June - July 2013 IMAGE juin - juillet 2013 1 S A N D Y CCпTE-DE-ÔTE-DE- H I L L SSABLEABLE JUNE - JULY 2013I M A G EJUIN - JUILLET 2013 Reach for the sky, Rideau Street! Blackstone Bill Photo Larry Newman residents in attendance, objection to the proposed 18-storey tower on the corner of Rideau and Cobourg was what drove ounting the latecomers who had them to this meeting. Few spoke against to stand, there were probably 75 the rest of the project—seven- and four- attendees in the Rideau Library’s storey buildings filling in the rest of the Clarge meeting room on the evening of block between Cobourg and the medical May 8. They were there to listen to building at Charlotte Street. Several times Richcraft’s plans for developing most of Miguel Tremblay referred residents to the the south side of Rideau Street between design, which incorporates a cafe and Charlotte and Cobourg streets. (For the restaurant and an open area at the side- history of the project before May 8 see walk level, as if this relatively common the sidebar page 7; for project details see approach was an unusual and exciting www.tinyurl.com/560Rideau.) Council- idea. In response to the sometimes vehe- lor Mathieu Fleury facilitated the meet- ment denunciation of the tower, Tremblay ing. Miguel Tremblay of FoTenn, an ur- said that Richcraft was just responding to ban planning firm, and Rod Lahey, the the City’s desire to increase density in the architect, introduced the design using “main street” parts of town, an arguable slides and drawings on easels and, as claim as it had been the city core that had well, spoke to the business of building. been targeted for intensification. City Planner Bliss Edwards spoke about Tremblay and Lahey fielded many ques- the consultation process and her role in it. tions and the meeting ran over the allotted Kevin Yamm of Richcraft attended. time with more questions unanswered. Clearly, for most of the Sandy Hill 560 Rideau, continued on page 6. Photo Bill Blackstone Bill Photo Architect’s drawing of the 18-storey tower proposed by Richcraft for the corner of Rideau and Cobourg. Conversions flash frozen for a year Blackstone Bill Photo R4 zones permit the virtual take-down Judy Rinfret of a house (though technically not a de- molition) and replacement with up to four residential units. It is unlikely that any- ith little or no notice, after two one envisaged each of these four units or three years of growing un- containing six and more bedrooms with ease and frustration in Sandy a small common kitchen area and one or WHill and more recently in other parts of two common bathrooms. the city, Ottawa’s council has approved But that has been the case especially an interim control bylaw to immediately in proximity to the University of Ottawa stop all applications for conversions in where, despite the huge increase in stu- Sandy Hill, Ottawa East and South and dents, there has been no increase in resi- DOORS OPEN, 2013 the Glebe. dences on campus for a number of years. In the view of some neighbours, the Students are willing to pay above market Eleven Sandy Hill buildings freeze has occurred too late as former rent for minimal and even sub-standard welcomed the public June 1-2 single family homes or duplexes have be- space; developers have found what may come what are dubbed “bunkhouses” or be a loophole in our bylaws and a great eople flocked to the 2013 Ottawa edition of residences with minimal common space opportunity for profit. and multi bedrooms. It is not uncommon the province-wide Doors Open program here But, aside from high rents for sub- inP Sandy Hill. for a “conversion” to result in 20 and more standard housing, there is a price to be bedrooms in what was once a three or four Connie Brook at All Saints reports that 652 visi- Blackstone Bill Photo paid and that is the sense of Sandy Hill tors passed through her church, with 325 intrepid bedroom home. as a community for a variety of persons. folk climbing the bell tower. Conversion according to the definition “Sandy Hill is at a tipping point,” said one in the city’s zoning by law sounds innocu- long-time resident at a recent Action San- IMAGE photographer Bill Blackstone captured ous — dy Hill meeting; the southern sector may some of the activity (top to bottom) Manuel “Conversion means the alteration of but be becoming a student ghetto. Kingunda at the Angolan Embassy in Panet House not demolition of a residential use build- Residents have decided to speak up and (189 Laurier East); Clarissa Arthur, Heather ing to increase the number of principal take action to preserve the character of Heagney and Karen Clermont at the Youville dwelling units