Theatre returns to the Avalon

Have you been to the Avalon Studio yet?  If not, it should rank high on your outing list!  It is the space above the Home Hardware(ish) on Bank Street, where, many years ago, the Avalon Theatre stood.  You may have noticed The Acting Company's sign on the sidewalk or door at some point. Chances are you have a child who takes a dance class there, or maybe an acting class.  But tonight was all about the adults!  Third Wall Theatre is currently presenting Harold Pinter's "The Dumb Waiter" in the Avalon Studio and I was able to go with five friends, in a crowd that totalled no more than 55.

This was my first Harold Pinter play, and I liked it so well I want to see more - not to mention my actress-neighbour Mary Ellis was in the play, and I always enjoy being so immersed in her character that I don't recognize her!  But I am even more excited about the simple fact that there is a place to see theatre right here in our neighbourhood (in addition to the community theatre produced each year by GNAG - speaking of which, do you have your tickets for "Family in a Box" yet?).  This is exactly the kind of business-diversity we need on Bank Street and is a great addition to Ottawa's cultural scene and programming space in the Glebe.

Kudos to co-founders Chris Ralph and John Muggleton and the rest of the Acting Company's team!  Thanks for the space for my daughter to learn dance and for me to connect with my love of live theatre!  And for all you blog readers, "The Dumb Waiter" is on March 23, March 28-30. 

Progress on Lansdowne traffic issues

Given the number of page views on my Lansdowne traffic-related blogs, and comments on my recent Glebe Report column about GCA's advocacy on the issue, I thought residents might be interested in an update of our meeting with the Mayor on Lansdowne traffic issues.   

The GCA (Brian Mitchell and myself), Ottawa South Community Association (Winnie Pietrykowski) and the Old Ottawa East Community Association (John Dance) met with the Mayor on March 3^rd.  Judging by the amount of time he spent with us (1 ½ hrs), his detailed knowledge of our area and our requests, and the number of City officials in attendance, it is clear that Mayor Watson places a high priority on the success of the Lansdowne development.  It is also clear that all parties are working with the best intentions to make Lansdowne a success and it was in this spirit that the meeting was arranged. 

 

While we were pleased to have had an opportunity to discuss the issues as we, the three communities most impacted by the development, understand them, it soon became clear that we have a completely different approach to planning for Lansdowne traffic than the City.  Based on our extensive community consultations (together, our community associations canvassed over 2,000 residents), we strongly believe that significant traffic measures should be implemented before Lansdowne opens.  The City strongly believes a “wait and see” approach is the most prudent, and monitoring once open makes the most sense. 

We presented our priority issues from the perspective of safety and security of children and pedestrians, active transportation to the Lansdowne site (in particular, connecting bridges) and establishing a buffer zone for the most impacted residents.  Brian’s excellent article in the Glebe Report outlines more of the specific requests (the same ones we’ve been advocating for at the Lansdowne Traffic Advisory Committee for the past year).  Although we made next to no progress on those requests, the Mayor did agree to some specific actions:

1. The City will look to advancing the building of the O’Connor bike lane;
2. At his regular meeting with the NCC president, the Mayor will advocate to move the construction of the signalized crossing for the Queen Elizabeth Driveway and Fifth Avenue to summer (now currently planned for the fall);
3. Reducing the speed limit on Bank Street, from Riverdale to Chamberlain, from 50 km to 40 km/hr (the Mayor’s idea, in relation to Bank St Bridge safety);  and
4. Considering a request to reducing parking from 3 hrs to 1 hr along with a guest parking permit for Holmwood Avenue (east of Bank St), should a significant portion of residents be supportive, for a trial period of the first six months following the opening of Lansdowne;
5. Regarding pedestrian safety at Sunnyside and Bank, the City will implement the Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Program, which could include a workplan for the spring and summer to identify potential safety measures.

These actions represent some progress for our community, and we will continue to advocate for our other well-developed positions.  There are many questions regarding the City’s monitoring program, however, we will also participate in this process to make sure the impacts to the community are known and suggestions for improvements are made. 

We owe our thanks to much of this work  to Brian Mitchell and the members of the Traffic Committee for all of the work they have done so far.  I have great admiration for their level of knowledge and attention to the many traffic issues we have in our neighbourhood.

 See you in the 'hood,

Christine

New Life for The Pantry

Many of you have by now heard of the potential closing of The Pantry as a result of its lease with the City expiring in June of this year.  Over 800 people (Glebites and Pantry patrons from outside of the neighbourhood) signed a petition to keep it open, a number of people wrote letters to the Editor of the Glebe Report (there was also a very good article by Bob Brockelbank on the subject) and the GCA heard expressions of concerns from residents as well.

