Top 5 things going on at the GCA

It's never a dull moment at the GCA.  Here are the big things we are working on these days:

5.  @GlebeCA twitter account:  We have been tweeting since June, but now have a dedicated volunteer, Basia Vanderveen, who is tweeting relevant GCA information and retweeting items of interest from the interesting people we follow.  If you have a Twitter account, follow us and we'll follow you!

4.  GCA Future Planning:  It's been a while since we've taken a look ahead and reflected on how we can positively impact our community.  We'll be sending out a survery in the next little while seeking your views on your community association and then plan to hold a community forum in the new year.  Stay tuned (or better yet, let us know if you are interested in helping!).

3.  2nd Avenue Parking Garage:  the GCA is working with people from GNAG, the Glebe BIA and our councillor, David Chernushenko, to see how the parking garage can be outfitted to accommodate special events (maybe movies, skateboarding, community parties, a specialty market or arts-based events) in the lower level of the garage.  Multi-purpose use makes sense given the scarcity of public spaces in the neighbourhood.

2.  Provincial Land Use Planning and OMB Appeals Process review:  the Ontario government has announced a consultation on these issues, which could give residents a more even playing field when appealing development decisions to the OMB.  The GCA Planning Committee will be taking a close look at these recommendations and developing a GCA position to contribute to the discussion.  A public consultation is slated for November 21st, at Carleton University.  For more information, check out:  http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page10355.aspx. 

1.  Lansdowne Traffic Advisory Committee:  while some progress was made on the numerous GCA Traffic Committee recommendations, the GCA is working with representatives from Old Ottawa East and Ottawa South Community Associations, along with David Chernushenko, to make further progress before Lansdowne is slated to open next summer. Increased traffic is a big concern in our neighbourhood, so this issue is the top issue for right now.   David is planning a community meeting on this topic for December 9 at the Glebe Community Centre.  More to come!


Let us know if you have particular ideas or concerns in these areas, or if you would like to contribute time or talent to our advocacy efforts.  All are welcome!

Christine

GCA Committees

I bet you don't know how many issues the GCA is dealing with at any given time.  To tell you the truth, I don't either, but I know it is a lot!

As part of my tendency to try to organize things in the month of September, I held a "committee chairs'" meeting tonight.  Representatives from 8 of 11 committees showed up (on a Monday night, no less!).  The committees represented included Environment, Traffic, Planning, Lansdowne, Education, Heritage, Health and Social Services and Membership. 

I can't believe the plethora of issues these people are working on:  naturalization of Browns Inlet, Lansdowne traffic, the 2nd Ave parking garage, zoning for conversions of single-family homes to multi-unit buildings (residential conversions), changes to the Official Plan, the Lansdowne development (and it's related issues), keeping an eye on construction at Mutchmor school, heritage research, security, membership outreach... but that's only top-dressing!  Dig a little deeper and I am struggling to find the time on the GCA's monthly agenda to have fulsome discussion about everything.

What I do know is this:  there is something here for everyone.  Pick a topic and you can get involved.  Want to join a committee?  no problem, I'll find you one!  Want to chair a committee?  While we have a full roster this year, we could probably find a co-chair role for you.  We certainly need for your contributions.  Come to the next Board meeting, Tuesday, September 24th (7 p.m. at the Glebe Community Centre) to see for yourself.  Our discussions are always lively and everyone is welcome to participate.  If you can't wait until then, come to our education session on residential conversions this Wednesday, September 11 (7 p.m. at the Glebe Community Centre).

The other thing I know is how very fortunate I am to be working with a group of committed individuals, who are giving of their time, knowledge and camaraderie.  Next time, I'll have to bring chocolate or wine to show my appreciation!

Thank you Garden Angels!

Have you ever noticed the large pebbly-stoned planters with gorgeous flowers and stunning plants on some corners in the Glebe?  Like these ones on the corner of Glebe and Lyon?

It may surprise you to know that they don't get to be that way on their own!  GCA volunteer Judith Slater, and a cadre of "Garden Angels" are to thank for adding greenery and colour to our streets. 
These guerilla gardeners take care not only of our planters, but many flower beds and grassy triangles throughout the neighbourhood, the Lord Lansdowne and even planters outside Randalls. 
Fran Arbour, store manager of Loblaws on Isabella (yes, the one being renovated), has been donating to the program for years and years from their garden centre - yet another community contribution by local businesses.  Last year, we received thousands of tulip bulbs from the Tulip Festival which have been planted all around the Glebe- be sure to look for them come next May!

The time and effort the GCA Garden Angels put into beautifying our neighbourhood reinforces my personal mandate as President to reach out and get people involved.  There are many contributions that make a neighbourhood great - they don't all involve committees or attending meetings, or even working on contentious issues (although we have a few of those!).  Without people like the Garden Angels (and many others doing all kinds of bits and bobs jobs), our neighbourhood culture would be far less rich than what it is.

