City Launches Bank Street Height & Character Study
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Serving the Glebe TFI@glebereport community since 1973 www.glebereport.ca ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 47 No. 3 March 22, 2019 Issue no. 512 FREE PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN PHOTO: The city has launched a study of Bank Street height and character aimed at producing better policies and bylaws that reliably shape future Bank Street development. CITY LAUNCHES BANK STREET HEIGHT & CHARACTER STUDY By Carolyn Mackenzie Bank Street in the Glebe was… • Achieving appropriate transi- the Fifth Avenue Court site at seven “A historic main street in the heart tion to low-rise residential areas storeys. The four-storey maximum The city has launched a long-awaited of a vibrant urban village. A thriving (behind Bank Street buildings); building height in the existing zoning study of development on Bank Street. social and commercial district that is • Promoting varied and attractive bylaw was essentially ignored – and Back in 2015, the Glebe Commun- welcoming and walkable and features store fronts; even the maximum six-storey build- ity Association (GCA) was told by city green spaces.” • Enhancing and expanding seating ing heights for Traditional Mainstreets planning staff that Bank Street had Just some of the key elements and social areas as well as pedes- was exceeded. General policies in the little development potential and that included in the vision are: trian space; and city’s Official Plan about the need the city would not take on any sort of • Advocating for buildings that • Encouraging diversity by promo- to intensify were pointed to as a key localized planning study. enhance the human scale and ting mixed-use development and rationale for approving these projects. So the GCA kicked off Imagine strengthen walkability; affordable housing. Many people asked, “Did the city Glebe to develop a vision for Bank • Promoting the enhancement of the On the heels of the ImagineGlebe not pay any attention to ImagineGlebe? Street that would provide guidance to historic nature of Bank Street; effort, the city allowed rezoning of What exactly is the city’s vision for development discussions that we knew • Minimizing negative impacts a few contentious developments on Bank Street?” were coming. Over 900 people par- including undue shadowing, wind Bank Street. These projects include ticipated and the consensus vision for effects, building “loom”; the “beer store” at eight storeys and Continued on page 3 MARK YOUR CALENDARS WHAT’S INSIDE Mar 20–30 ....King Lear, The Gladstone Mar 23 ...........Who Needs Church? documentary film, 7:30 p.m. Southminster Ch. Mar 26 ...........GCA monthly meeting, GCC, 7-9 p.m. Mar 26–31 ....VERSeFest, see p. 23 Mar 27 ...........Community Meeting re 99 Fifth Ave. development, Fourth Ave Baptist, 7 p.m. Mar 30 ...........A Sentimental Journey a capella concert, Trinity Anglican Ch., .......................1230 Bank St, 4:30 p.m. Apr 6 ..............Sonic Splendour, Carleton U. Choir, Dominion Chalmers Ch., 7:30 p.m. Apr 7 ..............The Seven Last Words of Christ, St. Matthew’s A. Ch., 4 p.m. One Renfrew ............................. Page 2 Mutchmor Book Sale ................ Page 33 Apr 9–14 .......Wind in the Willows play, GCC, Preview Tu 7 p.m., We-Su 7 p.m., Sa 2 p.m. NEXT ISSUE: Friday, April 19, 2019 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Friday, March 29, 2019 Apr 11–14 .....Mutchmor Book Sale, 185 Fifth Ave., ADVERTISING ARTWORK DEADLINE*: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 Apr 16 ............GACA meeting, GCC, 7 p.m. *Book ads well in advance to ensure space availability. IF YOU CAN DREAM IT WE CAN MAKE IT! 722 BANK STREET 613.230.5333 GOLDART.CA 2 Glebe Report March 22, 2019 HERITAGE One Renfrew is a memory now By Diane McIntyre If you are walking through Central Park this spring, you may notice something is missing. The one-of-a- kind English Tudor-style ivy-covered cottage at 1 Renfrew Avenue, east of Lyon, has been demolished. The house was designed and built in 1924 on what was then known as Central Park Terrace for Mr. and Mrs. Payne. After Mr. Payne died, it was purchased by Charlotte Whit- ton, mayor of Ottawa and Canada’s first woman mayor. The neighbours had many stories to tell about Whit- ton’s presence on the street. During her tenure, this street always had snow removal priority. The street name was changed to Renfrew Avenue, presum- ably because of her roots in Renfrew County. The house was sold by Whit- ton’s estate to Fran and Edmund Clark (who was president and CEO of TD Bank) until they wanted a larger home for their expanding young family. When I first bought the house in One Renfrew in the glory of its heyday 1979, the front garden had Virginia Creeper vines covering the house