There are many things that connect such a large number of people in a meaningful way with The Pantry.  For 38 years, first Ilsa Kyssa and now Carolyn Best, have provided a cosy and reflective place to stop the crazy train of every day life, at least for long enough to have lunch.  The food they provide is intended to nourish body and soul with healthy ingredients and a menu to appeal to all tastes.  The Pantry has always sourced ingredients locally, composted and practiced good environmental habits.  Along the way, they've shared their knowledge of nutrition and environmentalism with the many who have shared their tables. 

But the Pantry hasn't been just about food - it's been a community gathering place, where friendships are nurtured and action plans are forged (for a more detailed history, see The Glebe Report, September 2010).  I am told this is where planning started for lobbies to keep our local schools and the community centre open, and that the GCA has used the Pantry for meetings in the past as well.  There are a variety of activities that go on after "Pantry hours," including homework club (where I love to find my kids at pick-up time!). 

The Pantry truly has been an important part of this community for a long time.  So why the need to end the lease? 

Bob Brockelbank's article in the December Glebe Report was very insightful regarding the City's administration of community centres and the challenges since amalgamation.  One of the challenges has to do with costs - in fact, community programming hours have been reduced as a result of this (the community centre previously was staffed until 9 p.m. but is now only staffed until 8:30 p.m. - the GCA and others must pay for staff if we want to use the centre beyond 8:30).  Another challenge has to do with space for programming (hopefully, as Bob notes, additional community space will become available with the Aberdeen Pavillion and Horticulture Buildings at Lansdowne Park).

These didn't seem like good enough reasons to accept the closure of the Pantry.  So, as has happened before, interested community parties got together to figure out a better solution. Carolyn Best (from the Pantry), Kate McCartney, Brad Sigouin and Mary Tsai Davies (from GNAG),  residents Elaine Marlin (former Glebe Report Editor) and Diane McIntyre (former GCA President) met with David Chernushenko (our Councillor) and myself to discuss a way forward.  They are in process of developing an arrangement with the City which would preserve the Pantry as a place for the community to meet and enjoy a healthy meal in a quiet, nurturing atmosphere, and meet the various needs of the Community Centre and the community at large.  This is still a work in progress, but I am confident a complete solution is near and that it will have wide community support.  Once complete, it should protect this valued community nurturing place well into the future.

On behalf of the community, I would like to express my gratitude to Diane, Elaine, Carolyn, Mary, Kate, Brad and David for their hard work on this issue.  Once the solution is all wrapped up, I know a great little tea room in the heart of the Glebe Community Centre where we can have lunch to celebrate!

See you at the Pantry!
Christine

Skating at Glebe St. James Rink

What better way to work off some of those extra cookies than to spend part of New Year's Day at the new Glebe St. James skating rink?  Mind you, it could have been a bit less cold, but with the Glebe St. James Tennis Club clubhouse to warm up in, the cold hardly mattered:

I was excited to see the rink being well used.  When we arrived, there was already a game of shinny underway, but there was still lots of space for other non-shinny players, young and older:

What I loved most of all was the rink and club as a community gathering space.  I met one resident who hadn't been on the ice in three years since a serious surgery who was just getting his skating legs back (seems they never left him!);  there was the mom who had been a figure skater growing up, who joined in the pick up game so she could learn to play hockey (looked to me like she held her own);   the three young girls who won my admiration for their hockey-playing skills (a sport not many girls played when I was younger);  and the dad I recognized from the school yard but had never had a chance to formally meet.  I was happy to be recognized from my picture which runs with my column in the Glebe Report - which confirmed for me that people are reading the column!

My husband's parents are visiting from New Brunswick and joined us on the rink.  I think they are happy that we are raising our family in a friendly community that values fresh air and active lifestyles enough to provide local opportunities to have fun together.

I want to extend a very big thank you to the people at Glebe St. James Tennis Club, GNAG, the GCA, the City of Ottawa and a number of other supporters for your initiative in developing this fantastic community resource.  Although my toes still haven't warmed up, I'm looking forward to many more hours of skating.

See you on the rink!
Christine

Holidays in the Glebe

I've been admiring the decorations and lights throughout the neighbourhood, so thought I would share some with you.  I hope readers have had a wonderful holiday season and wish everyone health and happiness for 2014!

 

See you in the 'hood!

Christine

Lansdowne Traffic Meeting - Postscript

In a very general way, I might admit that I've heard some Glebe residents talk about having "Lansdowne fatigue" and that they want to be "for" something instead of "against" something.  Well, when it comes to Lansdowne-related traffic issues (I'm talking day-to-day and event-related traffic), there is definitely no fatigue and residents are very much for making Lansdowne traffic work. 