 

So, I would like to say thank you to those who volunteer their time, but in this post, I would like specifically to thank the Garden Angels who include: Judith Slater, Danielle Breton, Linda Bruce, Joanne Cygler, Virginia Carver, Barbara Riley, Marina Rowbotham, Mindy Goldman, Lynne Watt, Karen Yundt, Jim Louter, Carol MacLeod, Linda Bruce, Karen Zabel and a few other individuals and families who contribute to the effort, but don't even tell us their names! 

Do you know which planter this angel lives in?

 



The next time you notice someone gardening in a bed or planter one on of our streets, please thank them!                                  

                                        

See you in the 'hood!
Christine

Guest Post - Catherine McKenna, GCA VP, on Parking at Mutchmor Field

When the Glebe Community Association found out in January that the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) wanted to turn a fifth of the of the Mutchmor Field into parking, our thoughts turned to Joni Mitchell.  In particular, lyrics from her song Big Yellow Taxi: “They paved paradise to put up a parking lot”.

The Mutchmor Field between Third and Fourth Avenues is like paradise to so many members of the Glebe community.  It is located in the heart of the Glebe and is the primary recreational space in the area.  Not only is the field used by many children, two schools, GNAG programs, soccer and hockey players, but many adults in the neighbourhood grew up playing on that field.

The OCDSB’s rationale was that Mutchmor Field was needed for additional staff parking for Mutchmor Public School once First Avenue Public School and Mutchmor P.S.’s programs, students, and staff are “switched” in 2014.

From the perspective of the Glebe community, not only was this proposal completely unexpected and made without any consultation, it was completely unacceptable. 

It was heartening to see the Glebe community – including the Glebe Community Association (GCA), the Glebe Neighbourhood Activity Group (GNAG), the First Avenue School Council, the Mutchmor School Council, the St. James Tennis Club and the Ottawa Internationals Soccer Club – work together to save this important green space from parking.  Not only did we rally against the proposed parking lot but we also worked to identify solutions that found a balance between the OCDSB’s parking needs and the best interests of the Glebe community.   Action included letters outlining community concerns to the OCDSB and to our trustee, meetings with key stakeholders including Councillor David Chernushenko and MPP Yasir Naqvi, a fact sheet about the issue made available online and in the Glebe Report, and an online petition.

In good news, the OCDSB staff reviewed their position in response to community concerns, and presented options to the OCDSB trustees that did not include parking in the Mutchmor Field. Instead they recommended leasing space in a local municipal garage as a short-term solution and looking at long-term solutions that do not involve parking on the Mutchmor Field.  Credit must also be given to Councillor Chernushenko and the City for offering to lease spaces in the parking garage to the OCDSB even though the City does not generally offer long-term parking spaces at its lots (as part of its policy to discourage vehicle commuting).

While this was clearly a welcome outcome, the GCA will be watching this issue closely as a final decision by OCDSB staff has been deferred to April 2014.  In a cautionary tale, a similar issue arose at Devonshire Public School when a decision by the OCDSB two years ago to pave the school yard for parking was delayed due to community pressure. However, the OCDSB is reconsidering the option of paving the school yard.

Perhaps, the most important lesson that can be taken from this issue can be summed up in this line from Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax:  “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.” 

The good news is that that the Glebe community cares about building a better community, a whole awful lot!  

When is a neighbourhood a community?

One of my first official duties as President of the GCA was to say a few words of congratulations to GNAG and the Glebe Report as we celebrated their 40^th birthday bash on June 21^st.  Both organizations had their roots in the GCA, which is just a little bit older (kind of like big sister status).  I read about the histories of the three groups and their contributions and activities over the years at the same time as I was gathering statistics about our neighbourhood and thinking about membership issues.

This led me to think about the difference between a neighbourhood and a community.  I’ve always defined a neighbourhood in terms its physical boundaries and a community in terms of its human interactions.  But this thinking was challenged when I attended the City’s public workshop on infill housing at the community centre on June 27^th.  As some of you might know, mature neighbourhoods throughout the City are seeing more and more infill development.  In some cases these add variety, diversity and interest, in other cases, infill developments push the extent of every rule possible and are completely out of keeping with the character of other nearby homes.  Allan Teramura, an architect who presented at the workshop on behalf of the GCA, Old Ottawa South, Ottawa East, Rideau Gardens and Dow’s Lake community associations, showed a number of examples of infill housing, some of which were nice and some, well, not so much.

