Category: streetscaping

sidewalks, streetscaping, Uncategorized

Acts of faith

Westsideaction

  Some neighbors got together to plant bulbs along Preston. The 200 daffodils and 200 tulips were bought by the Preston BIA and the buying/planting delegated to the Dalhousie Community Assoc. The Somerset Chinatown BIA also bought bulbs to refresh the flower beds along Somerset near Empress. These will be planted in the next week or so. About seven beds were planted along Preston Street. We chose areas with new, smaller shrubs where the soil would be easy to dig up. The bulbs should bloom before the shrubs leaf out. We don’t know if the bigger shrubs will block out too much light for the … Continue reading Acts of faith

pedestrians, sidewalks, streetscaping2 Comments

Posterior sight

Westsideaction

  Getting our traditional mainstreets rebuilt into a more pedestrian and neighborhood friendly format has been a long but ultimately rewarding task. It took eternal vigilance to fight off the naysayers, the city minions who thought facilitating rush hour commuter traffic was the ultimate city goal, those  residents and business people who felt that the highest duty of the city was to provide free storage for private cars … but there were many delightful moments too, and significant victories, and the fine quality of the finished streets is a tribute to all the hard work, coöperation, and trade-offs made over the years. The progress … Continue reading Posterior sight

Bronson, streetscaping2 Comments

More on Bronson’s fake trees

Westsideaction

I had thought Ottawa was perhaps unique in wanting to install fake trees on concrete foundations along Bronson rather than plant real trees with real roots. The City is reconstructing Bronson next year. In their rush to pave over every possible inch of Ottawa space for rush hour commuters to head over to the greener pastures of Pointe Gatineau or out to Greely, they discovered they had no room left over for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, residents, adjacent businesses, kids heading to school or grandma heading to the lawn bowling club. No room for bus shelters, benches, or trees … … Continue reading More on Bronson’s fake trees

Bronson, streetscaping

More on Bronson’s fake trees

Westsideaction

I had thought Ottawa was perhaps unique in wanting to install fake trees on concrete foundations along Bronson rather than plant real trees with real roots. The City is reconstructing Bronson next year. In their rush to pave over every possible inch of Ottawa space for rush hour commuters to head over to the greener pastures of Pointe Gatineau or out to Greely, they discovered they had no room left over for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, residents, adjacent businesses, kids heading to school or grandma heading to the lawn bowling club. No room for bus shelters, benches, or trees … … Continue reading More on Bronson’s fake trees

Carling Ave, Dows Lake, streetscaping4 Comments

A different climate

Westsideaction

This is the centre boulevard of Carling Avenue. The section from the Otrain to Bronson is to be reconstructed in 2011. This section will NOT be dug up  should the city decide to run an LRT along the Carling median. Also note that the city plows streets to the side only, so the centre boulevard is not used for snow storage. So what is put down in the 2011 reconstruction is what we will see for the next half century or more. At the open house, I suggested the median be landscaped properly. I suggested there be a 18″ setback … Continue reading A different climate

Carling Ave, Dows Lake, streetscaping

A different climate

Westsideaction

This is the centre boulevard of Carling Avenue. The section from the Otrain to Bronson is to be reconstructed in 2011. This section will NOT be dug up  should the city decide to run an LRT along the Carling median. Also note that the city plows streets to the side only, so the centre boulevard is not used for snow storage. So what is put down in the 2011 reconstruction is what we will see for the next half century or more. At the open house, I suggested the median be landscaped properly. I suggested there be a 18″ setback … Continue reading A different climate

Preston street, somerset street, streetscaping1 Comment

The race is on …

Westsideaction

Preston reconstruction is almost complete. Final details are going in … like the traffic loops. The loop shown above is going to be installed right outside May’s Chinese Restaurant at the corner of Somerset and Preston. Except … on August 3rd Somerset is going to be dug up big time for the same treatment as Preston got for the last few years: new pipes, utilities, and protected parking bays. Guess what — the spot shown above will be getting a six foot or so wider sidewalk. And four trees. Will the city get the wiring installed in enough time to … Continue reading The race is on …

Preston street, somerset street, streetscaping

The race is on …

Westsideaction

Preston reconstruction is almost complete. Final details are going in … like the traffic loops. The loop shown above is going to be installed right outside May’s Chinese Restaurant at the corner of Somerset and Preston. Except … on August 3rd Somerset is going to be dug up big time for the same treatment as Preston got for the last few years: new pipes, utilities, and protected parking bays. Guess what — the spot shown above will be getting a six foot or so wider sidewalk. And four trees. Will the city get the wiring installed in enough time to … Continue reading The race is on …

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, streetscaping2 Comments

Lemieux Island area (iii)

