Parliament Hill Rehabilitation Project

[Richard Eade]

Based on the West Block, I wonder if they shouldn't glass over the courtyards in the Center Block also.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by SkeggsEggs

What are those parking lots for in the top left?

Parliament staff. I used to park there in my previous life as a Hill staffer.

[J.OT13]

Why did they decide now, after 18 years, to rebuild the Centennial Flame to include Nunavut. Wouldn't they want the Flame on display for the city's big year? Same goes for the Post Officer on Sparks at Elgin.

[Kitchissippi]

I suppose the Centennial Flame was considered a heritage snapshot of 1967 and the sesquicentennial presented the best excuse to modify it. Maybe they'll rededicate it as the Sesquicentennial Flame?

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Why did they decide now, after 18 years, to rebuild the Centennial Flame to include Nunavut. Wouldn't they want the Flame on display for the city's big year? Same goes for the Post Officer on Sparks at Elgin.

Thanks! I was wondering why it was under construction and also never noticed Nunavut wasn't on it!

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Capital embarrassment.
Just like those portable shacks by the Parliament Library on the right that have been sitting there for at least 15 years. Wonder if they are finally gone once renovations are complete.

I have never met anyone before who was embarrassed by those parking lots.

What's embarrassing about them?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Richard Eade

Based on the West Block, I wonder if they shouldn't glass over the courtyards in the Center Block also.

I think it's almost criminal what happened to the West Block courtyard.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I have never met anyone before who was embarrassed by those parking lots.

What's embarrassing about them?

Seems like a sub-optimal use of waterfront land.

[roger1818]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Seems like a sub-optimal use of waterfront land.

Agreed, but the term embarrassment is a bit of an exaggeration. Don't complain too loudly or someone will propose spending billions of taxpayers money excavating an underground parking lot under parliament hill and then billions more on security to ensure it isn't used by terrorists.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by roger1818

Agreed, but the term embarrassment is a bit of an exaggeration. Don't complain too loudly or someone will propose spending billions of taxpayers money excavating an underground parking lot under parliament hill and then billions more on security to ensure it isn't used by terrorists.

Public servants who work downtown are mostly expected to procure parking from the private sector or take transit. Not sure why Parliament has a different policy.

[mykl]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I think it's almost criminal what happened to the West Block courtyard.

Why? Its self-supporting, temporary, and invisible from the ground.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by mykl

Why? Its self-supporting, temporary, and invisible from the ground.

Is it? I thought it would be permanent (the space, not the temporary use).

[Kitchissippi]

Those courtyards, especially the ones in the Centre Block are pretty grim spaces. They weren't really built for people to hang out in, more for light and ventilation at a time when kerosene lamps were common and air conditioning was non-existent.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Seems like a sub-optimal use of waterfront land.

It's pretty vertically separated from the waterfront due to the relief.

I don't think it's especially embarrassing, and given that there are several thousand people who work on Parliament Hill on a "sitting" day, and not all of them can use other modes of transportation, those who drive do have to park somewhere.

The lot I find embarrassing is the one that replaced the old "temp" next to Confederation and Justice Buildings.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by mykl

Why? Its self-supporting, temporary, and invisible from the ground.

The loss of the courtyard itself: it was a good schmoozing spot on the lobby circuit back in the day!

I don't think it's temporary. The roof and the interiorization of the former courtyard is going to be repurposed for Parliamentary committees or some such after the temporary HoC chamber has been rendered surplus.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Those courtyards, especially the ones in the Centre Block are pretty grim spaces. They weren't really built for people to hang out in, more for light and ventilation at a time when kerosene lamps were common and air conditioning was non-existent.

AFAIK the Centre Block ones are unpopulated, yes. But the East Block court and the former West Block one is (was) available for political schmoozing use. MPs, Senators, various Parliamentary and lobby groups, etc., would often hold events, especially during "silly season" of May and June.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

It's pretty vertically separated from the waterfront due to the relief.

I don't think it's especially embarrassing, and given that there are several thousand people who work on Parliament Hill on a "sitting" day, and not all of them can use other modes of transportation, those who drive do have to park somewhere.

The lot I find embarrassing is the one that replaced the old "temp" next to Confederation and Justice Buildings.

Lots of cities manage to deal with vertical separation (Québec, Seattle) without the waterfront looking like a suburban Walmart.

As I said earlier, it is unclear to me why parliament has a different parking policy than the public service. Especially since the current gang in charge claims to be concerned about climate change.

[Catenary]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Lots of cities manage to deal with vertical separation (Québec, Seattle) without the waterfront looking like a suburban Walmart.

As I said earlier, it is unclear to me why parliament has a different parking policy than the public service. Especially since the current gang in charge claims to be concerned about climate change.

There's a difference between separation though, and a significant cliff that basically ends in the river at the bottom. There's barely room for the MUP along the river, and it spends part of the year underwater.

That parking lot is basically invisible from both Wellington Street and the river. It's probably not the best use of the land, but it's not high on my list of things that need to be fixed either.

[J.OT13]

According to this, they plan on eventually enclosing the East Block courtyard, eliminate the parking lots and build 3 new buildings on Parliament Hill.


http://www.csla-aapc.ca/awards-atlas/par...-capacity-and-long-term-development-plan

Of course, this might be another 150 years down the line.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Lots of cities manage to deal with vertical separation (Québec, Seattle) without the waterfront looking like a suburban Walmart.

As I said earlier, it is unclear to me why parliament has a different parking policy than the public service. Especially since the current gang in charge claims to be concerned about climate change.

I see exactly zero resemblance between "the Pits" and a Walmart.