But why was I bothered by the ones that didn’t fit in?  Was it just the look of them?  We’re all entitled to our own sense of style after all, why should that be any different in the style of house we decide to build?  I started to rethink my idea of a neighbourhood as only being defined by its boundaries.  In fact, I think what is also important is the amenities, if you will, house design provide in a neighbourhood.  Let me give you an example:  walk down any street in the Glebe and you will see a number of large trees (though sadly we are losing some of our ash trees), houses more or less the same distance in from the sidewalk (front yard setbacks), open porches where people sit by times and share stories of the day, a good sightline from your own porch of who else is on their porch, cars parked to the side or in-between houses (rather than in front-of-house garages).  These design characteristics contribute to the human interactions which make our community a great place to live.  Not all infills respect that.

The City is undertaking a study of infill developments to ensure they make a positive contribution to the character and quality of mature neighbourhoods such as the Glebe.  They are looking for ways to allow development while having compatibility with the established neighbourhood.  I think this study and any resulting recommendations will be incredibly important for us.  Done right, we will continue to have a lovely neighbourhood with new housing stock that reflects diversity in design and fits in with existing characteristics of the Glebe.  Done poorly, the face of our neighbourhood, and the human interactions which build our community, could be negatively impacted. 

Is this an issue that interests you?  The GCA planning committee is contributing to this study and we would like to encourage more Glebe residents to be knowledgeable about the issues and involved in the process.  You can read about the Urban Design Guidelines for Infill Housing to learn more, but you can learn the most by being involved!  Send us an email at gca@glebeca.ca or planning@glebeca.ca .

So, when is a neighbourhood a community?  In my opinion, when it creates the space for people to come together in organizations like the GCA, GNAG and the Glebe Report, that in turn provide more opportunities for the meaningful human interactions that make the Glebe such a great place to live.

See you in the ‘hood!

Christine

The New Art Festival in the Glebe

One of the things I love best about living in the Glebe is the variety of events throughout the year and the throngs of people who attend them.  The New Art Festival is one of the best, with so many talented and creative people showing off their skills.  I also really enjoy meeting other Glebites, those displaying their wares and those admiring. 

Glebe resident and artist Nicole Allen (www.nicoleallenart.com)
 



Nathalie Champagne Jewellery
 

 

Couldn't resist one of Nathalie's rings! 

 Everybody's favourite - The Pantry

 

 

Young admirers                  

 

 

Great Father's Day activity!  

                                          

 

First Avenue School parent and Panache Designs

owner, Martha Tobin, creates beautiful

scarves you can wear many ways and she supports two local

charities, Ecoequitable (www.ecoequitable.ca) and

Operation Come Home (www.operationcomehome.ca)

doing it!

 

Natalie Mezey, David Chernushenko's assistant

responsible for the Glebe & Dow's Lake, and Glebe

resident herself, with Mary Catherine Morin,

who creates beautiful jewellery from old silver cutlery!

 

Engage!

I am very excited to have been elected president of the GCA at Tuesday's AGM.  In my opinion, the GCA is one of the pillars that makes our community a great place to live (the others include GNAG, the Glebe Report, the Glebe BIA and its predecessor Glebe Business Group, the preschools/daycares/creative arts programming, the fantastic schools we are so lucky to have and many others).  I’ve had a number of roles with the GCA in the past and I’m looking forward to working with all the volunteers who devote time and energy to issues that are important to us as residents of the Glebe.

The GCA plays an important role as the voice of the community.  There are many decisions made by the City and other organizations (such as school boards) that affect our neighbourhood (a good example being the OCDSB idea to pave part of Mutchmor field for parking).  The GCA acts as a conduit to get information about these issues out to residents and then to feed information about impacts back to those organizations.  In many cases, the GCA advocates on behalf of the community when we think the negative impacts are unacceptable.

So, to me, I think the most important thing the GCA can do is to engage those of you who live and work in the Glebe.  That leads me to three questions that I will work on with the GCA Board:

1. How do we hear about issues in your part of the Glebe that the GCA should know about?
2. How do we get information from the City and other sources out to you, so that if there is something you are interested in, you will know about it?
3. How do we provide opportunities for you to be involved in the issues you care about?

Not everyone has the time to be on the Board or work on a committee (great if you do… call me!).  But on an issue you care about, you might have time to contribute in some way – doing research, making phone calls, putting up a poster, drafting a petition, commenting on a blog (hint!) or any number of other activities that contribute to effective advocacy.  

I’m hoping this blog will help with those three areas.  I’m not planning on blogging on a set time frame, but thought I would do so when I go to meetings or hear about issues I think some of you might be interested in.  The Board has talked in the past about the comment features on blogs as being one way to hear about what residents think, so I’m really hoping that you’ll use that feature.  And I don’t expect many issues to have unanimous opinions (such as the “kids not cars” and “parks not parking” sentiments about Mutchmor field). In fact I think we should look for all sides of an issue to be put forward.   If you have topic ideas, leave a comment.

My parting message for this blog is that the GCA wants to be fully engaged with its members.  We'll do our best to reach out in new ways, but to be effective, we need you to Engage! too.