Westsideaction

Lemieux Island has a pleasant park on west and south sides of the Island. Most of the Island is fenced off to guard the water filtration buildings. This vehicle-proof gate and lengthy stone barricade prevents vehicles from accessing a service road around the south side of the Island. The narrow road/path beyond has nice pedestrian-scale lighting and is a popular dog running / dog swimming / occasional-human swimming area. The barrier to prevent unauthorized vehicle access, which is fine. But why does have have to block 100% of the paved surface, forcing peds to walk on the freshly seeded sides? Doesn’t anyone plan … Continue reading Lemieux Island area (iii)

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, streetscaping

Lemieux Island area (iii)

Westsideaction

Lemieux Island has a pleasant park on west and south sides of the Island. Most of the Island is fenced off to guard the water filtration buildings. This vehicle-proof gate and lengthy stone barricade prevents vehicles from accessing a service road around the south side of the Island. The narrow road/path beyond has nice pedestrian-scale lighting and is a popular dog running / dog swimming / occasional-human swimming area. The barrier to prevent unauthorized vehicle access, which is fine. But why does have have to block 100% of the paved surface, forcing peds to walk on the freshly seeded sides? Doesn’t anyone plan … Continue reading Lemieux Island area (iii)

Bayview, streetscaping5 Comments

Lemieux Island area (i)

Westsideaction

The area of Ottawa near Lemieux Island is full of little mysteries. Shown above is River Street (no road signs…) which connects the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway to Lemieux Island. The road was recently rebuilt and seed sprayed on both sides after years of digging it up for the high pressure watermains. The sides are fenced to keep cars from using them for Bluesfest parking. South of the parkway/expressway, the little street is now named Sliddel, it runs past the city parking branch offices to the new traffic roundabout that makes a three point meeting of Sliddel with Bayview and Burnside Road. This is … Continue reading Lemieux Island area (i)

Bayview, streetscaping

Lemieux Island area (i)

Westsideaction

The area of Ottawa near Lemieux Island is full of little mysteries. Shown above is River Street (no road signs…) which connects the Ottawa River Commuter Expressway to Lemieux Island. The road was recently rebuilt and seed sprayed on both sides after years of digging it up for the high pressure watermains. The sides are fenced to keep cars from using them for Bluesfest parking. South of the parkway/expressway, the little street is now named Sliddel, it runs past the city parking branch offices to the new traffic roundabout that makes a three point meeting of Sliddel with Bayview and Burnside Road. This is … Continue reading Lemieux Island area (i)

Preston street, streetscaping, west wellington4 Comments

Arty mainstreets

Westsideaction

precast block awaiting its hole Shown above is a precast foundation block for urban sculpture. When planted into a hole, only the top portion shows. Upon this plinth will be mounted civic art work. On Preston, these will be Italian-style columns. On West Wellie will be sculptural renditions of fire hydrants. The Preston art pieces will arrive mid-August, according to city officials supervising the final touches on the street. precast block inserted in hole, surface pavers relaid  I really look foreward to seeing these art pieces, as they will be the first of their type for an Ottawa main street, as … Continue reading Arty mainstreets

Preston street, streetscaping, west wellington

Arty mainstreets

Westsideaction

precast block awaiting its hole Shown above is a precast foundation block for urban sculpture. When planted into a hole, only the top portion shows. Upon this plinth will be mounted civic art work. On Preston, these will be Italian-style columns. On West Wellie will be sculptural renditions of fire hydrants. The Preston art pieces will arrive mid-August, according to city officials supervising the final touches on the street. precast block inserted in hole, surface pavers relaid  I really look foreward to seeing these art pieces, as they will be the first of their type for an Ottawa main street, as … Continue reading Arty mainstreets

sidewalks, streetscaping7 Comments

City discovers flat sidewalks !

Westsideaction

One of my major complaints about Ottawa city sidewalks is that they grovel and contort themselves for the convenience of motorists. They dip low at driveways, so motorists don’t have to rise up to cross the sidwalk, but the pedestrian must go down slope then up slope. Some sidewalks end up looking like roller coasters. These are difficult to keep clear in winter, and every driveway dip turns into a salt and slush puddle or slippery ice surface all winter. Honestly, the city couldn’t have designed a worse sidewalk for pedestrians if their goal is to thwart any pedestrian movement at … Continue reading City discovers flat sidewalks !

sidewalks, streetscaping

City discovers flat sidewalks !

Westsideaction

One of my major complaints about Ottawa city sidewalks is that they grovel and contort themselves for the convenience of motorists. They dip low at driveways, so motorists don’t have to rise up to cross the sidwalk, but the pedestrian must go down slope then up slope. Some sidewalks end up looking like roller coasters. These are difficult to keep clear in winter, and every driveway dip turns into a salt and slush puddle or slippery ice surface all winter. Honestly, the city couldn’t have designed a worse sidewalk for pedestrians if their goal is to thwart any pedestrian movement at … Continue reading City discovers flat sidewalks !