Bronson, streetscaping5 Comments

Bronson deja vu all over again

Westsideaction

Last night was the second PAC (Public Advisory Committee) meeting on Bronson. After the hard time the city planners and consultants got at the first meeting in April, the May meeting disappeared in favour of a mid-June date. The city and consultants got ideas from the public (me: the Bronson 2 lane plus two way left turn lane model) and the community associations (2 lanes plus turn lanes at intersections, a livable streets model that has worked so well for fixing roads with similar volumes in Toronto) and a lot of pressure from the Councillor to do better. So they came out … Continue reading Bronson deja vu all over again

design, downtown

Borrow, adapt, learn

Westsideaction

The top two pix are of a small apartment building kitty korner the downtown Ottawa bus terminal. Its fun to look at as you walk by, the tilted windows add a nice sense of whimsy as do the flying roofs. Below is Strata Centre on the MIT campus in Boston. It is full of fun angles, and the interior spaces — a sort of atrium-cum-courtyard piazza — are fun to walk in. It has a number of architectural jokes, including heavy brick walls that start in mid air two or three floors above your head (they are suspended walls), and I … Continue reading Borrow, adapt, learn

Bronson, streetscaping

Bronson deja vu all over again

Westsideaction

Last night was the second PAC (Public Advisory Committee) meeting on Bronson. After the hard time the city planners and consultants got at the first meeting in April, the May meeting disappeared in favour of a mid-June date. The city and consultants got ideas from the public (me: the Bronson 2 lane plus two way left turn lane model) and the community associations (2 lanes plus turn lanes at intersections, a livable streets model that has worked so well for fixing roads with similar volumes in Toronto) and a lot of pressure from the Councillor to do better. So they came out … Continue reading Bronson deja vu all over again

design, downtown

Borrow, adapt, learn

Westsideaction

The top two pix are of a small apartment building kitty korner the downtown Ottawa bus terminal. Its fun to look at as you walk by, the tilted windows add a nice sense of whimsy as do the flying roofs. Below is Strata Centre on the MIT campus in Boston. It is full of fun angles, and the interior spaces — a sort of atrium-cum-courtyard piazza — are fun to walk in. It has a number of architectural jokes, including heavy brick walls that start in mid air two or three floors above your head (they are suspended walls), and I … Continue reading Borrow, adapt, learn

infill, Primrose4 Comments

Nanny Goat Hill infill

Westsideaction

An infill house is being constructed at the north end of Upper Lorne Place, where the staircase goes down to Primrose Street. This picture is taken from the bottom of the stairs. The back of the Dominican College library is in the background, which holds some Dead Sea scrolls.  View from the top of the stairs. The house will be three floors, with a garage on the Upper Lorne Place side.This house will have high visibility from all four sides — thus far we have no idea about what quality the exterior will be or what its design is. Primros Continue reading Nanny Goat Hill infill

infill, Primrose

Nanny Goat Hill infill

Westsideaction

An infill house is being constructed at the north end of Upper Lorne Place, where the staircase goes down to Primrose Street. This picture is taken from the bottom of the stairs. The back of the Dominican College library is in the background, which holds some Dead Sea scrolls.  View from the top of the stairs. The house will be three floors, with a garage on the Upper Lorne Place side.This house will have high visibility from all four sides — thus far we have no idea about what quality the exterior will be or what its design is. Primros Continue reading Nanny Goat Hill infill

hintonburg, streetscaping1 Comment

Great for dog walkers

Westsideaction

On Spadina Avenue in Hintonburg, as it approaches West Wellie, the city has planted trees on both sides of the street right on the centreline of the concrete sidewalk that runs up the rest of the street. The black post in the foreground is a bike rack that also serves to protect trees from plows, etc. I find it curious that with all the spare space off to the side, the tree was planted in the direct line of the sidewalk. Are trendy Hintonburgers all so thin they can slip by this tree? Do they all walk dogs? Are the … Continue reading Great for dog walkers

hintonburg, streetscaping

Great for dog walkers

Westsideaction

On Spadina Avenue in Hintonburg, as it approaches West Wellie, the city has planted trees on both sides of the street right on the centreline of the concrete sidewalk that runs up the rest of the street. The black post in the foreground is a bike rack that also serves to protect trees from plows, etc. I find it curious that with all the spare space off to the side, the tree was planted in the direct line of the sidewalk. Are trendy Hintonburgers all so thin they can slip by this tree? Do they all walk dogs? Are the … Continue reading Great for dog walkers

streetscaping1 Comment

Collatoral damage

Westsideaction

On May 3rd, new shrubs and trees for Preston are stockpiled near the street. Note especially the trees in the background. On May 7, the shrubs and trees are planted at the corner of Primrose. Note the Bell person hole in the sidewalk. May 10th, Bell removed the planted material and leaves them on the side of the adjacent building, bare roots exposed, no pots, facing south. The greenery fades … Bell “restores” the site. Dead shrubs removed. Note the mulch area is compressed by the steel plates that were stored there. Some rose bushes of the “pancake” variety remain. … Continue reading Collatoral damage

downtown

Yuca-Yay !

