Vanier Community Centre [250 Montreal Rd] | ?m | 12f | Proposed - Page 3

kevinbottawa · #41 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 1:22 PM**

Up until a few months ago I hated Montreal Road but when I got rid of my car a few months ago and started walking and busing everywhere I've grown to really like it. Looking forward to seeing how the street is transformed in the next 10 years. Anyone here think Vanier will eventually become an extension of downtown or at least be considered "uptown"?

kwoldtimer · #42 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 1:42 PM**

Has there been any word lately about the apartment developments planned at Montreal Rd and Vanier Pkwy?

FutureWickedCity · #43 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 2:28 PM**

It definitely has some flavour and a lot of potential. Keep: the Bingo Hall, the cheap diners, the Asian supermarket. Lose: the pawn shops, the money marts, the dive bars.

Multi-modal · #44 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 2:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureWickedCity

It definitely has some flavour and a lot of potential. Keep: the Bingo Hall, the cheap diners, the Asian supermarket. Lose: the pawn shops, the money marts, the dive bars.

Keep some dive bars

kwoldtimer · #45 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 2:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureWickedCity

It definitely has some flavour and a lot of potential. Keep: the Bingo Hall, the cheap diners, the Asian supermarket. Lose: the pawn shops, the money marts, the dive bars.

I always figure that mall site is prime for redevelopment.

JHikka · #46 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 2:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I always figure that mall site is prime for redevelopment.

I agree. The bingo hall and its parking lot is prime space for a large, high-density development. It's really not that far from Rideau/Market/Hill.

acottawa · #47 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 4:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Up until a few months ago I hated Montreal Road but when I got rid of my car a few months ago and started walking and busing everywhere I've grown to really like it. Looking forward to seeing how the street is transformed in the next 10 years. Anyone here think Vanier will eventually become an extension of downtown or at least be considered "uptown"?

I doubt it, it is too geographically isolated.

pico · #48 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:06 PM**

Perhaps the LeBreton fiasco might help Montreal road see more development in the short term. I realize they are on quite different scales, but Vanier may have the cheapest real estate close to downtown, with lots of prime spots for (re-)development. With the renewal of Montreal road and the stalling at LeBreton, I suspect that some investors will start to look at Vanier for short term opportunities.

One of the main problems with Montreal road remains shitty transit, alas.

rocketphish · #49 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Has there been any word lately about the apartment developments planned at Montreal Rd and Vanier Pkwy?

Watch this space:
https://www.skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?p=7753242#post7753242

rocketphish · #50 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

I always figure that mall site is prime for redevelopment.

Osgoode Properties thought so too a few years ago, but then it all went quiet.
http://vaniernow.blogspot.com/2013/09/plans-for-eastview-shopping-centre-site.html

Uhuniau · #51 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FutureWickedCity

It definitely has some flavour and a lot of potential. Keep: the Bingo Hall, the cheap diners, the Asian supermarket. Lose: the pawn shops, the money marts, the dive bars.

Move: the bingo hall and Asian supermarket tighter to the street as redevelopment opportunities arise.

(Ditto on Beechwood with Metro and that awful parking lot out front.)

Uhuniau · #52 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

I doubt it, it is too geographically isolated.

The "urban" or easily urbanizable portion of Montreal Road (west of, say, Notre-Dame cemetery) is 4km or less from the Peace Tower, which is as close as all of Bank Street in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe, and all of Somerset-Wellington-Richmond east of Island Park.

What's keeping Vanier down is really just two things: rampant classism, and its cousin-in-law, official Ottawa's neglect and apathy towards "poor" neighbourhoods.

Uhuniau · #53 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 6:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pico

Perhaps the LeBreton fiasco might help Montreal road see more development in the short term. I realize they are on quite different scales, but Vanier may have the cheapest real estate close to downtown, with lots of prime spots for (re-)development. With the renewal of Montreal road and the stalling at LeBreton, I suspect that some investors will start to look at Vanier for short term opportunities.

One of the main problems with Montreal road remains shitty transit, alas.

