No buildings will be built on Queen Juliana Park.

A comment by the Hon. Charles Green (Minister of Public Works; Leader of the Government in the House of Commons; Progressive Conservative Party House Leader), June 16, 1958.
----------------------------------------------------
During World War 11 the Government of Canada constructed a number of temporary office complexes in Ottawa. Temporary Building #8 was located on the Central Experimental Farm.
House of Commons  Ottawa  June 16, 1958.
Hon. George James McIlraith, Liberal.
Mr. McIlraith:
     "Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the minister is now prepared to make the statement he said he would make concerning the policy of the government with respect to buildings on the central experimental farm. The minister will recall I raised this question the last time the estimates were before the Committee."
Mr. Green:
     "The policy is that no buildings will be built on the central experimental farm except buildings for the Department of Agriculture."
Mr. McIlraith:
     "If I may pursue the first question a bit further, has the minister come to any conclusion as to what will be done with the land on the experimental farm when they are removed?"
Mr. Green:
     "I take it that the hon. member for Ottawa West refers to temporary buildings Nos. 5 and 8. For some years the policy has been when the temporary buildings are torn down nothing will be constructed on the site."
Mr. McIlraith:
     "I want to commend the minister for continuing the policy set out a few years ago by the Liberal administration in that regard. I believe he will agree it is a very satisfactory policy."
-----------------------------------------------------
The National Capital Commission and Public Works gave the $4 million dollar Dow's Lake parking lot, QJP and the grounds of the Sir John Carling building to a health care facility.
----------------------------------------------------

September 22, 1954. The photo is from Library and Archives Canada.

Demolition of Temporary Buildings No. 5 and No. 8, 1976. Carling Avenue is on the left and Dow's Lake can be seen on the right. Library and Archives photo taken from the top of the Sir John Carling Building.

 

    Queen Juliana Park, 870 Carling Avenue Ottawa.    
5.5883 ha. or 13.80800 acres.
Primary Use: Parks and Recreation.
Record Modified on August 19, 2019.
(From: The Directory of Federal Real Property website.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Petition: City of Ottawa Planning Committee: Stop the rezoning of Parks to Condos, Queen Juliana in Little Italy.                             
     "The City of Ottawa planners are rezoning Little Italy to medium to high density condos for the area bounded by the 417 north to Carling south to Rochester east and the railroad tracks west. The Queen Juliana Park was founded in 1976 when the Federal government tore down the Temporary Buildings...The purpose (of the park) was to honour Queen Juliana of Holland and to relocate community uses of the Commissioner's Park in 1976 when Italian Week and St. Anthony's Church used Commissioner's Park to celebrate Italian Canadian Culture. In 1976, Mr. Edes of the NCC convinced Public Works to create (Queen Juliana) park for community use."
(Note: The official who convinced PWGSC to give Queen Juliana Park to the people of Canada was  Eldon Edey, who was the Director of Gatineau Park and a member of the NCC.

There is a photograph of H.R.H. Prince Charles walking between Mr. Edey and the Hon. Barney Danson in the April 22, 1975 edition of the Ottawa Citizen. And a different photo of the group can be found in the National Capital Commission 1974-1975 Annual Report, page 67 out of 89.)

     Architect Moses Edey designed the Daly Building and Cattle Castle at Lansdowne Park and lived about three miles away from the Farm on Somerset West in Ottawa.  

                                         

Designation as a Heritage Conservation District will save Little Italy.

