightly lit all night with flourescent lights. Perhaps the condo board could replace these with a 25 watt nite lite and maybe something brighter on a motion sensor that turns on for a minute then dims. The glare now must impede the view.     Continue reading More views from the Flats

Claridge, condos, kayaking, LeBreton Flats, Uncategorized3 Comments

Dramatic views from the Flats

Westsideaction

Claridge has five furnished model apartments for viewing on the ninth floor of the second condo tower (the yellow brick one) on LeBreton Flats. The views, particularly to the east, are stunning; nothing can be built to block them. In 20 years no doubt I will kick myself for not having bought these NYC-central-park-style views while they were affordable. Better than central park — the views include cliffs, a national kayak course, cycling paths, the gothic parliament buildings … The windows are huge, #903 had views in three directions. (Only $560,000 or so for 1300 sq ft, but if you had to ask … Continue reading Dramatic views from the Flats

LeBreton Flats, Uncategorized4 Comments

Old Trouble-maker reincarnated as MSM needs content

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A friend (thanks Michelle!) sent me these links to an earlier incarnation of myself. Or maybe it was my doppelgänger. Back in July, 1980, a future unlicensed amateur blogger hit the front page of The Citizen and the morning radio news with this story: Notice that the story begins on the front page of the daily, and continues on page 77. Imagine 77 pages of Citizen today! The rising mortgage interest rates mentioned in the story were 12.5% when I bought, and quickly soared to 21% within fifteen months. It really made a big I in PIT. Another story, this … Continue reading Old Trouble-maker reincarnated as MSM needs content

aquaduct, beaver barracks, Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats8 Comments

More Life on LeBreton Flats

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The second phase of the Claridge project on the Flats is now being occupied by residents. Note just in front of the moving van, the ground floor patio has furniture on it and blanket-drapes. I was interested to note that the low-rise building has balcony railings that are glass above a metal panel, which hides some of the balcony clutter and reduces nosey people (like me) looking in. The balconies on the first phase on the opposite side of the courtyard are all glass. I prefer the Beaver Barracks solution shown a few posts back, where the top half of the glass … Continue reading More Life on LeBreton Flats

500 Preston, Bayview-Carling CDP, Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats, pedestrians, Soho Italia6 Comments

On development styles, and what is planning anyway…

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I hope that many readers of this blog also read the comments. Most of them are really good, some rise to absolute excellence (and that’s not just because I agree with the writer …).  I will not repeat the material submitted in comments as a “post”; I prefer to write new stuff each day. And there’s too many good comments anyway. In discussing Soho Italia, the 35 storey small-lot condo proposed for 500 Preston, I lamented that it did not relate well nor contribute to sidewalk life. This ignited a debate amongst readers. Some people prefer the “courtyard” approach whereby condo buildings are … Continue reading On development styles, and what is planning anyway…

Bayview, Carling Ave, condos, DOTT, intensificatioin, LeBreton Flats, LRT, O-Train, oc Transpo, Richmond road, Scott street, Westboro Collection13 Comments

West LRT, part iv, the Scott/Byron route

Westsideaction

The Scott Byron route starts at Bayview and re-uses the Scott corridor transitway trench to Dominion Station. It uses a toenail of the parkway until it can swing inland at Rochester Field, near the Kegg Manor and gardens. At some point, it would cease being a surface rail line and become cut and cover along the Byron right of way. It is important to notice that the Byron option does not necessitate cut and cover through the dog-walk greenspace that used to be the streetcar right of way. It might be cut and cover under Richmond Road, or under Byron Avenue itself. Byron could certainly use … Continue reading West LRT, part iv, the Scott/Byron route

Fallen Fire Fighters Monument, LeBreton Flats8 Comments

Dead Spot

Westsideaction

All the proposals for the Fallen Firefighters Memorial at the NCC presentation last evening had very similar elements and wording. I suspect they reflect the rigid programming requirments edicted by the bureaucrats. The closest the proposals came to excitement also came with the most criticism, if the public comment sheet is anything to go by. The proposals all lack something to engage the public. The memorial site will truly be a dead spot. Continue reading Dead Spot

Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

Animating LeBreton Flats streets

Westsideaction

The picture above is a new condo door installed by Claridge on its ground floor condos on Lett Street (LeBreton Flats, under the yellow tower). It is highly significant. City and NCC plans for the development call for animated streets, full of people walking, playing, shopping … but the first phase building as regular sliding doors on all ground floor units. You know, patio doors. No lock nor key to access them from the outside. No lobby space inside those doors, just step straight into the living room. In short, the developer paid lip service to the notion of animated … Continue reading Animating LeBreton Flats streets

Claridge, condos, LeBreton Flats

Animating LeBreton Flats streets

Westsideaction

The picture above is a new condo door installed by Claridge on its ground floor condos on Lett Street (LeBreton Flats, under the yellow tower). It is highly significant. City and NCC plans for the development call for animated streets, full of people walking, playing, shopping … but the first phase building as regular sliding doors on all ground floor units. You know, patio doors. No lock nor key to access them from the outside. No lobby space inside those doors, just step straight into the living room. In short, the developer paid lip service to the notion of animated … Continue reading Animating LeBreton Flats streets

LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Prince of Wales Bridge3 Comments

Prince of Wales maintenance

Westsideaction

Picture taken yesterday from the bike path on the west side of the War Museum, looking upriver. A service vehicle is on the Prince of Wales bridge near the Quebec side. Closer view, shows the vehicle has two sets of wheels, rubber ones for the road and steel wheels for driving on rails. What it is doing? Men in cherry picker extendable arm are working on the side of the bridge. Arm continues to extend, now right under the whole bridge, the men are beyond the far side of their vehicle. It is rather like using your left hand to … Continue reading Prince of Wales maintenance

LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Prince of Wales Bridge

Prince of Wales maintenance

Westsideaction

Picture taken yesterday from the bike path on the west side of the War Museum, looking upriver. A service vehicle is on the Prince of Wales bridge near the Quebec side. Closer view, shows the vehicle has two sets of wheels, rubber ones for the road and steel wheels for driving on rails. What it is doing? Men in cherry picker extendable arm are working on the side of the bridge. Arm continues to extend, now right under the whole bridge, the men are beyond the far side of their vehicle. It is rather like using your left hand to … Continue reading Prince of Wales maintenance

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train, Uncategorized3 Comments

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

LeBreton Flats, ottawa river2 Comments

Ye Olde LeBreton Flats

Westsideaction

click to enlarge Notice Britannia Terrace (parallel to Duke street) which is now disappeared. The new Claridge condo on the Flats is right on the ACE of Terrace. Note Queen Street is not shown as jumping over the cliff, but Maria Street (now Laurier Ave) apparently does. Suitable for Nanny Goats maybe. Slater Street ends at Bronson (then called Concession). It was later extended just below the section of Albert that is shown on a diagonal. The extension was to permit the streetcar (Ottawa Electric Railway) to connect to Albert, which accounts for the narrow right of way on the part … Continue reading Ye Olde LeBreton Flats

LeBreton Flats, ottawa river

Ye Olde LeBreton Flats

Westsideaction

click to enlarge Notice Britannia Terrace (parallel to Duke street) which is now disappeared. The new Claridge condo on the Flats is right on the ACE of Terrace. Note Queen Street is not shown as jumping over the cliff, but Maria Street (now Laurier Ave) apparently does. Suitable for Nanny Goats maybe. Slater Street ends at Bronson (then called Concession). It was later extended just below the section of Albert that is shown on a diagonal. The extension was to permit the streetcar (Ottawa Electric Railway) to connect to Albert, which accounts for the narrow right of way on the part … Continue reading Ye Olde LeBreton Flats

aquaduct, kayaking, LeBreton Flats1 Comment

Eskimo roll

Westsideaction

The picture above is the outlet below the water pumphouse on the aqueduct that runs through LeBreton Flats. The ped bridge is at the top, the beginning of the kayaking course is at the bottom. The water course is variously known as the Tailrace, or Bronson Creek (until the last decade the creek was actually the private property of the Bronson Corporation). There are three signs in the area. Notice one in the lower centre left of the picture above. Here’s a closer up: It says: Combined Sewer Overflow AreaAdverse Water Quality Can Occur I think that is bureaucratic speech … Continue reading Eskimo roll