Between 150-180 residents (I stopped counting at 150) packed into the basement of St. Giles Church this evening to hear Councillor David Chernushenko and City staff present their plans for traffic management when Lansdowne opens.  While we had been concerned about attendance given the late setting of the meeting date and limited meeting notice publication, Church staff and others were surprised as they had only initially put out chairs for 50 people!

We knew going into the meeting that the plan to be presented was about monitoring traffic and not about taking action ahead of Lansdowne opening.  The GCA position on this is clear - failing to plan is planning to fail - so ensuring the success of Lansdowne means taking actions ahead of time (we've made a number of recommendations in that regard).  The phenomenal turnout for this meeting is a clear demonstration that residents are behind the GCA - in fact, Brian Mitchell, the GCA Traffic Committee Chair, received loud cheers following his address outlining our disappointment that not more is being done.

There were a number of questions from the community members as well.  I thought you might be interested in some, although I must apologize as I wasn't quick enough in noting the responses provided by the various panellists:

• Is there any plan to monitor the economic impacts of congestion that is anticipated to occur as a result of increased Lansdowne traffic?  and will there be a plan to recover those costs for the benefit of those negatively impacted?
• Why is monitoring being planned for October and March when there are fewer people cycling in those months?  Will parking studies be undertaken in March when there is still snow on the ground?
• Monitoring is all very well, but what actions will be taken when gridlock occurs?
• Will traffic monitoring results be made public?
• Currently, parking around Abbotsford and Glebe Centre is being taken up by some of the many construction workers, restricting parking options for others.  Where will retail employees of Lansdowne stores park when they finally open?
• Why are shuttle buses using residential streets instead of arterial roads?
• Can the City and OSEG to find funding for the Fifth Ave/Clegg footbridge?
• How will the traffic (and noise) resulting from people exiting theatres or bars late at night be managed?

From these questions and the very raucous crowd, it's clear that planning for the management of Lansdowne Traffic is an important issue for the GCA to continue to advocate for.  We'll also reach out to Bernie Ashe (CEO, OSEG), who in his remarks expressed OSEG's interest in working with the local community.  

Thanks to everyone from our community and neighbouring communities for attending the meeting tonight.  It shows that we all care about this issue.  If you would like to see the panel boards Brian presented at the meeting, they will be posted on our website (glebeca.ca) in the Traffic committee section in the near future.

See you in the 'hood,
Christine

Lansdowne Traffic

Well, it's getting closer, isn't it?  I don't mean Christmas (although it is getting closer too!), I'm talking about the launch of Lansdowne.  Have you been by there lately?  Wow!  I can almost imagine it in a finished state, even without the help of promo pictures.

To say it's been a long road for our community is an understatement.  However, we do seem to have turned a corner and are now starting to think about next June, when parts of the development will officially open.  One particular area the GCA has spent a significant amount of volunteer effort to engage residents in is with respect to traffic and how both day-to-day and special event traffic will impact not only our neighbourhood, but also the success of the development.  And make no mistake, we are invested in the success of Lansdowne - it will serve no one well if it isn't successful.

 Many readers will likely remember participating in the GCA Traffic Committee's numerous consultation efforts:  there was a large survey (with almost 700 respondents), community meetings, door-to-door interviews, flyer drops and posters on telephone polls.  A much larger consultation on this issue (or many others) than done by the City itself.

And what was the result of all that engagement?  Almost 50 prioritized, well-researched, thought-out and reasonable recommendations for the City to take advantage of when planning for getting City of Ottawa residents to and from Lansdowne Park as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Because, if it isn't quick and efficient, people might not come, and if fewer people visit Lansdowne, be it for shopping or special events, the less successful it will be.  The City is concerned about the success of Lansdowne, isn't it?

Then why are they taking a "let's wait and see how bad it will be" approach with regard to Lansdowne traffic?  Of the  45 recommendations regarding day-to-day traffic issues made by the GCA, 7 have been accepted for implementation before Lansdowne opens.  Of our 17 recommendations regarding special events and traffic monitoring, only 2 have been accepted.

Come hear for yourself.  The Lansdowne Traffic Advisory Committee (LTAC), struck to "consult" with impacted communities regarding Lansdowne Traffic, and David Chernushenko, our Councillor, will be presenting their monitoring plan for Lansdowne on Monday, December 9, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. at St. Giles Presbyterian Church (corner of Bank and First).  We'll be there too, along with Ottawa East Community Association and the Old Ottawa South Community Association. 

While we continue to advocate for changes with the Councillor, this may be one of the last opportunities for large-scale community input.

So, if Lansdowne traffic is something that concerns you, this is definitely a meeting you shouldn't miss.

See you Monday!
Christine