BUZZ Centretown by Any Other Name
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE BUZZ Preston Farmers’ Market a community effort, page 7 The Gouda Life: peach crumble, page 7 JULY 20, 2012 VOL. 17 NO. 7 At the heart of Ottawa since 1995 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM UZZ KATHRYN HUNT / THE BUZZ Centretown by any other name B Developer’s plan for “South Central” rankles residents KATHRYN HUNT the area, renaming it “South Cen- out onto the street, the fire alarm a Neighbourhood Study a couple of tral” in their promotional materials, was pulled, and one protestor got years ago,” he said, “and even then A launch party by Toronto-based from billboards to flyers. inside the pub and close enough to around 30 percent of the people in condo developer Urban Capital, For some residents, the renam- Urban Capital developer David Wex Centretown couldn’t afford to live held at the James Street Pub on July ing – which many claim was done to douse him with glitter before be- here. And it’s only gotten worse 10, was protested by a number of without any consultation – is a step ing removed by security. since then, with more condos com- residents. It seems that Urban Capi- too far. “I won’t stomach a name “It’s not really about the renam- ing in.” Others at the protest also tal’s marketing plan has struck a raw change, and I won’t be pushed out; ing,” one of the members of Under expressed concern about the lack of nerve. where are you, city, protecting the Pressure said. “It’s more what the affordable rental units in the area. Urban Capital is described on citizens?” wrote local author rob renaming represents. It’s like a loss Urban Capital, meanwhile, says their website as “pioneers in intro- mclennan recently. of control over our own neighbour- that the new name is intended to ducing residential developments in Members of Under Pressure, hood.” He noted that no one can create an atmosphere that will trans- previously industrial or warehouse an anti-poverty group, coordinated force a new name on a neighbour- form and energize the street. “We’re districts, typically setting a trend a protest of the launch party, and hood, so what really bothers him trying to give an area a cachet that that results in a flourishing new around 70 people showed up outside is the idea that the developers can everyone hopefully will buy into. neighbourhood.” the pub with signs, sidewalk chalk, simply come in and redesign the If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Since purchasing property and pots and pans, and a megaphone. area. He added, “If people can’t af- I guess we’ll see,” Wex said in a re- beginning to build in the Bank/ Although the protest was for the ford to live here, who cares what it’s cent interview. Gladstone area, the developer has most part peaceful, Urban Capital’s called?” Condos, pg 3 made a concerted effort to rebrand promotional materials were thrown “The City of Ottawa sponsored Ontario’s first bike box installed on Bay Street KATHRYN HUNT vehicles. mal, watching for right-turning ve- ceed through the intersection, with Bike boxes have been in use in hicles. Motorists should stop behind the cyclists going first. Motorists On July 11, the new bike lanes other cities for many years: for ex- the box—not on top of it—leaving turning right on green should, as on Wellington at Bay were officially ample, Portland, OR, has used them room for cyclists. At the green light, usual, signal and look for cyclists opened. Included in the design is the since 2008. motorists and cyclists should pro- coming up on the right. province’s first official “bike box.” However, they are new to On- (While there are already similar tario drivers and cyclists. On the boxes on Laurier, allowing cyclists Facebook page of Citizens for Safe a space within the crosswalk to line Cycling, cyclists are urged to be up for left turns, they function some- patient, as many drivers will never what differently and do not impact have encountered a bike box before drivers as much.) and may not know what is expect- ENTRETOWNIntended to make it easier and ed. safer for cyclists to turn left onto To properly use a bike box, cy- Wellington, the green-painted area clists should enter the box from the in front of the stop line provides a bike lane when the light is red, and space where cyclists can line up stop before the crosswalk, lining up ahead of traffic and proceed into to the left if turning left and right if C the intersection first, eliminating the turning right. When the light turns risk of being struck by right-turning green, they should proceed