Category: somerset street

Richmond road, somerset street, west wellington1 Comment

Signs of the times

Westsideaction

A few posts ago, the lighting store on Richmond in the heart of Westboro was featured. It is moving to Spruce Street. The Signman is also moving from its location opposite Loblaw’s Real Cdn Superstore to Laurel Street. There are few vacant storefronts on the western portion of the Somerset-West Wellie-Richmond Road strip, and more storefronts being constructed. The further east one goes, the more vacancies appear, for longer periods. As Westboro prices continue to climb, there will be adjustments in the retail market and eventually the condo market too. Continue reading Signs of the times

Richmond road, somerset street, west wellington

Signs of the times

Westsideaction

A few posts ago, the lighting store on Richmond in the heart of Westboro was featured. It is moving to Spruce Street. The Signman is also moving from its location opposite Loblaw’s Real Cdn Superstore to Laurel Street. There are few vacant storefronts on the western portion of the Somerset-West Wellie-Richmond Road strip, and more storefronts being constructed. The further east one goes, the more vacancies appear, for longer periods. As Westboro prices continue to climb, there will be adjustments in the retail market and eventually the condo market too. Continue reading Signs of the times

somerset street, Vietnamese Monument, west side culture

Festival Dalhousie

Westsideaction

This past weekend was a busy one in our west side neighborhoods. There were a number of festivals, parades, and cultural events. It was Budda’s birthday. Shown below is the float that was the key piece in the parade from the Buddist temple on Somerset Street (beside the Plant recreation centre): The Vietnamese community held a fundraiser at the site of their proposed museum and cultural centre at the corner of Somerset and Preston, diagonally opposite the refugee memorial. I was particularly interested to note the proud wearing of the South Vietnam military uniforms by veterans of that war. Continue reading Festival Dalhousie

cycling in Ottawa, somerset street, streetscaping3 Comments

Cycling Progress

Westsideaction

The Public Advisory Group for the proposed downtown-area segregated cycling track meet last night. It’s a diverse group including 3 BIA’s (Chinatown BIA, Somerset Village BIA, Bank St BIA), two community associations (DCA, CCA), cycling advocacy groups (Cycle Vision Ottawa, Citizens for Safe Cycling), politicians former and current, etc. City planners unveiled the route choices and the criteria they used to narrow the list down to a smaller set of five leading options. They applied a numerical rating scheme to winnow the choices, which came in for a lot of discussion. The selection remains somewhat arbitrary and contestable. The most … Continue reading Cycling Progress

cycling in Ottawa, somerset street, streetscaping

Cycling Progress

Westsideaction

The Public Advisory Group for the proposed downtown-area segregated cycling track meet last night. It’s a diverse group including 3 BIA’s (Chinatown BIA, Somerset Village BIA, Bank St BIA), two community associations (DCA, CCA), cycling advocacy groups (Cycle Vision Ottawa, Citizens for Safe Cycling), politicians former and current, etc. City planners unveiled the route choices and the criteria they used to narrow the list down to a smaller set of five leading options. They applied a numerical rating scheme to winnow the choices, which came in for a lot of discussion. The selection remains somewhat arbitrary and contestable. The most … Continue reading Cycling Progress

Dalhousie, somerset street, streetscaping

Flower Power

Westsideaction

The Dalhousie Community Assoc. installed and maintains the garden in front of the Dalhousie Community Centre (shown in the background) on Somerset street (thanks to Ida the gardener!) There is a constant stream of people passing the garden who pause to admire it. It brings a smile to so many people. Flower power builds communities. When the photographer turned around, she saw me taking a picture of her taking a picture. When I turned, I saw her friends taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. This is what we saw: The tulip festival in Ottawa starts today. Continue reading Flower Power

Dalhousie, somerset street, streetscaping

Flower Power

Westsideaction

The Dalhousie Community Assoc. installed and maintains the garden in front of the Dalhousie Community Centre (shown in the background) on Somerset street (thanks to Ida the gardener!) There is a constant stream of people passing the garden who pause to admire it. It brings a smile to so many people. Flower power builds communities. When the photographer turned around, she saw me taking a picture of her taking a picture. When I turned, I saw her friends taking a picture of me taking a picture of her. This is what we saw: The tulip festival in Ottawa starts today. Continue reading Flower Power

