By Perry Boldt
Plans for the future of Centretown were again spelled out in three words at the annual meeting of the Centretown Citizens’ Community Association — revitalization, restructuring, redevelopment.
Both Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and Regional Chair Bob Chiarelli highlighted those themes as they shared their vision on core revitalization last week.
Watson invited 40 people at the meeting to participate in a day-long core-revitalization forum on Jan 15, 2000.
“I’m very confident that we’re on the right track with respect to downtown redevelopment,” he said. “But I think it’s important for us as a city to go and reach out beyond the confines of our own bureaucracy and our own councillors and ask you the people for ideas.”
Watson said he supports the one-city model for municipal restructuring but stressed the importance of keeping communities such as Centretown alive.
As part of the continuing efforts to revitalize the core, Watson said he wants to see more people moving into downtown and less moving out by keeping inner-city schools and recreational facilities open, and addressing complaints about graffiti, street litter and snow removal from sidewalks.
“If we don’t have schools and the community facilities, recreational facilities in neighbourhoods we don’t have the magnets to bring people to live in the downtown core,” he said.
Chiarelli also re-expressed his support for a one-city model and for maintaining a strong sense of community.
“In my opinion, the strength across this region are (the) neighbourhoods and communities,” he said.
“When we go to a new structure, we have to make sure that there is a process for community input. Even if we go to 18 regional wards there has to be a regional connection between that representative and that ward and the community, to make sure that the communities are protected.”
Both Watson and Chiarelli also commented on the National Capital Commissions’ vision of Metcalfe Street which suggests moving the old American Embassy building to create a new public square in front of Parliament Hill. (The NCC has denied reports it plans to move the former embassy.)
“I think it’s a ludicrous idea to start tinkering with heritage buildings,” said Watson. “Demolishing buildings that are going to keep people living in the downtown core to create these open-air plazas so we have a better view of parliament hill — those are the kinds of things we have to be vigilant on.”
Chiarelli said the NCC’s proposal has been misunderstood and should be examined as a redevelopment project to create rather than diminish residential presence in an area called “a black hole.”
“They’re trying to create very significant people ambiance in the downtown core.”
Chiarelli said the NCC’s proposal would address concerns about high-speed traffic on Centretown streets, such as Kent.
“By putting people in the core you are necessarily going to slow the traffic down.”
At least one member of the CCCA wasn’t convinced.
“You do not get cars off the road by putting people on them,” said Dylan Jones, a MacLaren Street resident. “Literally, the evidence is that you get people on the streets by getting cars off of them.”
The association also elected a new president and board of directors.
The new president is Joan Katz. The new board of directors includes: Tony Friend, Mark Farren, Noreen Christie, Leslie McIntosh, Meg McCallum, Dylan Jones, Deborah Ironside, David Gladstone and Bill Moorman.
Two positions on the board remain open and will be filled by appointment at the next meeting.