Old Ottawa South

A reader put this comment on the Petition on Infills article:

CBC Ottawa Morning has been running a set of stories on infills in established neighborhoods. The reports are available on the Ottawa Morning site: www.cbc.ca/ottawamorning/

I heard the interview about the West Wellington infill this morning. Based on the interview, I think the address is 39 Western Avenue, which you can check out on Google Streetview. It is an American four-square similar to many homes in OOS, although the lot sizes look a bit bigger than what are the norm here. I think the point about conflicting values is central to infill development. The builder states that he didn't think it was anybody's business what gets built on private property whereas neighbouring residents were concerned with things as streetscape, light, and neighbourhood character. Also, the architect dismissed neighbourhood concerns as simply 'afraid of change'.

I think the architect may be (deliberately?) missing the point of the neighbours' concerns: the impact on the pleasurable use of their own properties. There are several that have complained that their backyards will no longer receive ANY sunlight, and others will be staring at 3-story-high vinyl or brick walls where once there were trees.

This may be the way of the future: a battle between public good and private greed. (But hasn't it always been so? Just watch Old Mr. Potter fighting the Building and Loan to keep immigrants in his rental slums rather than let them own their own nice little neighbourhood!)

I just heard that they will continue to discuss the infill in Westboro on the CBC Morning show tomorrow as well. It's to go to the Committee of Adjustment and the neighbours plan to be there...

That's all I know: 91.5 FM 6-8:30 am. There will be a link later that day though on the CBC website, I'm sure, if you aren't up that early.

There's a story up on the CBC website with a photo of the property:
www.cbc.ca/canada/ot...wellington-home.html

I believe the photo is wrong. The property is on the corner of Western and Spencer (and the minor variance is on the Kitchissippi website)