Chinatown, somerset street, streetscaping2 Comments

The friendly streets of west side Ottawa

Westsideaction

Outside this never-quite-finished rona-vating house, an impromtu living room has appeared on the city boulevard. Your seating choice: floral sofa … or mod leather armchair? Or mid-century modern plastic chairs set out especially for Robert? The pink carpet marks the residents as breast-cancer savy. There are even coffee tables for your … coffee, sometimes served in unique stubby brown glass cups. I love it, if only because it would never work in Orleans or Barrhaven. Now, to wander down one block . . . In contrast to the informal sidewalk enhancement on Cambridge, is this corner lot at Somerset/Bell. The manufactured stone … Continue reading The friendly streets of west side Ottawa

Chinatown, somerset street, streetscaping

The friendly streets of west side Ottawa

Westsideaction

Outside this never-quite-finished rona-vating house, an impromtu living room has appeared on the city boulevard. Your seating choice: floral sofa … or mod leather armchair? Or mid-century modern plastic chairs set out especially for Robert? The pink carpet marks the residents as breast-cancer savy. There are even coffee tables for your … coffee, sometimes served in unique stubby brown glass cups. I love it, if only because it would never work in Orleans or Barrhaven. Now, to wander down one block . . . In contrast to the informal sidewalk enhancement on Cambridge, is this corner lot at Somerset/Bell. The manufactured stone … Continue reading The friendly streets of west side Ottawa

somerset street, streetscaping, west wellington2 Comments

Reclaiming the corner

Westsideaction

Do you recognize the above corner? If you are a west side pedestrian or cyclist, or maybe a No 2 bus user, the likely answer is yes (motorists should not recognize it — your eyes are supposed to be on the road!). It’s at the corner of Bayswater and Somerset, northwest side, where Bayswater starts to suddenly go downhill (elevation speaking, not quality wise). Behind the green picket fence is an amazing ever-changing collection of . . . stuff. Gnomes, flower pots, a yapping dog that escorts pedestrians past the fence, a patio … all seem to me to made … Continue reading Reclaiming the corner

somerset street, streetscaping, west wellington

Reclaiming the corner

Westsideaction

Do you recognize the above corner? If you are a west side pedestrian or cyclist, or maybe a No 2 bus user, the likely answer is yes (motorists should not recognize it — your eyes are supposed to be on the road!). It’s at the corner of Bayswater and Somerset, northwest side, where Bayswater starts to suddenly go downhill (elevation speaking, not quality wise). Behind the green picket fence is an amazing ever-changing collection of . . . stuff. Gnomes, flower pots, a yapping dog that escorts pedestrians past the fence, a patio … all seem to me to made … Continue reading Reclaiming the corner

somerset street

Candelabra lighting for Somerset?

Westsideaction

Noticed these candelabra in storage at the government warehouse at 1010 Somerset Street, the putative parole office now used as a stone cemetery and for architectural salvage. While they are likely hiding out during stone work renovations on parliament hill, I thought they might make interesting pedestrian light fixtures on the soon-to-be streetscaped Somerset Street out front of this warehouse. Continue reading Candelabra lighting for Somerset?

somerset street

Candelabra lighting for Somerset?

Westsideaction

Noticed these candelabra in storage at the government warehouse at 1010 Somerset Street, the putative parole office now used as a stone cemetery and for architectural salvage. While they are likely hiding out during stone work renovations on parliament hill, I thought they might make interesting pedestrian light fixtures on the soon-to-be streetscaped Somerset Street out front of this warehouse. Continue reading Candelabra lighting for Somerset?

chinatown arch, somerset street

Chinatown Arch gets own blog

Westsideaction

Last week saw the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chinatown royal arch. In the photo above, Grace Xin of the Chinatown BIA puts incense into a holder. From left to right, Senator Vivian Po, John Baird, Bob Chiarelli, Yasir Naqvi, Chinese Ambassador, Councilors Holmes and Wilkinson. Shown below are two of the first concrete castings made for the arch. The casting yard is on Cambridge, behind the Yangtze. Stone lions, to guard the base of the arch, from China. As a lot will be happening at this gateway site, I have set up a separate blog site to follow … Continue reading Chinatown Arch gets own blog

