By Valencia Grant
Standard Life intends to build a temporary plaza on Bank Street by the spring, in an effort to revitalize the area and attract people during the summer festival season.
The plaza will be constructed between the two buildings at 144-148 Bank St. The asphalted lot at the back will be the site of many public events on Bank Street.
Standard Life is looking into the possibility of placing an outdoor café at the plaza, as well as interpretive panels to tell the history of Bank Street.
Some local businesses say this is bound to improve business.
“It’ll mean more business. It’ll be nice – temporary could be two, three years,” says Colette Gaudreau, a Kiddy Town store manager at 157 Bank St.
“It’s better than empty space. . . through the daytime it will attract people. . . between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.,” says Derek Vangessel, manager at Sports 4 on Bank Street.
“Through the nighttime it won’t because there are lots of other places to go in Ottawa.”
Elijah Lloy, a Great Earth Vitamins manager at 160 Bank St. voices similar concerns.
“You have plazas all over the place. You have the World Exchange Plaza, and that was touted to be the best thing for Ottawa. And it really hasn’t done a whole lot. . . there’s not a whole lot to offer down here.
“I don’t think you’re going to get a whole lot of people being drawn from the market or from Parliament down to this specific area.”
Pierre Hurteau, regional manager at Standard Life describes the plaza as “a temporary measure.”
He says that space will eventually be the site of a third Standard Life office complex tower.
In accordance with International Heritage Conservation practices, Standard Life commissioned a heritage review of its properties.
While the buildings at 142 and 144-148 Bank St. are being demolished, Standard Life will retain one of its historic properties at 132-138 Bank St.
“Based on the study, that one had some limited value,” says Hurteau.
There are currently three tenants living at 132-138 Bank St.
Heritage Ottawa does not approve of Standard Life’s assessment.
“Heritage Ottawa is absolutely not satisfied with only preserving the corner building,” says Carolyn Quinn, president of Heritage Ottawa.
“The two buildings in question that are going to be demolished are key to the streetscape of an historical commercial strip in Ottawa.”
Quinn says a study commissioned by the City of Ottawa gives the two buildings being demolished the second-highest rating that a heritage building can get in Ottawa.
Quinn adds the study says the block is “the most significant block on Bank Street.”
She says the study to be released later this month will have absolutely no impact on the demolition process.
Quinn says the study would have carried more weight if it was finished before the demolition process began.