Cohere Centre (former EY Centre) | Completed

[Kitchissippi]

I was thinking that instead of running the LRT to the airport, with this facility going in maybe a smaller scale version of Toronto's Pearson Airport LINK train would make better sense. It could run from the airport, stop at this expo centre and the hotel then continue to a new LRT station at Lester road or to even to South Keys. The Pearson set-up cost only $55 million, I imagine something smaller would be less, maybe just one track with one train going back and forth which could still provide 10 minute service over a 2 km route. The thing is cable driven, super quiet and cheap to run.

• Video Link

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I was thinking that instead of running the LRT to the airport, with this facility going in maybe a smaller scale version of Toronto's Pearson Airport LINK train would make better sense. It could run from the airport, stop at this expo centre and the hotel then continue to a new LRT station at Lester road or to even to South Keys. The Pearson set-up cost only $55 million, I imagine something smaller would be less, maybe just one track with one train going back and forth which could still provide 10 minute service over a 2 km route. The thing is cable driven, super quiet and cheap to run.

• Video Link

That's actually a really good, practical, fairly efficient and cost-effective idea. It has my support.

[Luker]

yea kudos to you kitch, pitch that to the city, and im sure enough of us would send supporting emails and comments.

[Ottawan]

If it could be done for as little as you say, I'm also all for it. I also feel there's no need to wait for the LRT, we should build it as soon as the design study & agreements with the airport can be completed and connect to South Keys.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Ottawan

If it could be done for as little as you say, I'm also all for it. I also feel there's no need to wait for the LRT, we should build it as soon as the design study & agreements with the airport can be completed and connect to South Keys.

Hmmm, a peoplemover system designed to connect airport terminals being implemented in this way? Who would ride this train? The buses are empty now and they go downtown.

Sorry, I am not in favour in developing a patchwork quilt of different rail technologies in this city. It is shortsighted.

As I recall, the estimates for building an airport LRT spur was $50 Million so it is no bargain.

[reidjr]

Did this get approved as of yet.

[Franky]

Originally Posted by reidjr

Did this get approved as of yet.

Unless they changed the agenda order, only the first item was discussed, so nothing about the exposition hall.

[Franky]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Hmmm, a peoplemover system designed to connect airport terminals being implemented in this way? Who would ride this train? The buses are empty now and they go downtown.

Sorry, I am not in favour in developing a patchwork quilt of different rail technologies in this city. It is shortsighted.

As I recall, the estimates for building an airport LRT spur was $50 Million so it is no bargain.

I agree. A solution that works seamlessly and that can take travellers directly to destination is needed, otherwise transit ridership will remain minimal and so won't justify the expense of servicing the airport.

[Acajack]

There have been persistent rumours that Gatineau is looking to build something like this relatively close to downtown (it has more available land downtown than Ottawa does). So it may be a question of Ottawa trying to move quickly before it gets scooped by the people across the river.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Acajack

There have been persistent rumours that Gatineau is looking to build something like this relatively close to downtown (it has more available land downtown than Ottawa does). So it may be a question of Ottawa trying to move quickly before it gets scooped by the people across the river.

Regardless of our personal opinions, a lot of people in Ottawa will not drive across the river to attend events and that will include trade shows. I have heard it time and again. Ottawa trade shows should take place in Ottawa to maximize their success.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Regardless of our personal opinions, a lot of people in Ottawa will not drive across the river to attend events and that will include trade shows. I have heard it time and again. Ottawa trade shows should take place in Ottawa to maximize their success.

I am not going to dispute this at all (and I actually make the same observation every once in a while in this forum). But you can't blame Gatineau for trying.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I am not going to dispute this at all (and I actually make the same observation every once in a while in this forum). But you can't blame Gatineau for trying.

Fair comment. Gatineau's biggest coup was building the casino and turning it into the area's biggest tourist attraction.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Fair comment. Gatineau's biggest coup was building the casino and turning it into the area's biggest tourist attraction.

Indeed. You do hear some people dissing the casino and gambling but the truth is Ottawa would have loved to have a casino like this in its downtown.