A problem for which there is not only no appetite to solve, but an official policy to make things worse - and to divert and encourage new and re-development along an LRT that is essentially suburban in purpose and form.

acottawa · #54 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 7:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The "urban" or easily urbanizable portion of Montreal Road (west of, say, Notre-Dame cemetery) is 4km or less from the Peace Tower, which is as close as all of Bank Street in Old Ottawa South and the Glebe, and all of Somerset-Wellington-Richmond east of Island Park.

What's keeping Vanier down is really just two things: rampant classism, and its cousin-in-law, official Ottawa's neglect and apathy towards "poor" neighbourhoods.

Places like Mechanicsvillle were just as “poor” as Vanier a few years ago. Vanier to downtown is a crappy walk, bike ride, bus ride or drive, and it is not easily accessed from nearby neighbourhoods.

kevinbottawa · #55 Posted **Nov 27, 2018, 11:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

Places like Mechanicsvillle were just as “poor” as Vanier a few years ago. Vanier to downtown is a crappy walk, bike ride, bus ride or drive, and it is not easily accessed from nearby neighbourhoods.

I don't know what you're basing that on but I don't agree with that at all. I live on McArthur and my family and I walk to downtown all the time, whether it's my wife going to school, me going to a meeting, or all of us spending a day downtown. And with the new bike lanes on McArthur and the Adawe Bridge I imagine riding a bike downtown is a lot easier. And while the bus service can suck sometimes I wouldn't call it a crappy bus ride or drive.

acottawa · #56 Posted **Nov 28, 2018, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I don't know what you're basing that on but I don't agree with that at all. I live on McArthur and my family and I walk to downtown all the time, whether it's my wife going to school, me going to a meeting, or all of us spending a day downtown. And with the new bike lanes on McArthur and the Adawe Bridge I imagine riding a bike downtown is a lot easier. And while the bus service can suck sometimes I wouldn't call it a crappy bus ride or drive.

If you genuinely think that’s a nice walk, particularly in comparison to other neighbourhoods then we have very different definitions. That’s cool, it is a completely subjective adjective.

McC · #57 Posted **Nov 28, 2018, 12:57 AM**

The direct walking route downtown from Mechanicsville is Scott St, over the viaduct and then Albert St through the barrenlands of the Flats. It’s not a lovely walk in any season of the year (no shade, no wind breaks, no scenery, lots of splashing passing vehicles). There are much nicer routes along the River or Somerset St., but they add a good 25% to your trip length.

Uhuniau · #58 Posted **Nov 28, 2018, 5:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

Places like Mechanicsvillle were just as “poor” as Vanier a few years ago. Vanier to downtown is a crappy walk, bike ride, bus ride or drive, and it is not easily accessed from nearby neighbourhoods.

How is it any less accessible than any other neighbourhood, other than the city's self-inflicted shit transit service?

acottawa · #59 Posted **Nov 28, 2018, 10:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How is it any less accessible than any other neighbourhood, other than the city's self-inflicted shit transit service?

It is blocked to the North and East by the cemetery district. It is blocked to the West by the Rideau River, and the Cummings Bridge is one of the worst places for a pedestrian in the city, and pretty crappy for everyone else too. And as you mentioned (several times in fact) the transit situation is not good. It has none of the ingredients in place to become an “extension of downtown” or “uptown.”

Uhuniau · #60 Posted **Nov 28, 2018, 11:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

It is blocked to the North and East by the cemetery district. It is blocked to the West by the Rideau River, and the Cummings Bridge is one of the worst places for a pedestrian in the city, and pretty crappy for everyone else too. And as you mentioned (several times in fact) the transit situation is not good. It has none of the ingredients in place to become an “extension of downtown” or “uptown.”

It is no more "blocked" by the Rideau River New Edinburgh is, or than Old Ottawa East or South are by the Canal, the Glebe by the Queensway, or Hintonboro by the railway tracks.

I'll take the Cummings Bridge over Scott Street any day; hell, I'd take Cummings over the Beechwood-St. Patrick bridge TBH.