I was heading out to take-in lunch to my parent who lives in a retirement home. We like to have a Harvey’s hamburger lunch, a break from the regular residence menu. Conveniently a fresh batch of Harvey coupons arrived in … Continue reading The price of lunch just went up
Sometimes I think city councillors are pretty smart and aware. Other times, I’m not so sure. Mind, it can be hard to tell which it is. As 2017 came to a close, some Ottawa Councillors are mooting about obligatory inclusion … Continue reading The High Cost of Free Parking
OK, so having said some nice things about OC Transpo shelters, it’s back to griping again. Taking the Trillium O-Train Line (aka route Number 2, aka the Green Line) through Carleton U one is struck by the just-OK collection of … Continue reading The rail Stations that didn’t quite make it … and one that will
I don’t know if many readers follow the comments section of WestSideAction. There is often good material and alternate views in there. After the story on improved bus stops, a reader wrote with info that I thought others might find … Continue reading More on bus stop shelters
Let’s look at that confusing stretch of road between Bayview Avenue and City Centre Avenue. Legally known as Albert Street, many folks persist in calling it Scott Street (which only runs west of Bayview). It’s a bleak and uninviting bit … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part vi – Bayview Station overpass
No 15 Elm Street, near Booth, was the home Joseph Guillaume Laurent “Larry” Robillard and his brother(s) grew up in. On Nov 8, 1941, 76 years ago, Sgt. Robillard of the Royal Canadian Air Force was awarded the Distinguished Flying … Continue reading There’s a hero in every west side neighbourhood
Scott Street, between Holland Avenue/Tunney’s Pasture, and Merton, is currently configured as four lanes. In addition, there is an on-road painted east-bound cycle lane: There is also a bi-directional MUP on the north side of Scott, that handles all westbound … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part iv – Scott Street at Holland
There are so many transportation bits and pieces related to the west side I’m just going to throw a whole bunch of stories up in the air like confetti, and you’ll have to try to figure out if what lands … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part i
After many years of LED lightbulbs being “tomorrow’s” wonderbulb, and watching prices creep downward as economies of scale kick in, tomorrow seems to have finally arrived. Out at a big box store I got 10 sixty-watt-equivalent bulbs for the princely … Continue reading LED’s have finally arrived
The Haven multifaith housing initiative project is located very near Longfields transit station. The transitway and a rail line are right over the fence: The Haven’s entry point to the grande allee debouches onto the MUP: That entry is smokin’ … Continue reading Barrhaven outside the Haven
When the Ottawa Humane Society left Champagne Avenue there was some sort of contractual agreement they had to offer the land to the city. For parkland. Nothing said the city had to buy it. So they didn’t. And as a … Continue reading City sleeps while mystery bridge decays
So much to learn from a simple picture. Take a gander at this bus stop from … somewhere… [ late edit: photo by Klaus Beltzner, in Santa Cruz, CA] So what’s so special? First, look at the bus stop. It’s … Continue reading Bus stop, bus stop, where’s the bus stop?
The Mosaic Canada topiary and garden exhibit runs until mid-October. Please get there soon. It is wonderful. What happens when it closes? Look closely at the groves of trees planted for the 2017 exhibition: Notice how the new trees are … Continue reading Mosaic Canada, exit the grove?
The Mosaic Canada landscaping event in Jacques Cartier Parc in Gatineau deserves all the kudos it has been getting. I think it is by far the finest 150 celebration element of the past year. One of things I was paying … Continue reading Mosaic Canada – in the grove
So YES, there are successful examples of place making from Ottawa streets. Let’s look at two. To promote a special autumn festival event, the Italian Canadian Community Centre has installed fall-themed decor at many intersections along Preston. They instantly change … Continue reading Placemaking on streets
In mid-September, the transfer walk from the OTrain to downtown-direction buses will change. This is also the transfer walk from buses coming from the west end connecting to the Trillium OTrain line. And its the walkway for local residents to … Continue reading OTrain Trillium marathon
Back in 2012 I showed you the picture below. The first apartments on the current rebuild of LeBreton Flats (Claridgeland) had been occupied for a year or so, and baby toys were starting to appear in windows. I asked, how … Continue reading Tot Lot Not
A few years go I was all keen on the notion of finding some sort of rule, or algorithm, that explained what the next type of development would be in a neighbourhood. Would it improve or drag down the neighbourhood? … Continue reading On the impact of Sally Anne in Vanier
So the city “wants” to extend the Trillium Line south a bit further, almost but not quite to Riverside South suburb. Alas, it can’t afford the cost. Sob. Sob. Let me suggest that it is eminently affordable, the city has … Continue reading Incrementalizing the OTrain
Some SLOW signs are appearing around the neighbourhood. I noticed the first ones on Laurel, and then on Primrose: I think they are well intentioned. It will be interesting to see if they work. The City filmed some of the … Continue reading Signs good and bad
This week yet another community will appear before Transportation Committee asking for STOP signs to slow speeding traffic and make neighbourhood intersections safer. Asking for STOP signs is a tactical error, as it shifts the debate from the road safety … Continue reading Non-stop traffic calming
Whatever is happening recently, we have a habit of extrapolating indefinitely into the future. But circumstances change, and what was true before is not necessarily true in the future. Consider the trope: “tiny condo”. If I had a dollar every … Continue reading Return of the large apartment
The new Confederation Line LRT is getting mostly new stuff all along its route. New stations, new tracks, new signals, new bridges. Here is a pic of the west portal. The new library will go immediately to the right. To … Continue reading Reusing old stuff for the new LRT
Over on LeBreton Flats there’s an interesting array of fences. The newest one, still under construction as you read this, is along the aqueduct. It’s a stern fence: At least 5′ high, maybe 6′, its a reasonably decorative metal fence, … Continue reading Fence viewing around the Flats
Out on LeBreton Flats, at the corner of Booth and Wellington / Sir John A Parkway, the NCC has reinstalled the Fleck fountain, as part of its Bold Drive By Experience temporary landscaping project. While the landscaping looks a little thin on plant material, maybe it will grow on us over time. Temporary could mean anything at all when it comes to the NCC. The trees might well die of old age. There is an explanatory panel on site: The landscaping and fountain does add some attraction to the otherwise bleakness of the Flats. For some years, the NCC apparently … Continue reading Dry water fountain
