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
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
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
This photo is from the 1950’s, looking west along Somerset. The road rises up on the viaduct to cross the CPR tracks. Lots of industrial land uses are visible in the distance. The residences in the foreground have abundant tree shade and shelter from the “busy” street. The Plant Pool is out of sight on the immediate left of the picture. Continue reading Somerset, old and new
This photo is from the 1950’s, looking west along Somerset. The road rises up on the viaduct to cross the CPR tracks. Lots of industrial land uses are visible in the distance. The residences in the foreground have abundant tree shade and shelter from the “busy” street. The Plant Pool is out of sight on the immediate left of the picture. Continue reading Somerset, old and new
Downtown neighborhoods can have a tremendous variety of amenities, depending on the neighborhood history, road allowances, and other oddities that pre-date modern standards that too often result in in a blah uniformity of environment. I particularly like this narrow sidewalk, one block north of Beech, off Preston. This sidewalk is less attractive, mostly because of the close proximinity of the rough stucco wall of the adjacent restaurant, and the presence of the lamppost (pardon… street furniture) plopped down in the centre of the walk along with a stop sign that is about 25′ from the corner. The kitchen staff of … Continue reading Think Thin
Downtown neighborhoods can have a tremendous variety of amenities, depending on the neighborhood history, road allowances, and other oddities that pre-date modern standards that too often result in in a blah uniformity of environment. I particularly like this narrow sidewalk, one block north of Beech, off Preston. This sidewalk is less attractive, mostly because of the close proximinity of the rough stucco wall of the adjacent restaurant, and the presence of the lamppost (pardon… street furniture) plopped down in the centre of the walk along with a stop sign that is about 25′ from the corner. The kitchen staff of … Continue reading Think Thin
The old St Agnes school south of Gladstone on Bell has been in private ownership for some time. It unfortunately had that “abandonned” look to it, which the neighborhood did not need. The school, now owned by the adjacent Polish Catholic church, is undergoing major renovations as a educational, community, and recreational centre for the Polish community. It is nice to see quality renovations underway, including new windows and additional window walls being cut into the old brick exterior. The dilapidated Bell Street towers apartment buildings across the street have also seen better days. Apparently the new owners are going … Continue reading St Agnes Resurrected; will Bell ring?
The old St Agnes school south of Gladstone on Bell has been in private ownership for some time. It unfortunately had that “abandonned” look to it, which the neighborhood did not need. The school, now owned by the adjacent Polish Catholic church, is undergoing major renovations as a educational, community, and recreational centre for the Polish community. It is nice to see quality renovations underway, including new windows and additional window walls being cut into the old brick exterior. The dilapidated Bell Street towers apartment buildings across the street have also seen better days. Apparently the new owners are going … Continue reading St Agnes Resurrected; will Bell ring?
Substantial-sized infill semi-detached homes under construction in Dalhousie south, near Carling. The foundation has a substantial ledge, which suggests the exterior may be brick. There is a detached garage in the rear, with access of the rear lane. In a well done move, the back of the garage, which faces the back of the house, has been finished with quality detail so it looks like a small house in the back yard rather than a garage. The arrival of larger single homes in the neighborhood (rather than triplex or quadplex infills) bodes well for neighborhood stability as it is more … Continue reading infill in Dalhousie South
Substantial-sized infill semi-detached homes under construction in Dalhousie south, near Carling. The foundation has a substantial ledge, which suggests the exterior may be brick. There is a detached garage in the rear, with access of the rear lane. In a well done move, the back of the garage, which faces the back of the house, has been finished with quality detail so it looks like a small house in the back yard rather than a garage. The arrival of larger single homes in the neighborhood (rather than triplex or quadplex infills) bodes well for neighborhood stability as it is more … Continue reading infill in Dalhousie South
This little patch of lawn on Balsam caught my eye. It is greener than its neighbours, and obviously recently raked as it is so clean compared to the foreground bit of turf. A closer inspection revealed its secret. It is synthetic. Fake. Manufactured. I wonder how many times I have gone past it and not noticed; it did not look recently laid. It stood out now because it doesn’t change with the seasons. It is an effective bit of private streetscaping along the public boulevard. Continue reading Green green grass of Dalhousie
This little patch of lawn on Balsam caught my eye. It is greener than its neighbours, and obviously recently raked as it is so clean compared to the foreground bit of turf. A closer inspection revealed its secret. It is synthetic. Fake. Manufactured. I wonder how many times I have gone past it and not noticed; it did not look recently laid. It stood out now because it doesn’t change with the seasons. It is an effective bit of private streetscaping along the public boulevard. Continue reading Green green grass of Dalhousie