Heritage Conservation Districts in Canada's Capital.
Bank Street - By-law 175-2000.
Besserer/Wurtemburg - By-law 2018-338.
Briarcliffe - By-law 2013-65.
ByWard Market - By-law 60-91.
Cathedral Hill - By-law 286-89.
Centretown - By-law 269-97.
Clemow Estate East - By-law 2011-346.
Daly Avenue - By-law 308-82.
King Edward Avenue - By-law 310-82.
Laurier/Wilbrod - By-law 307-82.
Lorne Avenue - By-law 2005-13.
Lowertown West - By-law 192-94.
Minto Park - By-law 142-88.
New Edinburgh - By-law 2016-95.
The entire Village of Rockcliffe Park -
Russell Avenue/ Range Road - By-law 2016-89.
Sandy Hill West - By-law 255-94.
Sparks Street - By-law 255-94.
Stewart-Wilbrod - By-law 311-82.
Sweetland Avenue - By-law 309-82.
-------------------------------------------------------
The Provincial Policy Statement issued under the Planning Act, provides municipalities in Ontario with policy directions on matters related to land use planning and development. Part V, Section 2.6 of the PPS states that:

• Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be preserved; and
• Planning authorities shall not permit development and site alteration on adjacent lands to protected heritage property except where the proposed development and site alteration  has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the protected heritage property will be conserved.

City of Ottawa Official Plan.

Section 2.5.5. of the Official Plan provides direction regarding the protection of cultural heritage resources in the city. Policy 2.5.5 (2) states that:

     "Individual buildings, structures, sites and cultural heritage landscapes will be designated as properties of cultural heritage value under Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act. Groups of buildings, cultural landscapes and areas of the city will be designated as Heritage Conservation Districts under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act."

Height Limitations.

Save Little Italy, Notes, Facebook.
Somerset Ward Councillor Diane Holmes, January 18, 2013.
     "The Preston Carling Report is a reversion to the discredited 'urban renewal' planning philosophies of the 1950's and the 1960's, which totally discounted the values of the built heritage and human populations in the existing communities. Little Italy is a working-class neighbourhood of historic and cultural importance to the City of Ottawa."
     "During the most recent phases of urban renewal sixty years ago, large areas comprising entire neighbourhoods and communities were completely wiped away for planned redevelopment. This has made the remaining sectors all the more valuable and worthy of protection from another wave of displacement. In designating the whole area east of the O-Train corridor as a throwaway zone, the City of Ottawa has abandoned its principles of community development, strengthening neighbourhoods and working with existing communities."
     "The new building heights of nine stories along the O-Train corridor are too high, and the existing maximum building heights should be retained."
     "With the assistance of the Dalhousie Community Association I have made a calculation of the number of additional population and jobs that will be added to this 'Mixed Use Centre' with the developments already approved or currently applied for:
100 Champagne - 100 units.
101 Champagne - 252 units.
125 Hickory - 324 units.
865 Carling (if residential) - 500 units.
801 Albert - 130k sq metres in jobs.
500 Preston - 294 units.
505 Preston - 248 units.
518 Rochester - 120 units.
If we include the future 3-5 towers at the Dow Honda site (500 units) it appears that the City of Ottawa will already be exceeding the 2031 intensification targets for this section of the Carling Bayview Mixed Use Centre by 125%. Therefore there is no planning rationale to up-zone the healthy low scale streets east of the O-Train tracks such as the dead-end streets for increased development."
Diane Holmes
Office of Councillor Diane Holmes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Street Names.
Booth Street-Lumber baron J.R. Booth provided all of the lumber for the original Parliament Buildings. He was friends with Sir John A. Macdonald and Sir Wilfred Laurier.
Preston Street - Isabella Preston was a horticulturist and public servant who worked for decades at the nearby Central Experimental Farm. The Isabella Preston crabapple trees line Prince of Wales Drive. Preston Street is also known as Corso Italia.
Gladstone Avenue is Via Marconi.

The Plant Bath located at 930 Somerset Street West is designated by the City of Ottawa under Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Italian Week.

Traffic Studies.

More parkland/greenspace is needed.
Possible venues are 933 Gladstone and vacant land on the former Energy, Mines and Resources campus, a National Interest Land Mass.

Public Art.

Bambini. (CBC photo.)

The possible future of the old Civic Hospital site.

 Image is from Reimagine Ottawa.

  Bank Note Building on 975 Gladstone.