or rooming units resulting this neighbourhood. They are signing up Centre (150 Mann); Neil Forsyth and visitors at in the creation of a use which must be a for committees, studying zoning bylaws, All Saints (317 Chapel), and Chef Arnaud Bon- permitted use in the zone and does not in- talking to planners, taking stock of their nefoy at Le Cordon Bleu in Munross House (453 clude the creation or addition of a second- immediate neighbourhoods, reviewing Laurier Ave. E.). Other Sandy Hill locations were ary dwelling unit...” site plans and trying to ensure the en- Arts Court (2 Daly), Diane Gagné (5 Blackburn), It appears that meaning may be stretched forcement of bylaws. Algeria in Fleck Paterson House (500 Wilbrod), to what seems entirely unintended. Croatia in Toller House (229 Chapel), Laurier Most of Sandy Hill is zoned R3 and R4 Conversions, continued on page 6. See House (335 Laurier E.), St. Paul’s-Eastern (473 permitting a variety of housing. R3 and letters page 2 for more comments. Cumberland) and St Paul Lutheran (210 Wilbrod). 2 June - July 2013 IMAGE juin - juillet 2013 IMAGE Our readers Courrier Founded in 1972 under the 22, av. Russell Ave. Fondé en 1972 sous la write ... des lecteurs direction of Diane Wood Ottawa K1N 7W8 direction de Diane Wood IMAGE, a non-profit community news- IMAGE est un journal communautaire à paper, is supported by its advertis- but non lucratif dont les seuls revenus Sandy Hill is losing its diverse residential mix ers. Opinions expressed are those of viennent des annonceurs. Les textes contributors and advertisers, and do not n’engagent que leurs auteurs et an- s Sandy Hill residents who have en- the University of Ottawa ranks among the necessarily represent those of the volun- nonceurs respectifs et ne reflètent pas joyed living here for a number of lowest, if it is not actually at the bottom teer editorial staff. nécessairement l’opinion de l’équipe years,A we are concerned that improper of the list, in providing housing for stu- de rédaction, qui est composée de City zoning and pressures from the Uni- dents on campus —housing 8.8 percent of In 2013, IMAGE is published in Febru- bénévoles. versity are threatening our once diverse its own students. The next lowest is Car- ary, April, June, October and De- residential mix. leton University at 16.3 percent; Queens cember. 7,500 copies are printed and En 2013, IMAGE sera publié en févri- We know a good number of families houses more than a quarter of its students, distributed free of charge to all residents er, avril, juin, octobre et décembre. who have moved out recently because of and around eight other universities pro- of Sandy Hill. Free issues can also be Son tirage est de 7 500 exemplaires. Il noise, bad behaviour and the number of vide more housing proportionally to their picked up at the community centre, est distribué gratuitement partout dans bunkhouses being put up in the neigh- populations. library and various commercial locations. la Côte-de-Sable. On peut également bourhood. One young family that moved The University’s Director of Housing l’obtenir au centre communautaire, à la in only three months ago, just put up a Services has indicated that they are con- IMAGE welcomes articles, letters, bibliothèque et dans plusieurs com- “for sale” sign and they cite the noise of sidering options for more student hous- photographs, notices and other material merces du quartier. neighbours next door. ing and that a decision is imminent. It is of interest to its readers in the Sandy We are not suffering from a case of hoped that they choose a location that is Hill community. Name and telephone Tous les articles, lettres, illustrations, “nimbyism” – we simply recognize that on campus and at a distance from the resi- number of contributor must be included. photos et autre documentation pouvant healthy communities have diverse demo- dential part of Sandy Hill or away from intéresser les lecteurs de la Côte- graphics. What we have seen recently in the residential section at their new cam- If you’d like to write articles, draw de-Sable sont les bienvenus. Leurs Sandy Hill is the case of poorly planned pus on Lees Ave. Students deserve to live cartoons or other illustrations for stories, auteurs doivent indiquer leur nom et development that has catered to one de- in affordable, quality housing. The Uni- or take photographs on assignment, leur numéro de téléphone. mographic. This has resulted in a residen- versity should do its share for the sake of please call and leave your name and tial imbalance with escalating negative its students. number at 613-237-8889. No age Les personnes intéressées à collabor- effects.