The former Desjardins IGA / Loeb store on Booth Street at Eccles has been closed for several years. Demolition is now underway, making way for the new Cornerstone housing project, a four storey 40 unit apartment residence. The new Cornerstone residence, coupled with the now-under-construction Z6 condo building (16 of 26 units sold) will give a modern new face to tired Booth Street. Both buildings have traditional brick exteriors with modern design touches. The last large remaining eyesore on the street is the blighted zone known as Cousin Eddey’s garage/ Chado’s auto repair. The only saving grace there is that … Continue reading Goodbye Desjardin’s IGA/Loeb
The former Desjardins IGA / Loeb store on Booth Street at Eccles has been closed for several years. Demolition is now underway, making way for the new Cornerstone housing project, a four storey 40 unit apartment residence. The new Cornerstone residence, coupled with the now-under-construction Z6 condo building (16 of 26 units sold) will give a modern new face to tired Booth Street. Both buildings have traditional brick exteriors with modern design touches. The last large remaining eyesore on the street is the blighted zone known as Cousin Eddey’s garage/ Chado’s auto repair. The only saving grace there is that … Continue reading Goodbye Desjardin’s IGA/Loeb
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
This infill is once again in the very modern boxy style common today. It is constructed from pre-made wafer panels that include the exterior sheathing, insulation, and interior sheathing . Is is on the north side of Eccles, between Booth and LeBreton. I am getting to like this style more and more. I much prefer it over the blah-design of so many infills made of plastic siding and low-slope asphalt shingle roofs. Design and quality matters. Does anyone know why Eccles Street is so often pronounced Eck-Less? Ever since I moved here 30 some years ago, it has puzzled me … Continue reading Infill on Eccles
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
This infill is once again in the very modern boxy style common today. It is constructed from pre-made wafer panels that include the exterior sheathing, insulation, and interior sheathing . Is is on the north side of Eccles, between Booth and LeBreton. I am getting to like this style more and more. I much prefer it over the blah-design of so many infills made of plastic siding and low-slope asphalt shingle roofs. Design and quality matters. Does anyone know why Eccles Street is so often pronounced Eck-Less? Ever since I moved here 30 some years ago, it has puzzled me … Continue reading Infill on Eccles
Most of the photos in the previous posts on this cycling route showed the path in winter or early spring. That is not the most attractive time of year. Here are a few shots in summer, to show what a pleasant route the Cyclopiste de Preston could be for cyclists and pedestrians; for recreational, short-haul and commuter users; and for easy access to and from the Preston mainstreet. Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
Most of the photos in the previous posts on this cycling route showed the path in winter or early spring. That is not the most attractive time of year. Here are a few shots in summer, to show what a pleasant route the Cyclopiste de Preston could be for cyclists and pedestrians; for recreational, short-haul and commuter users; and for easy access to and from the Preston mainstreet. Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (vi)
From the turning circle where Young meets the Otrain cut, there is a convenient bridge over the train. Note the lack of curb dip on this end for cyclists (there is one at the other end of the bridge). A similar but wider and more friendly overpass is planned for Hickory Street, a few blocks south near the Otrain station at Carling Avenue. Looking south, the stonedust path passes between the backyards of houses and the Otrain cut. The path needs to be widened and re-covered with stone dust which is worn down to the mud in some spots. There … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
From the turning circle where Young meets the Otrain cut, there is a convenient bridge over the train. Note the lack of curb dip on this end for cyclists (there is one at the other end of the bridge). A similar but wider and more friendly overpass is planned for Hickory Street, a few blocks south near the Otrain station at Carling Avenue. Looking south, the stonedust path passes between the backyards of houses and the Otrain cut. The path needs to be widened and re-covered with stone dust which is worn down to the mud in some spots. There … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (v): Young to Carling
The Cyclopiste de Preston is a cycling arterial running from the Ottawa River – Bayview – under Somerset – cross Gladstone – under the Qway using an existing underpass – and joining the existing ill-maintained path running from Young Street along the Otrain corridor to Carling and then further south. The path is in the Official Cycling Plan, but since work started in 1962 has been stymied by lack of an underpass under Somerset street. Detailed design work for the underpass is underway now, as part of Somerset reconstruction. If enough people support the idea (tell your councillor!) the underpass … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young
The Cyclopiste de Preston is a cycling arterial running from the Ottawa River – Bayview – under Somerset – cross Gladstone – under the Qway using an existing underpass – and joining the existing ill-maintained path running from Young Street along the Otrain corridor to Carling and then further south. The path is in the Official Cycling Plan, but since work started in 1962 has been stymied by lack of an underpass under Somerset street. Detailed design work for the underpass is underway now, as part of Somerset reconstruction. If enough people support the idea (tell your councillor!) the underpass … Continue reading Cyclopiste de Preston (iv) Gladstone to Young