The City owns land beneath the current hospital. "The first major development in the area was the acquisition of 25 acres of the Reid Farm by the City of Ottawa in 1919 for construction of the Civic Hospital and its School of Nursing, both of which opened in 1924." (CHNAOttawa.ca/history and heritage committee.)
"In the next decade the near west of Ottawa will see tens of thousands of new residents." (Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Jeff Leiper, Google: "417 ramp close at transportation committee-Kitchissippi")
Local politicians are determined to intensify Centretown West, especially near LRT stations. I would not be surprised if Commissioner's Park is rezoned, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands never even visited the park on their last visit to the Capital. I would not be surprised if the B.A International Building on 975 Gladstone Avenue is demolished, the building is on the City's Heritage Register but is not designated.

Major developments in Centretown West, Ottawa.

1.) 101 Champagne Avenue. We were promised that the Humane Society land would be an extension of Ev Tremblay Park. Google: City Council Meeting, Jul 9, 2014.

2.) The new Ottawa Hospital will be constructed on 50 acres of Central Experimental Farm land, including the Sir John Carling site, Dow's Lake Parking Lot and Queen Juliana Park. The parking lot and QJP have been zoned as Mixed Use, not Institutional. The Dominion Observatory campus has been spared from redevelopment but the hospital does not want "irregularily shaped parcels of land."

                                               






Another Central Experimental Farm project :The annexation of 30 acres of land in order to create an enterprise near the Arboretum and the Hartwell Locks. Features include a visitor's centre, laboratory, amphitheatre, tower, a parking lot and a plaza.

The Hartwell Locks on the Rideau Canal, Ottawa. The Farm can be seen on the left.

Individuals who wanted to save the Experimental Farm:

Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson: "I think the Central Experimental Farm is a real gem in the city and I don't think the public wants to take open and green space and have it developed." (friendsofthefarm newsletter, summer of 2013, page 10 out of 12.)

Prime Minister of Canada Louis St-Laurent - see the March 19, 1954 Privy Council Order-in-Council.

Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition Party, PC, Mr. Walter David Baker - House of Commons, November 4, 1974.

MP and Head of the Green Party Elizabeth May wrote a letter to Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, google: "Celebrating Earth Day, Heritage Ottawa."

Mr. Pierre De Bane (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State for Urban Affairs) - House of Commons, November 4, 1974.

Ms. Maude Barlow, Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians - Ottawa Citizen newspaper article from August 3, 2001.
Hon. Howard Charles Green - Minister of Public Works; PC Party House Leader; Leader of the Government in House of Commons - June 16, 1958.
Hon. George John McIlraith - June 16, 1958.

Federal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan.

Federal Minister of Agriculture Bud Olson.

Federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz.
Ottawa City Councillor Katherine Hobbs.
MP Marlene Catterall -
Ottawa City Councillor Clive Doucet.
The Farm is a National Interest Land Mass and a National Historic Site of Canada. The Observatory, barns, museums, greenhouses and laboratories are Classified or Recognized Federal Heritage Buildings. The Rideau Canal is a National Historic Site and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of the Rideau Canal cannot be obstructed by new construction, and there are buffer zones, read Senate Bill S-203 (An Act to amend the National Capital Act) which was introduced by Senator Serge Joyal in November of 2019.

3.) 900 Albert Street, Lebreton Flats - 65, 52 and 32 storey residential towers.
4.) 845 Carling Avenue (The Sky) - 55, 45 and 18 storey condominiums. 
5.) 101 Norman-93-105 Norman.
6.) 933 Gladstone - Gladstone Village - Will accomodate 600 to 1,300 affordable units. The land was federally owned by the Department of National Defence, the Oak Park Armoury.
7.) 951 Gladstone.

