By Nathan Maki
Centretown businesses and residents who have had a say in the City of Ottawa’s plans to redevelop Bank Street over the next three years may not get all their wishes, but the city is listening.
For example, the city is considering a change in the construction schedule following the latest round of public consultation.
The current schedule would see construction at both ends of Bank Street in 2006, then a section spanning the Queensway in 2007, and finally two sections in 2008 to join the three previously-completed sections.
Business owners have expressed concerns that this will affect their businesses for two years instead of one.
Richard Holder, the city’s project manager, says the city is now considering a plan that would see construction divided into four sections, two on each side of the Queensway, instead of the original five. This would limit construction overlap and minimize the impact on businesses.
“We’re trying to go with the momentum we’ve built up with the project,” says Holder. He says he wants to push forward with the plans now that city planners have reached a consensus with community groups.
So far, reaction to the plan for new water mains and sewers, roads and sidewalks, streetlights and stop lights, and streetscaping has been positive, Holder says.
The redevelopment will cost an estimated $25 to $30 million.
At Ottawa Kennedy Flower Shop, a brilliant display of flowers spills out onto the sidewalk.
Owner Don Leo wants higher curbs and wider sidewalks. “If a car was to swerve or slide there is nothing to keep them from hitting pedestrians,” he says.
The plan does call for widening sidewalks from 2.2 and 2.7 metres to three metres from Lansdowne Park through Gladstone Avenue, although this has been reduced by six inches after objections from OC Transpo and other companies with large vehicles on the road.
Calls by residents and businesses to bury overhead power lines as part of the reconstruction have been unsuccessful.
“There is no city policy for burying hydro lines as part of this kind of redevelopment,” says Holder, “So we have no mandate for doing so.”
Ontario Hydro estimates it would cost between $7.5 and $10 million to bury the lines.
“I look at it as very shortsighted,” says Evelyn Levine, who attended the Glebe Community Centre open house, of the decision not to bury the lines.
“We need to be more strategic in our infrastructure spending.”
The majority of the power lines in the first two sections for construction, including the stretch from Wellington Street to Somerset Street, are already underground.
These two sections are slated for 2006.
Holder says this will allow the city to go ahead with the plan as is while city council debates the issue.
If council decides in favour of underground lines, they can be introduced later.
Even with adjustments, residents and businesses face a considerable disruption.
“It’s going to be tough for the period when construction is being done,” Holder says.
“The problem has always been how to maintain the level of services with streetscaping going on at the same time.
“It’s certainly going to improve the environment for businesses and pedestrians in the long run,” he adds.
Residents seem willing to accept the construction as a kind of necessary evil.
“It’ll be an inconvenience, but it’s nothing we can’t deal with,” says John Read, a veteran of recent redevelopment near Patterson Avenue.
Business owners such as David Baker of European Glass and Paint on Bank Street are also taking the long-term view.
“I hope it’s not going to have any effect on my business, but it’s going to tie up traffic,” he says.
“On the flip side, what can you do? I mean, you have to do this kind of renewal in an older area.
“In the end I guess it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.”