41. Adeline should be extended east via bold planning arrow, as a concept, as a pedestrian-cyclist street (a real “mews”). See points 26,27 (above).

42. Adeline active frontage should extend to at least Rochester, only on new buildings, using flex zoning permitting a variety of short term uses such as residential and work-live lofts eventually converting to commercial uses as the market develops (if ever). I would not like to see high rises on the south side that consist only of front doors/lobbies/garage doors facing the street or semi-dead uses like “party rooms”.

43. What is the ground floor usage of all those 18 storey buildings proposed for Rochester? Will they be ground level apts with unused walkways as is currently the norm? Or will they be really useful street level apts like the Hobin-CCOC building at Beaver Barracks which compels front door usage? Will they be the Charlesfort favourite usage, a parking garage, with fake windows? We need some clear planning direction here, and declaring this an active frontage might be helpful. The current text accompanying the maps is inadequate.

44. Beech active frontage east of Preston is fine as the area is already all commercial. But west of Preston, it should be permitted only in new buildings. This is to preserve some residential character of the remaining homes. Commercial would be permitted in new constructions. To permit commercial conversions of houses runs the risk of half-assed conversions like we have seen in the area, or the under-the-radar conversion of whole houses to office functions for small firms who don’t want to rent in commercial buildings. Ottawa’s track record in this type of development is not good. We can do better, but only if we identify the problem and set appropriate rules

 

Tomorrow: the public realm, roads, and pedestrian infrastructure.