951 Gladstone Avenue and 145 Loretta Avenue. (Bruce Burwell photo.)

8.) 500 Preston (Soho Italia) - A 30-storey residential condo.
9.) Claridge Icon - 505 Preston - a 45-storey mixed use tower with 250 condominiums.
10.) Booth Street - four mixed-use towers of between 18 to 24 storeys.
11.) Claridge East Flats -(301, 324 Lett Street; 133 Booth) - Five mixed-use buildings ranging from 25 to 45 storeys, with 1,950 dwelling units.
12.) 192 Bronson - (31 Cambridge North, 192 and 196 Bronson Avenue. - 18 storey mixed-use tower.).
13.) 13 Lebreton/770 Somerset Street West - Nine storey mixed use apartment with 112 rental units.
14.) 160-170 Cambridge Street - a three-storey, 24 unit apartment building.
15.) 1040-1050 Somerset West - two mixed-use apartments, one 23 storeys and the other 30 storeys.
16.) 811 Gladstone (22-40 Balsam, 275-285 Rochester, 811-829 Gladstone.)
17.) 17 Aberdeen Street (300, 333, 343, 347 Preston.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Little Italy neighbourhood should be a Heritage Conservation District protected by Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
"Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act allows municipalities to recognize and protect neighbourhoods, rural landscapes, main streets or other area of special cultural heritage value that have a cohesive sense of time and place. Designated heritage districts often enjoy a renewed cultural and economic vitality not only because district designation highlights their special values but also because they are protected from decay and the intrusion of incompatible structures."
Notable buildings in Little Italy.

St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church.

 Canadian Bank Note Company, 975 Gladstone Avenue.

The Adult High School on Rochester, also known as the High School of Commerce.

The Plant Bath, 930 Somerset.

Street names, murals and the archway.
Gladstone Avenue is Via Marconi.

The artist is Karole Marois.

The unstoppable Ottawa City Hall. The following buildings will be demolished for affordable housing.

1.) The Tom Brown Arena, 141 Bayview.

2.)  The baseball stadium on 300 Coventry Road.

3.)  1010 Somerset Street West, a Public Works and Government Services building. Zoning: No height limits.

4.)  The former RCMP Headquarters on 1200 Vanier Parkway:

5.) A former CBC Building on 250 Lanark Avenue in Westboro, the Graham Spry Building. The 3.2 ha. site has "high development potential".

6.)  80-90 Bayview Road, a National Capital Commission property located along the easterly limits of Mechanicsville/Hintonburg. "Opportunity for dense development."

7.) Highbury Park, 1005-1045 Greenbank Road, Ottawa. Owned by the City, 2.43 ha.
(All information is from "Affordable Housing Opportunities Page 1 of 40, OttWatch".)

CFB Rockcliffe was worth $1.3 billion dollars.

The day Prince Charles and Princess Diana visited Parliament Hill. June 21, 1983.

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

A young woman dressed up as Princess Diana.

I will not be a tenant in my own country.

Throughout my lifetime I have worked at various minimum wage jobs, and never had enough money to buy a house.
But I, and 33 million other Canadians, did own $60 to $80 billion dollars worth of federal property. I could walk into a Manpower office and say to myself "I own this building." I could walk into a post office with marble floors and 12-foot high ceilings and say to myself "This is my property."
The people of this nation owned the Parliament Buildings, the Connaught Building, museums, art galleries, National Parks, the Rideau Canal, harbours, bridges, Library and Archives Canada, the Federal Training Centre; lighthouses. Our Maple Leaf Flag and Coat of Arms are proudly displayed on Government of Canada buildings.

 I now hear the words and phrases: land is needed for housing;
surplus real property
the government does not need bricks and mortar to govern.
the private sector can manage Crown properties more effectively.

The City of Ottawa is part of a project entitled the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness initiative: Affordable housing is earmarked for:
933 Gladstone.
part of Lebreton Flats.
rowhouses opposite the Adult High School on 300 Rochester, built by Canada Mortgage and Housing during the 1960's.
1010 Somerset, a PWGSC building.
part of CFB Rockcliffe.

