A construction project on Gladstone Avenue may eliminate some on-street parking.
Design plans for construction that is set to begin this summer along Gladstone Avenue between Bank and Cartier streets have brought up concerns as parking spaces will be traded for trees. The construction will upgrade a century-old water main and sewer system, says project manager Susan Johns.
“Their time is way past due to be repaired,” says Scott Gorry, membership secretary of the Centretown Citizens Community Association.
At the project’s open house on March 26, city plans showed that curbs and sidewalks will be widened to allow for new “beautification” amenities such as benches, bike racks and more trees.
“Overall, the street will be more pedestrian-friendly,” Johns says.
Planting more trees, however, will eliminate some on-street parking spaces, Johns says, adding that Gladstone Avenue, between Bank and Cartier streets, currently has
51 parking spots and the construction design will reduce that to 35 once trees are added.
“Adding one tree usually means removing one parking space.”
The biggest loss of parking will be between Metcalfe and Elgin streets where design plans show its 25 spots will be reduced to 16.
There are currently two lanes along Gladstone, one for parking and one for driving. Johns says widening the sidewalk will take up the curbside parking lane.
Johns says the public’s input is very important and people have expressed concerns about the parking issue.
“This is their street and we show it to them to ask what they think,” he says.
The city’s planning committee and consultants review the publics’ comments, says Johns, adding that any trends in those concerns, “means we probably made a mistake, or a bad choice.”
Gorry says the comments may be well-received by the city, but when it comes to implementation, very few suggestions actually get translated into the design plans.
In terms of repairing the city’s infrastructure, Gorry says the CCCA supports the project, but has concerns that future considerations are “narrow-minded.”
Gorry says the city has not acknowledged some of the CCCA’s recommendations, including where benches should be placed along the four blocks.
Construction is set to begin in July and will take more than one construction season to complete.
Gorry says the age of the infrastructure is something that could cause challenges and delays during construction.
Considering the summer start date, the impact on St. Luke’s Park, between Elgin and Cartier streets, is another issue.It’s possible the Gladstone entrance to the park will be closed for part of construction, Johns says.