lilacs, irises, peonies, roses, daisies, at one end and created a sunken stone and a wild mass of hollyhocks every- black eyed Susans and later by phlox, patio that joined the pathway along where, some mature peonies and a greenery that welcomed butterflies the back fence. The sunken patio of very small front lawn. I decided that and birds and provided shelter for a pink sandstone featured a wraparound butterflies and birds and squirrels couple of chipmunks, a few toads and bench wall that provided lots of seat- deserved a more welcoming space several stray cats. The side garden ing in a private enclave, a nice space so I transformed the front lawns into that stretched along the sidewalk also for gatherings, sing songs, family par- flower gardens. Every spring the had established flower beds and was ties and organizing meetings. garden would burst into joyous col- planted with spring bulbs, daisies, iris Several of my family members our with a show of perennial spring and lupins. The side lawn originally stayed with me during their time in flowers – forsythia, daffodils, tulips, was sloped toward the park so I built Ottawa, preferring to come home to hyacinths and narcissus, followed by a retaining wall to build up the garden family rather than to an empty apart- MCINTYRE OF D. COURTESY PHOTOS: ment. My godfather, the Hon. Robert One Renfrew rapidly deteriorating in Layton, minister of mines and chair the elements, January 2019 of the Progresive Conservative Party caucus (a red Tory) stayed for sev- eral years prior to his retirement. My cousin, the Hon. Jack Layton, when elected leader of the NDP, asked if he In May 2018, city notices on the could move into his “Dad’s room,” and front door stated, “Before June 11, Olivia Chow, Jack’s wife, joined us for 2018, apply for and obtain permits a few years after she was elected as under the Building Code Act and a n M P. City Council approval, pursuant to the This house was always an active Ontario Heritage Act.” Another posted community space with an open door notice stated, “This building is regu- welcoming and billeting lots of people lated by the Ontario Heritage Act.” It visiting the city for meetings and other also stated that the owner must pro- good causes. The dining room and liv- tect the house from the elements with ing room provided space for numerous tarps. During the summer, blue tarps organizations and committee meet- were in place but in early winter the ings such as the Canadian Voice of tarps were torn, windows were mis- Women for Peace, various environ- sing and sections of exterior walls had ment committees, school groups, been torn out. I called the city, and singing groups and the Harperman asked why it wasn’t being protected. I cross country singalong planning was told that no new building permits group (remember “it’s time for you had been given. In January 2019 while to go”?). Some months found the din- I was out of the country, I heard that a ing room filled with stacked cartons demolition permit had been granted. of Girl Guide cookie boxes or Harp- Neighbours wrote that, to their sur- erman signs, or buzzing with my 1994 prise, the house was already gone. mayoral election campaign volunteers. Fortunately, memories can last for- Over the 39 years that 1 Renfrew ever – of a charming house, many was our home, we restored original happy occasions, wonderful neigh- woodwork, refinished floors, brought bours and many happy conversations wiring up to code and added insulation shared in front of a roaring fire. But I in the basement and attic. When work wonder what’s happened to the stray was being done on the street in 2017, cat, Nelson, who thought it was his I had new copper piping for water and second home. meter installed, soil replaced and 150 more spring bulbs planted to welcome Diane McIntyre is the former owner a new family. of the house at 1 Renfrew, now When I sold the house in January demolished. She has been an active 2018, I had been assured by real estate member of the Glebe community who agents that the purchasers wanted only served on the GCA board for many to make a few minor additions, so I years and chaired school councils was surprised when it was still empty at Mutchmor, Glashan and Glebe in the spring. Collegiate. BANK STREET Glebe Report March 22, 2019 3 STUDY Continued from page 1 The GCA has been advocating for streetscape. Some additional density the city to develop an answer to that would increase the vibrancy of Bank question. In June 2018, the city agreed Street, by providing more “built-in” to move the Bank Street Height and customers and clients to support our Character Study forward. The GCA is shops and restaurants. Development very hopeful that this study will build could also provide opportunities for upon the work of ImagineGlebe and additional office space, affordable the extensive survey data and detailed housing, etc.