Parking in Ottawa/Gatineau
 

Hey everyone

I'm looking to purchase a condo in Hintonburg, near the Parkdale market, and wanted to know if anyone lives there and has experience with street parking in the area? Are there many spots available for cars with city permits? What about parking lots?

Thanks for the input. Apologies if this is in the wrong section.

There several official lots (e.g., on Hinton Ave) and unofficial lots (harder-to-see paved-over backyards) within a couple of blocks of the Parkdale Market. Most side streets have on-street parking, but it's limited to 1-3 hours during the day, and overnight parking bans are in effect whenever there's a decent snow fall in the winter, so you'll need a plan B if you want to rely on the street for full-time, year-round parking. Or be prepared for tickets from time to time.

I assume you are trying to decide if you should buy a parking spot. Keep in mind it is about $700 a year for the on street permit. Realtors will tell you resale is harder without parking, but I think that is not necessarily true anymore. Honestly with Ottawa's weather one of the best things about living in a Condo is having indoor attached parking and if you won't be using your car much it will be especially useful. There are almost always spots available for rent.

this thread is pretty on point; the Councillor just posted this yesterday: http://kitchissippiward.ca/content/kitchissippi-parking-strategy-final-recommendations-next-steps

Thanks for the replies! Yes, I'm debating whether or not I should purchase a parking spot or if I can get away with a street permit or parking lot. My biggest concern with parking lots is that they will likely get bought out by a developer over time, and parking options will become even more limited.

I lived at a rental apartment with no parking spot and no street parking permit for a year, in the inner urban area. It was a pain. I'd have to keep an eye on the parking time limit all the time. This is not as much of a deal in the suburbs, as there's more street parking & less enforcement.

Would you want to deal with that all the time? If you buy a spot, perhaps you can rent it out if you want. If you decide to rent it out all the time, consider what your return on investment would be -- how long would it take to recoup the cost of buying that parking spot.

Amid parking woes, Westboro, Hintonburg main drag to continue offering free parking

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: March 7, 2017 | Last Updated: March 7, 2017 3:48 PM EST

Paid parking on Westboro and Hintonburg’s main drag may have solved some of the neighbourhoods’ parking woes, but local businesses and community associations wouldn’t go for it, says Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper.

On-street parking along Somerset, Wellington West and Richmond often exceeds practical capacity, meaning more than 85 per cent of available spots are taken. The situation causes congestion and forces drivers to hunt for spaces on residential side streets.

In particular, Richmond Road west of Tweedsmuir Avenue and Wellington Street west of Parkdale Avenue are among the highest demand locations for on-street parking in Ottawa.

Leiper said he was open to the possibility of introducing paid parking along the corridor to encourage more turnover and noted data collected during a two-year parking study confirmed such a measure could be a possible solution. Paid on-street parking is already a reality on Bank Street, Preston Street and in the ByWard Market.

But reaching the necessary consensus among the BIAs and community associations to make the change wasn’t possible, so paid parking won’t be recommended in Kitchissippi’s new parking strategy, which is slated for consideration next month by the transportation committee.

There is a “good body of literature” on how to use pricing to alleviate some of the pressure caused by parking demand, but Leiper said some were reticent to accept it.

“Even though we have spent quite a while talking with residents and businesses about what that literature demonstrates, I think people are still being guided by their gut. People don’t like to pay for parking and so the assumption becomes, ‘If I don’t want to pay for parking, then others won’t either,'” he said.

Some business owners feared the introduction of paid parking would “dissuade people from visiting their shops and they’ll go to places where there is free parking available,” he said.

The Wellington West BIA opposed paid parking, while the Westboro BIA came out in favour of it, Leiper said. Paid parking on the commercial strip is one of the city’s preconditions for getting a parking garage, which many in Westboro believe would further help alleviate parking problems.

Three out of four affected community associations also opposed paid parking.

Westboro has seen a huge increase in on-street parking demand.

Utilization in the peak period, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., was 65 per cent in 1997; last year it was 92 per cent. Average utilization is also up to 82 per cent from 49 per cent in 1997.

