Occasionally an intensification proposal comes along that seems to fit most of the rules (guidelines, really…). So let’s look at what Project1 Studio is proposing for 440 Bronson, just north of Gladstone. The site used to house Guytel Phones, and … Continue reading Intensification by the rules, part 1
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
I am delighted to see more skating rinks in parks. I like that the Sens organization is promoting skating by funding ice pads in city parks. And I like the one in front of city hall, especially when its summer … Continue reading Not Skating in Circles
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
Today’s episode of The Friday Traveller should be called the Christmas Traveller. Christmas in Miami Beach. Warm weather: daytime 80 degrees and sunny. Evenings just cool enough that old fuddy duddies like me wanted a jacket, but many younger things … Continue reading The Friday Traveller: Miami Beach observations
As part of the “plan” for the “southern gateway” collection of high rises being built at Preston and Carling, the City decided that street wiring should be buried around the new towers. This wasn’t a neighbourhood priority, as we know … Continue reading Is it worth burying the wiring? Who should pay?
There is a classic west side semi-detached home at the corner of Oak and Preston, opposite Plouffe Park. Many decades ago proud homeowners planted matching young trees on the front lawn. Here’s an aerial photo from 1928 showing the trees … Continue reading Killed from the roots
All sorts of things are getting automated these days. A few years ago we looked at European self-order McDonald’s restaurants, and within a few months they began popping up here. Well … I noticed them here. I’m not into coffee … Continue reading Unsupervised supervised injection site??
Q: How is a tree like a pancake? A: When it’s on Somerset Street. I wonder how someone managed to hit it so hard, and with what? That metal “tree guard” (designed mostly to ward of bicycles) didn’t help much … Continue reading The tree pancake
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
Albert-Scott Interim alignment, west from Champagne Avenue Open house 11 Dec 2017 at Tom Brown arena, 6pm to 8.30pm This story is mostly aimed at those citizens who are keen on city planning and the details of what is planned … Continue reading Scott Street interim alignment meeting Dec 11
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
I was astounded to find this puddle still there. Perhaps I shouldn’t have been. After all, it was there for months last winter, why should it have gone away? For two months last winter I trudged – seven times a … Continue reading The Persistent Puddle
I noticed a few changes to some Ottawa bus stops. Mostly to the good. Kudos to OC Transpo. Here’s an existing stop on the transitway in the downtown. Notice the draft gap below the glass. And all across the upper … Continue reading Improved Bus Stops
It seems Queen Street has been under construction for so long I’ve forgotten what it used to look like. I shudder to think of what it would be like if the City had opted for cut-and-cover along that corridor rather … Continue reading Queen Street perambulations
This is part iii of a series on downtown bus routes once the Confederation Line opens in 2018. Part i was on STO routes. Part ii was aimed at understanding what OC Transpo is trying to achieve with the new bus … Continue reading OC Transpo bus routes in the downtown, 2018 version
So, having seen in Part i, what is planned (subject to change) for STO buses in downtown Ottawa once the Confederation Line LRT opens in or around August 2018 … let’s look at the OC Transpo routes. These OC Transpo … Continue reading Buses in the downtown in LRT era, part ii, OC Transpo
There seems to be a lot of interest amongst readers about the routes for STO buses and the volume of buses, once the new Confederation Line opens next year. The situation is still in flux, so the maps below are … Continue reading Buses in downtown Ottawa in the LRT era, part i, STO
The City is hosting an “open house” on Tuesday (Nov 28, 5.30pm onwards ) to show their plans for the future Albert and Slater Streets between Empress (the Good Companions) and Waller (Rideau Centre, UOttawa U). Here are some things … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part viii – Albert-Slater alert
Our streets have to be public spaces that are active and lively, not just traffic sewers. How are we doing? As Canada’s 150th whimpers away, here’s a reminder of a more optimistic era: the Centennial and Expo 67, as evidence … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part vii – Liveable Streets
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
Ottawa’s streets and roads are mostly built on a grid pattern. This results in lots of ” + ” intersections, and also ” T ” intersections. From time to time, city engineers tell me there is no such thing as … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part v – Frustrating T
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 is yet a third segment of Booth Street to consider. That’s the portion running from the Queensway south to Carling Avenue. That segment is not residential, it is mostly government offices, ranging from heritage Mineral and Mines brick buildings … Continue reading West Side Transportation Cornucopia, part iii – NRCan
