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

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One hour to a cleaner neighborhood

Westsideaction

On Saturday morning at 10am a group of Dalhousie residents will gather at the Dalhousie community centre (corner of Empress and Somerset) for an hour (or two) of neighborhood grooming. We provide the gloves, bags, and friends. In small groups, we tidy up a few blocks or nuisence spots. This year the focus will be on the two pedestrian staircases that go up/down Nanny Goat Hill. The Primrose staircase runs east-west; the Empress Ave staircase runs north/south; the bottom of the Empress stair comes out near the Good Companions centre. One of the nicest aspects of gathering up the miscellaneous … Continue reading One hour to a cleaner neighborhood

Ottawa

One hour to a cleaner neighborhood

Westsideaction

On Saturday morning at 10am a group of Dalhousie residents will gather at the Dalhousie community centre (corner of Empress and Somerset) for an hour (or two) of neighborhood grooming. We provide the gloves, bags, and friends. In small groups, we tidy up a few blocks or nuisence spots. This year the focus will be on the two pedestrian staircases that go up/down Nanny Goat Hill. The Primrose staircase runs east-west; the Empress Ave staircase runs north/south; the bottom of the Empress stair comes out near the Good Companions centre. One of the nicest aspects of gathering up the miscellaneous … Continue reading One hour to a cleaner neighborhood

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Tiptoe through the tulips

Westsideaction

On Sunday is the upcoming Tulipathon Walk sponsored by Multifaith Housing Initiative to raise money and also awareness of the need for affordable housing for low-income people in Ottawa. It’s this Sunday, May 2nd, from 2 to 4 pm, with registration beforehand at Commissioner’s Park (Dow’s Lake and Preston). It’s a 6 km. walk from there through the park to Fifth Ave. and back again – with tulips in view along the way. Continue reading Tiptoe through the tulips

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?

Ottawa

Tiptoe through the tulips

Westsideaction

On Sunday is the upcoming Tulipathon Walk sponsored by Multifaith Housing Initiative to raise money and also awareness of the need for affordable housing for low-income people in Ottawa. It’s this Sunday, May 2nd, from 2 to 4 pm, with registration beforehand at Commissioner’s Park (Dow’s Lake and Preston). It’s a 6 km. walk from there through the park to Fifth Ave. and back again – with tulips in view along the way. Continue reading Tiptoe through the tulips

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?

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Dalhousie wins the Stanley Cup

Westsideaction

I note from the morning paper that some government bodies here in Ottawa are excited at the notion of building a 65′ high  replica of the Stanley Cup. That’s about six to seven stories high. A site is yet to be found. Obviously, such a cup won’t fit comfortably on a small downtown plaza, like the teapot with the revolving tree in front of Minto Place. I suggest it should go in a more visible spot. Since the cup is named after Lord Stanley, and Lord Stanley’s full title was Lord Stanley of Preston (yup, true, I read it in … Continue reading Dalhousie wins the Stanley Cup

Ottawa

Dalhousie wins the Stanley Cup

Westsideaction

I note from the morning paper that some government bodies here in Ottawa are excited at the notion of building a 65′ high  replica of the Stanley Cup. That’s about six to seven stories high. A site is yet to be found. Obviously, such a cup won’t fit comfortably on a small downtown plaza, like the teapot with the revolving tree in front of Minto Place. I suggest it should go in a more visible spot. Since the cup is named after Lord Stanley, and Lord Stanley’s full title was Lord Stanley of Preston (yup, true, I read it in … Continue reading Dalhousie wins the Stanley Cup

ottawa river, Preston street, sewage and drains1 Comment

city map, 1895

Westsideaction

Double click on the map to enlarge it, and scroll around it for a bit to explore Ottawa in 1895. Notice the area called “Dalhousie” – our community name goes a long way back. Notice that a number of streets have the same name. The Queensway is still a railroad right of way. Carling Avenue is simply “Macadam road”(Macadam invented asphalt paving). Notice that Gladstone doesn’t exist, but many of its segements do, which goes some way to explaining why that street twists and curves the way it does as it connects up bits and pieces of older streets on … Continue reading city map, 1895

ottawa river, Preston street, sewage and drains

city map, 1895

Westsideaction

Double click on the map to enlarge it, and scroll around it for a bit to explore Ottawa in 1895. Notice the area called “Dalhousie” – our community name goes a long way back. Notice that a number of streets have the same name. The Queensway is still a railroad right of way. Carling Avenue is simply “Macadam road”(Macadam invented asphalt paving). Notice that Gladstone doesn’t exist, but many of its segements do, which goes some way to explaining why that street twists and curves the way it does as it connects up bits and pieces of older streets on … Continue reading city map, 1895

cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, O-Train, Preston street1 Comment

Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

Westsideaction

There is a pedestrian-cyclist path along the east side of the Otrain cut from Carling to Young Street. Hopefully this path will be rebuilt and extended next year (a study is underway) to become a really useful cycling link “Cyclopiste de Preston”. Some careful thought needs to be given to how the path will connect to the sidewalks and pavements of the adjacent dead-end streets – there are many of them. Currently, only one street has its sidewalk (and only on one side) properly connect to the recreational path. This works well for pedestrians, but what are cyclists supposed to … Continue reading Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

cycling in Ottawa, cyclopiste de preston, O-Train, Preston street

Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

Westsideaction

There is a pedestrian-cyclist path along the east side of the Otrain cut from Carling to Young Street. Hopefully this path will be rebuilt and extended next year (a study is underway) to become a really useful cycling link “Cyclopiste de Preston”. Some careful thought needs to be given to how the path will connect to the sidewalks and pavements of the adjacent dead-end streets – there are many of them. Currently, only one street has its sidewalk (and only on one side) properly connect to the recreational path. This works well for pedestrians, but what are cyclists supposed to … Continue reading Integrating streets, sidewalks, with ped-bike paths

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

condos

Condo mania

Westsideaction

Here’s the crowd lined up outside the SohoLisgar project by StarwoodMastercraft, on Lisgar near Bank. I happened by at 7pm, and there was already a crowd inside the sales office. I am not sure if this line up reflects the desirability of the units, or if it a shining demonstration of creating demand and a sense of urgency to sell that first 30-50% of the units. When I passed by again at 9.30 the caterers were packing up but there was still about 25 people in the sales presentation centre. At the side of the building is this poster, about … Continue reading Condo mania

condos

Condo mania

Westsideaction

Here’s the crowd lined up outside the SohoLisgar project by StarwoodMastercraft, on Lisgar near Bank. I happened by at 7pm, and there was already a crowd inside the sales office. I am not sure if this line up reflects the desirability of the units, or if it a shining demonstration of creating demand and a sense of urgency to sell that first 30-50% of the units. When I passed by again at 9.30 the caterers were packing up but there was still about 25 people in the sales presentation centre. At the side of the building is this poster, about … Continue reading Condo mania