The City of Ottawa wants 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt.
A former U.K. prime minister privatized geared-to-income housing. The council flats are featured on a BBC television program called "Location, Location, Location" with Kirstie Allsop and Phil Spencer.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Civic Hospital relocation will negatively affect tourism, take away Queen Juliana Park, wipe the Dominion Observatory off the map, increase the number of vehicles on the road and create noise and environmental pollution. The Civic Hospital Neighbourhood, Little Italy and the Glebe Annex  have to deal intensification on Gladstone, high-rises on 101 Champagne; a mega-hospital on the Farm and a "wall of condos" lining Carling Avenue. The damage inflicted on this area will last for generations. As former Councillor Diane Holmes told Ottawa Citizen reporter Dave Reevely, the current municipal government does not represent the community.

 This image is from "Reimagine Ottawa" a group headed by politician and writer Clive Doucet.

 

Canadian politicians who tried to preserve federal property.

Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau  created a Crown corporation called Harbourfront in order to save 100 acres of waterfront land in Toronto from developers.
MP John Nunziata
MP Derek Lee
Individuals who created the National Interest Land Mass designation, in order to stop the National Capital Commisssion from selling prime federal properties, and to stop the City of Ottawa from using the Government of Canada as a land bank.
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works Erik Nielsen.
Cabinet Ministers who refused to sell or transfer Greenbelt land to the City of Ottawa.
Environment Minister Jim Prentice.
Environment Minister John Baird.
Gatineau Park
Senator Mira Spivak created "An Act to amend the National Capital Act.(Establishment and Protection of Gatineau Park.)"
Politicians who want to see the Lebreton Flats turned into a National Park.
Environment Minister John Baird
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada John Manley.
MP Barry Mather - October 22, 1969.
The Greenbelt.
MP Marcel Proulx, Hull-Aylmer.
Hon. Gordon O'Connor, Carleton-Mississippi Mills.
MP. Beryl Gaffney, Nepean, Ontario.
MP Don Boudria, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Ontario.
Experimental Farm, Ottawa
Prime Minister Louis St-Laurent.
MP Marlene Catterall.
Ottawa Councillor Clive Doucet.
Ottawa Councillor Katherine Hobbs.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Gerry Ritz.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Eugene Whelan.
Federal Minister of Agriculture Bud Olson.
Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition Party, PC, Mr. Walter David Baker, November 4, 1974.
MP and Leader of the Green Party Elizabeth May.
Hon. Howard Charles Green, PC Party House Leader; Leader of the Government Opposition in the House of Commons; Minister of Public Works.
Hon. George McIltaith.
 Parliamentary Precinct - Wellington Street buildings facing the Hill and the northern part of the Sparks Street Mall.
Senator Serge Joyal introduced "An Act to amend the National Capital Act (buildings or works of national significance.)" Bill S-203 was created to protect the heritage buildings along Wellington and the north side of the Mall. The National Capital Commission and PWGSC privatized most of the properties on the south side of the Mall - CBC Headquarters; Thomas D'Arcy McGee Building; 56 Sparks Street, home of the USC.
 The NCC and Public Works are "modernizing" and no doubt privatizing the Parliamentary Precinct and new buildings will be constructed on infill sites--- for example beside the former American embassy.

Leader of the Federal New Democratic Party Jack Layton - opposed the construction of the Skydome on railway lands in Toronto.
Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton - refused to let Larco Investments build residential towers on the Dominion Building, One Front Street West, Toronto, next to Union Station.
CFB Shearwater, Nova Scotia
Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay.
Minister of National Defence Gordon O'Connor.
MP Bill Casey.
MP Peter Stoffer.
Tried to save the Upton Experimental Farm in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Premier of PEI Pat Binns
Premier of PEI Robert Ghiz
MP Shawn Murphy
Mayor of Charlottetown Clifford Lee
Champions of the Sparks Street Mall, Ottawa.
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Moffatt Farm.
Senator Anne Cools
Speaker of the Senate Noel Kinsella
Mayor of Ottawa Bob Chiarelli and the City Councillors tried to purchase the Moffatt Farm, an 88-acre Veterans Affairs property near Mooney's Bay. They wanted the land to remain a green space, a park. But the National Capital Commission turned down their offer.
Kingston Penitentiary, Ontario.
MP Ted Hsu.
City Councillor in Kingston, Ontario Bridget Doherty
City Councillor in Kingston, Ontario Bill Glover.
CFB Downsview, Toronto.
Toronto City Councillor Maria Augimeri.
Senneville Lodge, Senneville Quebec.
Mayor of Senneville, Quebec Jane Guest