Westsideaction

Back in December 09  http://www.http//westsideaction.blogspot.com/2009/12/yucca-yuk.html I posted about the theft of the yucca plants from the front of the city parking garage that runs between Laurier and Slater. On the Laurier side there is a nice little strip of garden space. Then someone stole the nicest yucca plant (looks like a cactus, and yes, is winter hardy) from the west end of the garden, and sometime later, the one from the east end of the garden. As shown, the City has replaced the plants and added some too. Looks nice. Kudos to whomever at the city actually notices these things and … Continue reading Yuca-Yay !

streetscaping

Collatoral damage

Westsideaction

On May 3rd, new shrubs and trees for Preston are stockpiled near the street. Note especially the trees in the background. On May 7, the shrubs and trees are planted at the corner of Primrose. Note the Bell person hole in the sidewalk. May 10th, Bell removed the planted material and leaves them on the side of the adjacent building, bare roots exposed, no pots, facing south. The greenery fades … Bell “restores” the site. Dead shrubs removed. Note the mulch area is compressed by the steel plates that were stored there. Some rose bushes of the “pancake” variety remain. … Continue reading Collatoral damage

downtown

Yuca-Yay !

Westsideaction

Back in December 09  http://www.http//westsideaction.blogspot.com/2009/12/yucca-yuk.html I posted about the theft of the yucca plants from the front of the city parking garage that runs between Laurier and Slater. On the Laurier side there is a nice little strip of garden space. Then someone stole the nicest yucca plant (looks like a cactus, and yes, is winter hardy) from the west end of the garden, and sometime later, the one from the east end of the garden. As shown, the City has replaced the plants and added some too. Looks nice. Kudos to whomever at the city actually notices these things and … Continue reading Yuca-Yay !

Bronson, streetscaping3 Comments

Another Bronson Plan

Westsideaction

Members of the Dalhousie and Centretown community associations met to create a suggested Bronson layout that would be a first step to creating a more liveable street.  Here are my notes on the proposal for a new Bronson between Albert and Gladstone:  Drawing up a plan by ourselves has certain disadvantages — we cannot estimate turn lane lengths, for example. But we are suggesting these things to the planning group in an effort to get started on a plan that might, with tweaking, be acceptable to the neighborhood and many stakeholders. First, let’s differentiate this plan from the one recently … Continue reading Another Bronson Plan

Bronson, streetscaping

Another Bronson Plan

Westsideaction

Members of the Dalhousie and Centretown community associations met to create a suggested Bronson layout that would be a first step to creating a more liveable street.  Here are my notes on the proposal for a new Bronson between Albert and Gladstone:  Drawing up a plan by ourselves has certain disadvantages — we cannot estimate turn lane lengths, for example. But we are suggesting these things to the planning group in an effort to get started on a plan that might, with tweaking, be acceptable to the neighborhood and many stakeholders. First, let’s differentiate this plan from the one recently … Continue reading Another Bronson Plan

Carling Ave, streetscaping13 Comments

Caring about Carling

Westsideaction

Last night was the first Public Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Carling Avenue reconstruction project from the O-Train to Bronson Avenue. Scheduled for 2011, its for a complete rebuild of the street: new sewers, water mains, dozens of cable and gas pipes, curbs, sidewalks, lighting…everything. The handout emphasized the following priorities in this order: pedestrian, cycling, transit, vehicle. Of course, the the Technical Adisory Committee (TAC) had first whack at the project and they specified two through lanes in each direction, a bus lane, a cycling lane,very generous turn lanes, etc etc all of which exceeds the available right of … Continue reading Caring about Carling

Carling Ave, streetscaping

Caring about Carling

Westsideaction

Last night was the first Public Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting for the Carling Avenue reconstruction project from the O-Train to Bronson Avenue. Scheduled for 2011, its for a complete rebuild of the street: new sewers, water mains, dozens of cable and gas pipes, curbs, sidewalks, lighting…everything. The handout emphasized the following priorities in this order: pedestrian, cycling, transit, vehicle. Of course, the the Technical Adisory Committee (TAC) had first whack at the project and they specified two through lanes in each direction, a bus lane, a cycling lane,very generous turn lanes, etc etc all of which exceeds the available right of … Continue reading Caring about Carling

