LeBreton Flats, O-Train, Prince of Wales Bridge

Prince of Wales maintenance

Westsideaction

Picture taken yesterday from the bike path on the west side of the War Museum, looking upriver. A service vehicle is on the Prince of Wales bridge near the Quebec side. Closer view, shows the vehicle has two sets of wheels, rubber ones for the road and steel wheels for driving on rails. What it is doing? Men in cherry picker extendable arm are working on the side of the bridge. Arm continues to extend, now right under the whole bridge, the men are beyond the far side of their vehicle. It is rather like using your left hand to … Continue reading Prince of Wales maintenance

chinatown arch, somerset street2 Comments

Chinatown arch takes shape

Westsideaction

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape

chinatown arch, somerset street

Chinatown arch takes shape

Westsideaction

The Ottawa Chinatown Royal Arch has taken a huge step towards its final form with the addition of ceramic roof tiles imported from China. Suddenly, instead of a scaffolding-hidden pile of concrete and forms, the beauty of the future arch is emerging. While crews work on the roofs, other crew members are preparing to lay curbs and new paving for the sidewalk and road under the arch. The arch is significantly ahead of schedule. No 2 bus users may get their Somerset route back before the end of July! There are more details at http://www.ottawachinatownroyalarch.blogspot.com/. Continue reading Chinatown arch takes shape

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train, Uncategorized3 Comments

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Bayview, Bayview Otrain, downtown, interprovincial transit study, LeBreton Flats, LRT, NCC, O-Train

Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

Westsideaction

Prince of Wales rail bridge from Ottawa to Gatineau Tuesday from 5.30 to 8.30 at City Hall (main floor) there will be a public display of the options for interprovincial transit between Ottawa and Gatineau. Options include which mode of transit to use: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) or LRT. Route options include connections via the Alexandra Bridge (or under it, in a tunnel under the river, and remember the tunnel under downtown Ottawa is already very deep down so this doesn’t require a steep slope, and the Rideau station has been designed with this connection in mind); a west connection on the Prince … Continue reading Interprovincial transit opportunity to choose your mode

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

oc Transpo, sidewalks, Transit1 Comment

Unknown offence

Westsideaction

There’s a big hubabaloo in the Centre of the Universe ™ about arrests without cause (just being in Toronto should have been enough cause for criminal prosecution). Here in Ottawa, we have our own cryptic crimes ™  — see sign above along the “virtual LRT line” (as bus rapid transit is now being rebranded in some cities).  What is the offence? The fine is known, and it indicates the city has its revenue enhancement priorities straight. Safety considerations seem to have been let fade away, however. Continue reading Unknown offence

oc Transpo, sidewalks, Transit

Unknown offence

Westsideaction

There’s a big hubabaloo in the Centre of the Universe ™ about arrests without cause (just being in Toronto should have been enough cause for criminal prosecution). Here in Ottawa, we have our own cryptic crimes ™  — see sign above along the “virtual LRT line” (as bus rapid transit is now being rebranded in some cities).  What is the offence? The fine is known, and it indicates the city has its revenue enhancement priorities straight. Safety considerations seem to have been let fade away, however. Continue reading Unknown offence

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 !

Urban Gardens1 Comment

Gardening in Centretown

Westsideaction

This new garden was installed last week in front of a row house on Lisgar. The corrugated metal (sewer) pipe porch pillar catches the eye, follwed by the bright painted corrugated fence panel on the right. The similar panels on the left of the walk are painted black. The sidewalk is actually at right angles to the public sidewalk, but the boardwalk cover is angled slightly, which adds interest (and possibly, like the NCC stairs along the canal which are also at a diagonal, disorienting…). The garden plantings are in the usual modern style of few plant types repeated in … Continue reading Gardening in Centretown

Urban Gardens

Gardening in Centretown

Westsideaction

This new garden was installed last week in front of a row house on Lisgar. The corrugated metal (sewer) pipe porch pillar catches the eye, follwed by the bright painted corrugated fence panel on the right. The similar panels on the left of the walk are painted black. The sidewalk is actually at right angles to the public sidewalk, but the boardwalk cover is angled slightly, which adds interest (and possibly, like the NCC stairs along the canal which are also at a diagonal, disorienting…). The garden plantings are in the usual modern style of few plant types repeated in … Continue reading Gardening in Centretown

Claridge, condos, cycling in Ottawa, downtown, housing policy, infill, intensificatioin2 Comments

383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Westsideaction

The pictures above show the Claridge proposal for three residential (condo) towers in downtown Ottawa. As noted in a post a few days ago, they are to be built on the lot between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and 151 Bay condos. The current parking lot location abuts Barabarella’s dancing establishment, which will remain after this project is built. The two 28 storey and one 22 storey towers will have approx 481 apartments. They are located directly above the proposed west downtown LRT station which is under Albert Street. Perhaps those delighted looking ladies in the photomontage just exited the LRT … Continue reading 383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Claridge, condos, cycling in Ottawa, downtown, housing policy, infill, intensificatioin

383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

Westsideaction

The pictures above show the Claridge proposal for three residential (condo) towers in downtown Ottawa. As noted in a post a few days ago, they are to be built on the lot between the Crowne Plaza Hotel and 151 Bay condos. The current parking lot location abuts Barabarella’s dancing establishment, which will remain after this project is built. The two 28 storey and one 22 storey towers will have approx 481 apartments. They are located directly above the proposed west downtown LRT station which is under Albert Street. Perhaps those delighted looking ladies in the photomontage just exited the LRT … Continue reading 383 Albert, transit oriented parking requirements

infill, Primrose1 Comment

Cliff becomes hole

Westsideaction

The view from Primrose of the lot beside the staircase up to Upper Lorne Place and the upper section of Primrose. The former cliff becomes a squared-off hole, ready for footings. Neighbours tell me there will be a 3 storey house, with entrance and parking garage off Upper Lorne and the house having secondary entrances off the staircase. That is similar to what was there a number of years ago, when the existing red house at the foot of the stairs had its main entrance on its second floor off a landing on the stairs. Continue reading Cliff becomes hole