[waterloowarrior]

Spacing: Should “greening” Lansdowne mean paving the Greenbelt?

Here is a picture of the Airport's Land Use Plan

[waterloowarrior]

environmentalists opposed to the plan
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2010/09/21/ott-greenbelt-fight-tradeshow.html

[waterloowarrior]

Trade show centre won't include hotel

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Trade+show+centre+include+hotel/3532024/story.html
THE OTTAWA CITIZEN SEPTEMBER 16, 2010


The new trade show and exhibition space to be built near the airport will not include a hotel after the city's committee of adjustment voted in favour of the project's builder.

Shenkman Corp. has proposed to build a 150,000 square foot trade-show space near the airport, but, under the city's zoning bylaws, such a facility would be allowed only if it was located in an airport passenger terminal or a hotel.

Shenkman filed for a minor variance in order to build the facility without a hotel on the property. The committee of adjustment approved the variance in a unanimous vote on Wednesday evening.

Kevin McCrann, president of Shenkman, said building the hotel would not constitute sound planning since the existing Hilton Garden Inn was just across the street from where the trade show centre would be built.

McCrann said the approved variance would free up about five acres at the back of the property. He added that he did not know what the company would do with that land at this point.

Environmental groups voiced their concerns about the facility at the meeting, stating that the land where it would be built contained at risk species and wetlands.

McCrann said the facility was important for the city.

"This is a much needed piece of infrastructure," he said. "Ottawa is far behind in providing this type of space."

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Missed this one from last week.

I heard one of the environmentalists interviewed on the CBC this morning. Unfortunately there does not seem to be a complete understanding of the minor variance process and environmental assessments as well, at least based on some other things I've read about their arguments. But maybe that's the fault of the planning system, which does have a lot of disconnected processes and technicalities that can make it difficult for effective opposition of a development proposal (e.g. "site plan issue")


here's the site plan application

[Dado]

"Kevin McCrann, president of Shenkman, said building the hotel would not constitute sound planning since the existing Hilton Garden Inn was just across the street from where the trade show centre would be built."

Sound planning? That's rich. Wouldn't sound planning call for it to be put on the other side of the street with the hotel and nearer the future LRT alignment?

Oh well. I suppose trade show attendees holed up in the hotel can take a scenic walk along Alert, under the Airport Parkway and across the parking lot to the exposition hall.


I won't comment on the wetland issue beyond pointing out that the area does have a creek/drain running through it, so the claim is at least plausible:

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&geo...hua3LZhxHNxdBgQ-7tyrQ&cbp=12,272.84,,0,5

Regardless of the merits of the wetland argument, the expanse of parking in what is at least a woodlot is disappointing. This is pretty much the same as every other suburban commercial/retail development: an isolated building accompanied by masses of surface parking.

[eternallyme]

I don't oppose development there at all, but I would personally build it on the other side of the Airport Parkway (connecting to a potential transit station) with a large parking garage instead of surface parking. The rest of the space would be ideal for hotels and other such amenities.

[Cre47]

There's a report template document in relation to the project and will be on the agenda of next week's P&E committee.

My wishful thinking (and to avoid all this environmental revolt) was to have it at Limebank Road near Leitrim, but it would (I guess for them) be too far from the terminal and on the other side of the runways. But then Limebank would be too far from rapid transit.

http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/cit...%20Plan%20-%204899%20Uplands%20Drive.htm

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Cre47

There's a report template document in relation to the project and will be on the agenda of next week's P&E committee.

My wishful thinking (and to avoid all this environmental revolt) was to have it at Limebank Road near Leitrim, but it would (I guess for them) be too far from the terminal and on the other side of the runways. But then Limebank would be too far from rapid transit.

http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/cit...%20Plan%20-%204899%20Uplands%20Drive.htm

Given that there will be a sidewalk built to connect with both northbound and southbound traffic on the Airport Pkwy, I wonder if the city should also request a portion of the parking lot for use as a park-n-ride on weekdays. It would have direct access to the #97 which runs 24hrs a day.