Lansdowne Park Public Consultations

This info is from the office of MPP Yasir Naqvi:

As you know, Ottawa City Council is currently considering a proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Park.

Situated at the heart of Ottawa for over a hundred years, the redevelopment of Lansdowne will be a key defining moment in the history of our city. This project is overflowing with potential, and if done carefully, could breathe new life into our city by increasing tourism, sport and community. This is really our opportunity to shine as a community and a National Capital – to build something truly worthy of the history and prestige of this site.

As you may know, the proposal and process for the Lansdowne redevelopment has been cloaked in controversy and secrecy for months. However, the City is now undertaking to expose the project and involve residents in the planning process through public consultation sessions to take place over the next two weeks. This is an important opportunity for all Ottawans to get involved and voice their opinions and visions for Lansdowne. Whether you live in the Glebe, Nepean, Orleans or Vanier, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park will have an impact on your community and your city.

I encourage you to participate in the consultations taking place in your community. I also ask you to please spread the word to your friends, families and neighbours and ask them to participate as well. To be truly representative of the life and character of our city, we need everyone to participate in the consultations taking place.

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The consultation in our ward will be held:

Monday, October 5, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tom Brown Arena, Hall
141 Bayview Road

Reminder!

Help shape your community and please consider attending.

The Westboro Community Association AGM will be at 7:00-9:00 pm on Tuesday September 22, 2009 at the Churchill Seniors Centre (345 Richmond Rd.)

It’s a perfect opportunity to renew your memberships and let the Board know about the neighborhood issues which are affecting you today. Is it traffic? Green space? Development? Safety?

Our guest speaker, Constable Maria Keene, will speak about the community safety plan.

Hope to see you there!

The 2009 WCA Annual General Meeting

This year’s AGM has been scheduled for:

7:00-9:00 pm on Tuesday September 22, 2009  at the Churchill Seniors Centre (345 Richmond Rd.)

This is your opportunity to meet the Board (and find out what has been keeping us busy all year), renew your membership, and stand for a board position* as well.

Our guest speaker this year is Constable Maria Keen, the community police officer for Westboro.

More details to follow!

* Please let us know by September 18th if you plan on standing for the  Board. Email  (hellowestboro@yahoo.ca) your contact info, a short bio, and tell us about any relevant experience.  Thank you!

Public Notice: Review of the Rate Structure for Drinking Water, Sanitary and Storm Water Services

The City of Ottawa is hosting five information sessions around the city.

View a PDF of the notice for more information.

Westboro Collection open house

Edited to add: Introductions & open forum begin at 7:00 pm

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This latest open house is concerning the mixed-use development of McRae Avenue. Come see the latest plans and talk to the people behind this development.

Embassy West Hotel
(downstairs in the Canada Salon)
1400 Carling Avenue
Monday, September 14, 2009
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Introductions & open forum begin at 7:00 pm

Check out the official Westboro Collection website here.

Churchill Ave. reconstruction open house – August 25

Tuesday, August 25, 2009 7 – 9 p.m.
Dovercourt Recreational Centre, Assembly Hall,
411 Dovercourt Avenue, Ottawa

The City of Ottawa is completing the detailed design of Phase 1 or Churchill Avenue/Scott Street and intends to undertake the construction of Scott Street from Churchill Avenue to 130 m east of Winona Avenue starting in the Fall 2009 with completion end of November 2009 and construction of Churchill Avenue from Scott Street to Byron Avenue starting end of April 2010 with completion end of November 2010.

The work currently identified includes new curbs, sidewalks and road structure, rehabilitation of the watermain, sanitary sewers and storm sewers, surface drainage improvements, streetscaping and street lighting/traffic signal control modifications. The project also provides an opportunity to implement identified traffic calming measures, improvements to transit service, and other features deemed beneficial to the project.

The project was approved as a Schedule “B” project under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment October 2000, as amended in 2007.

This project is partially funded by the Infrastructure Canada Infrastructure Stimulus Fund and the Province of Ontario.

The purpose of this open house is to present the detailed design, traffic management strategy and streetscape plan developed by the design team.

Representatives from the City, Consultant and the Ward Councillor will be available to discuss the project and answer your questions. Your input is an important part of the consultation process.

Please note, if you can’t make the meeting you can submit comments by Tuesday  September 1, 2009

For more information and/or to submit comments, please contact:

Edson Donnelly, C.E.T.
Senior Project Manager
Novatech Engineering Consultants Ltd.
200-240 Michael Cowpland Drive
Ottawa, ON K2M 1P6
Telephone: 613-254-9643
Fax: 613-254-5867
E-mail: e.donnelly@novatech-eng.com

or

Todd Penfound, C.E.T.,
Project Manager
Construction Services (West)
City of Ottawa
100 Constellation Crescent, 6th Floor,
Ottawa, ON K2G 6J8
Phone: 613-580-2424, ext. 16005
Fax: 613-580-2587
E-mail: todd.penfound@ottawa.ca

Insider scoop

A little bird told us what’s going into the old Westboro Market storefront at Richmond Road at Winston:

It’s going to be a Dairy Queen.

changes to OC Transpo service

The final changes to OC Transpo service in the Westboro area are now available online.  They go into effect on September 6.

Pending sale of Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent

If you’ve lived in the Westboro area for any length of time you’re probably already familiar with Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent at 114 Richmond Road. It is a major historical fixture in our neighborhood.

The 19th-century building is up for sale. A brochure from the real estate company DTZ Barnicke is marketing the property as a “simply extraordinary development opportunity.”

This article at CBC.ca has more information about the building and the issue of its sale.

Here is how an August 15th editorial in the Citizen described it (you can read it in its entirety here):

“According to architect and heritage critic Barry Padolsky who is one of the few members of the public to tour the grounds, entering the site at 114 Richmond Rd. just west of Island Park Drive, is like going into a different world; more like being in Europe than in one of the trendiest parts of Ottawa. And the convent, according to Padolsky, is like the jewel in the crown of the property. It is full of art. The building is an unknown treasure in the community.”

Heritage staff have visited the site and are currently researching the history of the property with a view to recommending heritage designation in a report to LACAC, PEC and Council in October. Councillor Leadman has provided her support for the heritage designation of this site.

We’ve been fielding quite a few emails about this and will be posting updates as we get them, but in the meantime we love to hear from our community. Is it or is it not important to hold on to our architectural history? Use the comments area to let us know what you think about its proposed sale and heritage designation.

Tonight!

… Friday August 7th is family movie night at Iona Park. The Hampton-Iona Community Group is hosting a showing of Madagascar.

• Show starts at dusk
• There will be popcorn and refreshments
• Bring your blanket!