MP Bill Blaikie
MP Charlie Angus - criticized the sale of 9 federal buildings to Larco Investments, including the Sinclair Centre and Douglas Jung buildings in Vancouver; the Thomas D'Arcy McGee building on the Mall in Ottawa;
MP Mark Holland.
Individuals who tried to save heritage properties.
Paul Oberman bought the Summerhill Station in North Toronto, which the Canadian Pacific Railway wanted to demolish. Mr. Oberman laid down in front of a bulldozer that was demolishing aircraft hangars at CFB Downsview, Toronto:

CFB Downsview in Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian politicians who are decimating the federal government's real estate portfolio:
Mayor of Ottawa Jim Watson.
City of Ottawa Councillor Riley Brockington - approved the construction of a new Civic Hospital on the grounds of a National Historic Site, the Experimental Farm. Told a reporter from the Ottawa Citizen newspaper that he would try to lock into the NCC/Civic agreement a promise to spare the Dominion Observatory. Hundreds of trees will be sacrificed including Isabella Preston's crabapple trees.
 Prince of Wales Drive and Maple Drive will be widened;
12 acres of the Farm have been rezoned so that condos can be built along an "arterial route" Carling Avenue;
the hospital is flattening a Recognized Federal Heritage Building, the cafeteria annex designed by Hart Massey;
 UNESCO sent a warning letter to Parks Canada, stating that the nearby Rideau Canal will lose its designation as a World Heritage Site.
City of Ottawa Councillor Catherine McKenney:
1.) Wants to see residential towers on the Sparks Street Mall.
2.) Is encouraging intensification at the former Energy, Mines and Resources Campus on Booth.
3.) Approved the construction of a 65-storey condominium on 900 Albert, Lebreton Flats, and a cluster of other condos nearby.
Head of the National Capital Commission Tobi Nussbaum - Tobi Nussbaum permitted the takeover of CFB Rockcliffe by an arms-length, profit-making Crown corporation. Not one PMQ, aircraft hangar or any other building was left standing and the entire military base was leveled and sold off.
Minister of Public Works and Procurement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Demolition of Booth Street campus. Summer of 2020.

Only the outer facade or shell of a few buildings will be preserved.
Examples of facadism in other Government of Canada buildings:

The possible future of Kingston Pen.

                                                       

2384 Yonge Street, Toronto, a former Canada Post building and National Historic Site.

Responsibilities of local Ottawa politicians.

1.)  Identify the National Interest Land Mass properties:
The Greenbelt - cannot leave the National Capital Commission real estate portfolio.
Greenbelt Research Farm - cannot leave the NCC real estate portfolio.
Lebreton Flats - cannot leave the NCC real estate portfolio.
Lady Grey Drive behind the Royal Canadian Mint.
more - Google: 1988-09-15-tb-re-ncc.

2.)  Respect the fact that Rochester Park was a gift to the National Capital Commission during the 1950's and the land cannot be rezoned for profit.

3.)  Recognize the fact that Ottawa is the Capital City of Canada and heritage buildings are often converted into museums, embassies (for example Earnscliffe is now the home of the Embassy for the UK), art galleries and the headquarters for global agencies like the Red Cross and UNESCO. There was no excuse for you to give away a landmark in Chinatown, 755 Somerset Street West.