Parking is the No. 1 concern for people coming to the area by car. The majority of drivers surveyed say they found a space in Westboro in less than five minutes, but it took most people between five and 10 minutes to find a space in Wellington West.

In 2015, nearly 10,000 tickets were handed out on Wellington West, plus an additional 5,800 tickets in Westboro.

Instead of paid parking on Somerset, Wellington West and Richmond, the report will make a number of other recommendations, including:

Westboro

• Implement a 90-minute maximum parking time limit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. along Richmond Road, seven days a week
• Add new on-street parking spaces on Madison and Kirkwood avenues
• Install signs directing motorists to the Westboro Station parking garage off Byron Avenue
• Pursue paid parking along Danforth Avenue at a rate of $1.50 per hour (for a maximum of three hours)

Wellington West

• On Wellington between Island Park and Parkdale, maintain the 90-minute time limit but extend it to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week
• On Wellington between Parkdale and Garland, reduce to a 90-minute time limit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week
• On Somerset between Garland and the O-Train tracks, reduce to a 90-minute time limit from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week
• On streets with paid parking, reduce the hourly rate from $3 to $1.50 and increase time limits on Holland Avenue from one to two hours and on Spencer Street and Hamilton Avenue for two to three hours
• Remove paid parking on Holland on Saturdays
• Install signs to promote the city-owned lot at the Parkdale Market

The report will also request additional enforcement of time limits and overtime parking along Richmond, Wellington West and Somerset, as well as at no parking zones located on Huron and Hinton avenues immediately north of Wellington Street West.

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http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...n-drag-to-continue-offering-free-parking

I was so turned off by the one hour parking limit in Westboro, that I avoid going there. I told the local City Councillor that who couldn't care less. So, I take my money elsewhere.

And now they propose changing to 90 minutes, per the post above yours - does that address your concern?

Any other "destination" in Ottawa and you are generally paying for parking.

On the occasion, I was eating in a restaurant, 60 minutes was ridiculous. 90 minutes is better, but in my case, the damage is done. I won't be going back.

Fine, if it is a real destination, I will pay. But give me reasonable time to conduct my business.

The only place I visit on Richmond/Wellington is MEC. Not going anywhere else while street parking is free, unless I absolutely must to.
Why should I be worrying about the time limit and why should I be circling around looking for the free parking spot?

Free parking in a shopping district is a backward policy and an embarrassment to the city.

The damage is done? You were rushed at lunch once? Must be nice for this to be the problem you're having.

How about a hybrid system? Make the first 30 minutes of parking free. Longer than that and you have to pay for it (the length can be adjusted depending on the area).

This would keep parking free for people making short stops at local stores and doing errands, but help free up some parking spaces by incentivizing people not to park longer than necessary. At the same time it does give people the option to stay for longer if they feel they need to or if they are doing something that will take longer, like going for diner.

I see your point but I really doubt you really avoid shopping there because of free parking. On a sunny Saturday it's actually easier to find a free spot within a block or two of Wellington than finding a paid spot in the Market for example.

The problem I see is the city has no options between 1 hour free parking and $3 an hour parking. MEC has a good compromise with $1 for an hour parking. I know it might be complicated but I would argue they should add meters to Wellington and other borderline parking areas. Maybe even raise the rates in very busy and in demand areas like the market.

Transportation committee to review rules for free on-street parking

Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: April 5, 2017 | Last Updated: April 5, 2017 3:26 PM EDT

Free parking has prevailed on Westboro and Hintonburg’s main drag — for now — but the transportation committee on Wednesday vowed to review criteria for introducing paid parking and consider scrapping the veto currently held by neighbourhood business and community associations.

An exhaustive two-year parking study of Somerset, Wellington West and Richmond concluded that adding parking meters along the corridor would be one way to solve parking woes along the popular shopping and dining strip.