chinatown arch, somerset street

Chinatown Arch gets own blog

Westsideaction

Last week saw the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chinatown royal arch. In the photo above, Grace Xin of the Chinatown BIA puts incense into a holder. From left to right, Senator Vivian Po, John Baird, Bob Chiarelli, Yasir Naqvi, Chinese Ambassador, Councilors Holmes and Wilkinson. Shown below are two of the first concrete castings made for the arch. The casting yard is on Cambridge, behind the Yangtze. Stone lions, to guard the base of the arch, from China. As a lot will be happening at this gateway site, I have set up a separate blog site to follow … Continue reading Chinatown Arch gets own blog

chinatown arch, somerset street1 Comment

Chinatown arch

Westsideaction

Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson. The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring … not cheap!… is being borne by the Chinatown BIA. Continue reading Chinatown arch

chinatown arch, somerset street

Chinatown arch

Westsideaction

Preparatory work is well underway for the Chinatown Arch. The Ottawa Hydro trucks shown here have been working all week to relocate the wiring on the south side of Somerset between Cambridge and Bronson. The Chinatown arch groundbreaking will be in two weeks and the unaesthetic wiring needs to be out of the way. The cost of removing the wiring … not cheap!… is being borne by the Chinatown BIA. Continue reading Chinatown arch

somerset street, streetscaping2 Comments

Public Gardening

Westsideaction

These crocuses are blooming in the garden in front of the Plant Recreation Centre at the corner of Somerset and Preston Streets. The lovely garden at the corner was built, planted, and is maintained by community volunteers. It is on city-owned land. It illustrates the power of volunteer community action. Personally, I feel the City tries to do too much — too much of what I don’t want, and not enough of what I do want. And too much of what it shouldn’t be doing could be done perfectly well by others. Can you image the tax load if the … Continue reading Public Gardening

somerset street, streetscaping

Public Gardening

Westsideaction

These crocuses are blooming in the garden in front of the Plant Recreation Centre at the corner of Somerset and Preston Streets. The lovely garden at the corner was built, planted, and is maintained by community volunteers. It is on city-owned land. It illustrates the power of volunteer community action. Personally, I feel the City tries to do too much — too much of what I don’t want, and not enough of what I do want. And too much of what it shouldn’t be doing could be done perfectly well by others. Can you image the tax load if the … Continue reading Public Gardening

chinatown arch, somerset street, streetscaping, Uncategorized

Somerset reconstruction zone expanded

Westsideaction

The City and consultants held a well-attended (approx 125 persons) open house for the Somerset reconstruction project last week. The zone of reconstruction was from Bayswater (in the west)(which is where reconstruction left off last summer) up and over the viaduct over the Otrain, to Preston street.  The above section of street was scheduled for this year, 2010. Then next year, the reconstruction process would move up Somerset, from Preston to Booth. These two long blocks will be finished in a new Chinatown look in 2011. However, the Chinatown Arch (artists impression shown) is being constructed a few blocks further east … Continue reading Somerset reconstruction zone expanded

chinatown arch, somerset street, streetscaping

Somerset reconstruction zone expanded

Westsideaction

The City and consultants held a well-attended (approx 125 persons) open house for the Somerset reconstruction project last week. The zone of reconstruction was from Bayswater (in the west)(which is where reconstruction left off last summer) up and over the viaduct over the Otrain, to Preston street.  The above section of street was scheduled for this year, 2010. Then next year, the reconstruction process would move up Somerset, from Preston to Booth. These two long blocks will be finished in a new Chinatown look in 2011. However, the Chinatown Arch (artists impression shown) is being constructed a few blocks further east … Continue reading Somerset reconstruction zone expanded

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, somerset street

Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset

Westsideaction

Picture 1 is the view from the Somerset viaduct looking south towards Gladstone and the Queensway. The Otrain track is barely visible in the cut on the right. Most of this land is City owned (a small portion is NCC, but it is not required to make the underpass). At the Somerset end, the right of way is quite wide. It would be relatively straightforward to connect the Somerset bike lane and sidewalk surfaces with the bike route using a slope, although a switchback might be required. A 16′ drop requires 320 feet of ramp, plus some flat spots. To … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset

bike path, cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, somerset street

Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset

Westsideaction

Picture 1 is the view from the Somerset viaduct looking south towards Gladstone and the Queensway. The Otrain track is barely visible in the cut on the right. Most of this land is City owned (a small portion is NCC, but it is not required to make the underpass). At the Somerset end, the right of way is quite wide. It would be relatively straightforward to connect the Somerset bike lane and sidewalk surfaces with the bike route using a slope, although a switchback might be required. A 16′ drop requires 320 feet of ramp, plus some flat spots. To … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iii), south of Somerset