Boston

Sculpture you can use

Westsideaction

These two stainless steel sculptures or art installations were very entertaining. They proved to be irresistable attractions to many passers by. These girls used them for impromtu gymnastic exercises. The little boy in the picture spent a lot of time running up the slope trying to get to the top. He never did, but had lots of fun trying. These pieces were on the short part of the pier at Rowe’s Wharf in Boston. There is a gent sitting on the sea wall to the left. The arch through the buildings is on the immediate right. I cannot imagine Ottawa … Continue reading Sculpture you can use

Boston

Sculpture you can use

Westsideaction

These two stainless steel sculptures or art installations were very entertaining. They proved to be irresistable attractions to many passers by. These girls used them for impromtu gymnastic exercises. The little boy in the picture spent a lot of time running up the slope trying to get to the top. He never did, but had lots of fun trying. These pieces were on the short part of the pier at Rowe’s Wharf in Boston. There is a gent sitting on the sea wall to the left. The arch through the buildings is on the immediate right. I cannot imagine Ottawa … Continue reading Sculpture you can use

Boston, condos, infill, intensificatioin2 Comments

Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Westsideaction

The Ashcroft proposal for redeveloping the Sr of the Visitation site on Richmond Road got a rough hearing the first time out. I am not a great fan of public meetings where dialogue and idea sharing is replaced by sound bites, but hey, it takes all types. And it does serve for some people to vent. The proposal had many reasonable elements, such as keeping the wall along the sides and back, additional setbacks for the 4-5 storey structures in the back half. It had some I didn’t like too much: the height and size of the middle building (a … Continue reading Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Boston, condos, infill, intensificatioin

Our Lady of the Condos, archly

Westsideaction

The Ashcroft proposal for redeveloping the Sr of the Visitation site on Richmond Road got a rough hearing the first time out. I am not a great fan of public meetings where dialogue and idea sharing is replaced by sound bites, but hey, it takes all types. And it does serve for some people to vent. The proposal had many reasonable elements, such as keeping the wall along the sides and back, additional setbacks for the 4-5 storey structures in the back half. It had some I didn’t like too much: the height and size of the middle building (a … Continue reading Our Lady of the Condos, archly

streetscaping4 Comments

Of Mascots and Marketing

Westsideaction

Preston Street BIA in a brilliant marketing stroke invented Luigi, a mascot for their signage during the reconstruction years. He was certainly popular. People got out of their cars to take their picture with him. Bluesfest goers gathered round the signs for group photos. The volunteer T-shirts at last-year’s Italian festival said Luigi’s Security or something similar. Perhaps coincidentally, I noticed this Luigi doll on a doorstep. Yet, the street seems strangely lonely now,  without his face on banners and signs. I think he should be given new life. He adds personality to the street. In a related vein, I saw … Continue reading Of Mascots and Marketing

streetscaping

Of Mascots and Marketing

Westsideaction

Preston Street BIA in a brilliant marketing stroke invented Luigi, a mascot for their signage during the reconstruction years. He was certainly popular. People got out of their cars to take their picture with him. Bluesfest goers gathered round the signs for group photos. The volunteer T-shirts at last-year’s Italian festival said Luigi’s Security or something similar. Perhaps coincidentally, I noticed this Luigi doll on a doorstep. Yet, the street seems strangely lonely now,  without his face on banners and signs. I think he should be given new life. He adds personality to the street. In a related vein, I saw … Continue reading Of Mascots and Marketing

Bronson1 Comment

The Bronson diet literature

Westsideaction

Bronson today Example of an after diet road: two through lanes, centre turn lane, bike lanes, usable sidewalks. Could be improved by adding trees to the boulevard. If you are keen on reading more on putting “four lane” roads onto a two lane diet, start reading here: (note that some references take you to same key documents, but there are references to new sources at each of these) http://www.contextsensitivesolutions.org/content/reading/road-diets-3/ http://www.congestion.kytc.ky.gov/roaddiets.html http://www.walkable.org/assets/downloads/4%20Lane%20Conversion.pdf http://www.walkablestreets.com/diet.htm  http://publications.iowa.gov/2888/ http://www.mnltap.umn.edu/Publications/Exchange/2008-3/ResearchAnalyzes.html http://www.urbanstreet.info/2nd_sym_proceedings/Volume%202/Knapp.pdf http://www.iowadot.gov/crashanalysis/pdfs/ite_draft_4to3laneconversion_papersubmission_2005.pdf There is lots more literature out there. Google “the conversion of four lanes”, or “road diets” to get started, and follow the links and … Continue reading The Bronson diet literature