On-street parking often exceeds practical capacity, the study found, meaning more than 85 per cent of available spots are taken. The situation causes congestion and forces drivers to hunt for spaces on residential side streets. In particular, Richmond Road west of Tweedsmuir Avenue and Wellington Street west of Parkdale Avenue are among the highest demand locations for on-street parking in Ottawa.

Relying on a “good body of literature” on how pricing can alleviate some of the pressure caused by parking demand, the ward’s councillor, Jeff Leiper, was open to introducing paid on-street parking, which is already a reality on Bank Street, Preston Street and in the ByWard Market.

The committee heard the lack of paid parking in one part of the city is hurting businesses in another.

“You guys have a freebie and we don’t,” said Andre Schad. “It’s costing us.”

Schad, who owns Schad Boutique on Sussex Drive, said several businesses have moved to Westboro from the ByWard Market, where he claims enforcement of on-street parking is stiffer. He added the proliferation of bars and restaurants in the market, which has been raised as a concern by some, is due to the departure of retail shops who can no longer afford the rents.

“We’re just looking for an equal playing field for all retailers in the city.”

Paid parking wasn’t recommended by city staff in Kitchissippi’s new parking strategy because there was no consensus among the business improvement and community associations, which is required to make such a change. The Westboro Village BIA and Hampton Iona Community Association were both on board, but the Wellington West BIA, Westboro, Wellington Village and Hintonburg community associations all opposed paid parking.

Instead, the report proposes a number of other recommendations, such as harmonizing the maximum parking limit along Somerset, Wellington West and Richmond to 90 minutes between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., seven days a week.

Because the necessary consensus wasn’t reached — despite the fact city staff concluded paid parking was warranted according to the city’s parking management strategy — there was no easy way for the committee or council to overrule.

Staff was directed to “review the oversight” of the parking management strategy as part of the end-of-term governance review coming up in late 2018.

Reviewing the process could remove the veto BIAs, community associations and councillors currently have, establish consistent rules and set clear criteria for when paid parking is introduced on a street, Leiper said after the meeting.

“Let’s take the politics out of paid parking.”

If the process ultimately changes, paid parking could come to Kitchissippi sooner rather than later, Leiper said.

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http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...-review-rules-for-free-on-street-parking

Swapping parking for bike lanes: 'What the hell kind of sense does this make?'

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: April 21, 2017 | Last Updated: April 21, 2017 11:11 AM EDT

The potential removal of nearly 100 on-street parking spots so a councillor can blaze a trail for safe cycling in the city has some Wellington West residents asking for help from the mayor and demanding more consultation.

The drama centres on a 600-metre stretch of Spencer Street, between Western and Holland avenues. The residential street is one block north of the Wellington Street West commercial strip.

The city has upgraded the underground pipes and sewers and it’s time to finish the road reconstruction and landscaping.

Spencer Street is suggested as connector route for cyclists in the official Ottawa-Gatineau cycling map, but the city isn’t required to add bike infrastructure to the street.

However, Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper is promoting a new road design that would paint bike lanes on both sides of the street, resulting in the loss of 97 on-street parking spaces.

Incensed residents and business owners have been signing petitions and writing to Mayor Jim Watson, demanding the retention of on-street parking.

“I was shocked,” Ron Elliott said. “The street had just been narrowed in order to expand the width of the sidewalk. I thought, what the hell kind of sense does this make?”

Elliott, whose house is at the corner of Spencer Street and Ross Avenue, said homeowners caught wind of the plan last year and those who oppose the design are pushing Leiper to change it.

“I think the guy works really hard for the community, but I don’t like the fact that he’s pushing his vision for what he thinks is best for the neighbourhood,” said Connor Grimes, whose lives across from Elliott. “It should be for the businesses and the community to decide.”

Leiper acknowledged that he’s trying to push the envelope when it comes to cycling infrastructure, even amid vocal opposition.

“I want to go further than what the policies are,” Leiper said.

According to Leiper, city staff aren’t opposed to the bike lanes, so it’s pretty much up to him to provide a final direction before the road work begins.

Leiper said cycling on Spencer Street is a good way to avoid Wellington Street and a more efficient route than pedalling to the bike path on Scott Street. The city should be making it easier for people to cycle in neighbourhoods and make the streets safer for everyone, Leiper said.