as nor- 2 CENTRETOWNBUZZ.COM JULY 20, 2012 July 20, 2012 — Vol. 17, No. 7 Letters to the Editor THE Why I glitter-bombed this is not the kind of com- where they plan on building her awesome kid a stable and David Wex munity my neighbours and their unaesthetic monstrosi- fun home. Or Steve, the self- CEN T RE T OWN Centretown is a great I want, and shouldn’t be to ties are vacant. That is a com- described soggy-astronaut place to live. The social, eth- anyone who has a modicum plete fiction. There are homes drug user, who comes over nic, sexual, economic and of compassion, empathy and and businesses on those very and sits on my porch and has aesthetic diversity of the self preservation. lots that will be demolished, a beer with me after work. I BUZZ neighbourhood is what gives More than a quarter many of which are heritage care about these people and At the heart of Ottawa since 1995. it its vibrancy and life. If of the folks living in Cen- buildings. If we allow the I can’t fathom why more David Wex and his Toronto- tretown live in the low-in- Kingdom of Wex to demol- people don’t. These are the 101-210 Gloucester St. based Urban Capital were al- come bracket: that’s 12 per- ish buildings like the historic marginalized in my commu- Ottawa, ON lowed to continue, all of that cent higher than the Ottawa Metropolitan Bible Church nity and, as their neighbour, K2P 2K4 would end. For a community average. A monstrosity of (formerly the Metropolitan I’m not going to let some Phone: 613-565-6012 like Centretown, the gentrifi- the Urban Capital sort would Tabernacle, built in 1934) or big money Toronto asshole cation that would come about demolish the liveability of the Davidson Hearing Centre kick them out of the homes as a result of Urban Capital’s that quarter, or 7,000 people. (built in 1912), what’s next? they’ve lived in for decades, www.centretownbuzz.com projects would be devastat- The low-income rate in this Do we care so little about the just so he can make a buck. twitter.com/centretownbuzz ing. Rents will rise. Public neighbourhood is 24 percent heritage and history of our I love this part of the city facebook.com/centretownbuzz space will turn private. In- higher than it was in 2001, a community? Do we want and I will defend its unique- dependent and affordable rise that is, in part, because a community of homoge- ness. If these developers per- stores turn into Starbucks of the arrival of people who neous buildings that look sist in their invasion of our and Shoppers Drug Marts. were no longer able to afford like IKEAized versions of a community and city, be as- Centretown BUZZ Staff Social services that provide living in gentrified commu- game of Tetris gone wrong? sured that this is not the last necessary services to persons nities like Westboro, Hinton- So again, why did I you’ve seen of Glitter Man Managing editor of lower income would be burg and the Glebe. And now, shower David Wex in glitter? and our “co-owned” mega- Kathryn Hunt | [email protected] pressured to relocate to “less they’re going to be met with Because he’s going to get my phone, for with great sparkle visible” areas. These effects having to move yet again? 94-year-old grandmother on comes great responsibility. Associate editor are well documented in all No. Not going to happen. social security evicted. Or Eleanor Sawyer of Canada’s urban centres. Toronto-based Urban my neighbour, a single mom The Glitter Man This is not acceptable to me, Capital insists that the lots who works tirelessly to give City editor David Gladstone | [email protected] Distribution managers A multicultural party in Chinatown Archie Campbell & David Seaborn [email protected] by members of the China- tourist—attraction. tawa-area scene to strut their performances, inventive kid- town BIA In the vein of Chinatown stuff. friendly workshops and other Remixed (an arts and culture Each Saturday afternoon intriguing activities. Best of he Chinatown BIA festival which brings visual for 10 weeks, FestivAsia will all, these events are free! has been busy. This artists, performers and busi- turn Somerset Street West, a Compelling acts perform Advertising T summer sees the nesses together) FestivAsia multicultural village with an at various spots throughout streets of Chinatown be- welcomes musicians, danc- Asian flavour, into one long Chinatown. Bliss out, for The BUZZ is proud to offer an effective advertising medium that reaches 10,000 Centretown homes and come the site of yet anoth- ers, visual artists and other chock-a-block street festival. instance, with the melliflu- businesses each month.