But Elliott and Grimes, who both bike, don’t believe there’s a danger for cyclists on Spencer Street. Homeowners like the on-street parking for visitors and service providers, they said.

Parking controversies tend to consume the Wellington West community.

The city had to remove a bike corral from Wellington Street in 2014 after receiving complaints about the structure taking up parking for cars.

Earlier this year, a city study suggested paid parking is warranted on Wellington Street and Richmond Road to encourage vehicle turnover. There was pushback from the BIAs and community associations, so the city stuck with the status quo.

The analysis by the city shows mostly low demand for parking on Spencer Street during peak times, but on-street parking demand on Wellington Street West west of Parkdale Avenue is among the highest in Ottawa.

The Wellington West BIA doesn’t have a position on the potential loss of parking on Spencer Street, especially since the street is in the residential area on the BIA boundary.

“The heart of this issue is around consultation,” BIA executive director Zachary Dayler said.

Some individual businesses owners are annoyed, though.

Linda Greenberg of Capital City Luggage said losing parking is a “big concern” for merchants, since ultimately there will be less parking for customers.

At the same time, cycling advocates think it’s an opportunity for the city to make a statement on the importance of cycling infrastructure.

Gareth Davies, president of Citizens for Safe Cycling, said Wellington Street isn’t a safe route for cyclists, which makes Spencer Street a good alternative.

“It’s something that we worked on to get the plans to where they are now,” Davies said.

Leiper said he’ll be listening to arguments and potential compromises from both sides of the issue during an open house Tuesday. The open house will be at the Ottawa Mosque’s Hall of Peace at 241 Northwestern Ave. from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“I’m prepared to move ahead or drop it,” Leiper said.

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http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...at-the-hell-kind-of-sense-does-this-make

While I am generally supportive of more biking infrastructure, I have to admit I don't see a huge point to putting bike lanes on Spencer Street.

The road itself is a residential street without very high traffic. Bikers aren't in a huge danger from taking this road like they would be on a main street. The bike path at Scott Street is a block north. Spencer St. isn't very long, it doesn't fill in a significant gap in the city's cycling infrastructure or connect anywhere major where there aren't already alternatives.

I can see the desire to have an alternative to cycling on Wellington, but again I don't see it as being long enough to be worthwhile. Maybe if they extended the bike lanes across the Somerset bridge until the street changes to Wellington and then added bike lanes to Armstrong that would be worthwhile, but on its own I don't think it covers a big enough distance to be worth it.

There is a plan for Armstrong where Spencer is a further extension West.

There are plans for Armstrong to become more of Complete Street/ woonerf with retail and more residences. Jeff Leiper can probably extrapolate on this plan, but there will be a bike lane along Armstrong to the Parkdale Market, and then there will be a detour one block north to Spencer to continue to Island Park Drive.

The best option would be for both Wellington/Somerset and Scott Street to have segregated bike lanes, but that is unlikely. Spencer and Armstrong as parallel streets provide a much slower and safer route for cyclists getting to the commercial main streets.

While the article claims 97 parking spots will be lost, the actual number of spots in use is fairly low (almost single digits). Removing parking on Spencer won't negatively affect businesses or residents, and even if it's painted, the bike lane provides an identifiable space for cyclists to use, especially considering it is a pretty commonly-used alternate route for cyclists. I might use Scott to get from Westboro to Spencer or even Hintonburg, but without SBL Scott is not very safe. As such, when I can I use Scott and Byron.

These bike lanes will also be cheap to construct, as it's just a matter of painting the asphalt. If we get a more "official" bike lane like Laurier, O'Connor, Churchill in the area, it can be converted to something else (maybe a sidewalk on the South side). But that won't happen until we build bike lanes on Wellington/ Richmond, which won't be happening.

Jeff Leiper might want to weigh in as he might have more information on the plans than me. But for now, I think it's a good plan for the time being.

Holland Avenue could use bike lanes though!