4.) Stop coveting federal properties in the region, there are municipal and private properties where you can build your affordable housing projects. I know that you pay the federal government $1 dollar for land that is earmarked for affordable housing.

5.) Stop pressuring the government for land that is part of the Greenbelt. Environment Ministers Jim Prentice and John Baird refused to give the City any Greenbelt property.

6.)  Identify neighbourhoods that can be designated as Heritage Conservation Districts, for example Little Italy and Chinatown.

7.)  Identify, photograph and document endangered buildings in your Ward. They can be protected by Parks Canada and the province of Ontario. The City helped to save the Booth Barn in 1995.

8.)  Do not demolish the Tom Brown Arena and the stadium on Coventry Road in order to build geared-to-income housing.

9.)  Knock on doors and find out what local residents are really concerned about, be it traffic congestion, lack of green space, etc. Communicate face-to-face or in an assembly hall.
Stop hiding behind Facebook and Twitter.

Out of control redevelopment in Canada's Capital.

Several years ago the maximum height of residential buildings on Lebreton was capped at twelve storeys. Google: 2003 Ottawa Official Plan Volume 2 by Brendan Cormier.
City of Ottawa planners did not want views of Parliament Hill impacted by high-rises. Or neighbouring communities affected by intensification.

A cluster of high rise condominiums will be located near Albert and Preston. Google Maps 2020.

The 65-storey tower on 900 Albert Street, Lebreton Flats. Ottawa Construction News July 2020.

Google:  2003 Ottawa Official Plan Volume 2 by Brendan Cormier.
Building Heights    Pages 194/195 out of 498 pages.

C.)  City Council shall require that maximum building profiles be described generally in the following:
i. up to six storeys for buildings fronting on Scott/Wellington/Albert Streets to provide for compatibility with the existing community;
ii. up to eight storeys at Preston and Booth  Streets along Scott/Wellington/Albert Streets to provide for landmark buildings at the southern entrances to LeBreton Flats and high density development in proximity to the transitway station on Booth Street;
iii.  up to ten storeys along Booth Street south of "LeBreton Boulevard", to provide for high density development in proximity to the transitway station on Booth Street;
iv.  up to twelve storeys along the "LeBreton Boulevard" arterial road, while ensuring that a high-profile continuous wall of buildings is avoided, and that policies in the Official Plan for protecting views of the Parliament Buildings and Other National Symbols are respected;
v.  up to six storeys in the Cultural/Office Area, north of "LeBreton Boulevard" in recognition of its proximity to the Greenway System, while ensuring that the policies in the Official Plan for protecting views of the Parliament Buildings and Other National Symbols are respected; and
vi.  up to six and eight storeys within the majority of the Residential Areas.
vii.  to ensure that appropriate scale relationships will be provided along streets where development with a height of 10 storeys is permitted on one side of the street as shown on Map 4, City Council shall require that the higher profile development integrate with lower profile development through various techniques as set out in the Urban Design Policies of the Official Plan (Central Area Urban Design Policies set out in Chapter 5.0 and the General Urban Design Policies set out in Chapter 12.0) to provide for achieving harmonious street environments consistent with the principles set out in the urban design guidelines developed as required by Policy 1.11.4.4.(Amendment #24, May 25, 2005.

The City may demolish the Tom Brown Skating Arena to create affordable housing on the site.
The baseball stadium on Coventry Road and Bob MacQuarrie complex are also earmarked as geared-to-income housing locations.
Tom Brown Arena - 141 Bayview Station Road.
Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton Park - 302 Coventry Road.
Bob MacQuarrie Recreational Complex - 1490 Youville Drive, Orleans. The Elizabeth Manley Figure Skating Arena is part of the complex.
     "With the launch of the LRT, we now have a once in a generation opportunity to locate a number of affordable housing projects on public lands near transit stations." (A quote by Mayor Jim Watson, from the CBC article "City eyes baseball stadium, Tom Brown arena for development" Kate Porter, March 29, 2019.)
-------------------------------------------------------
Another blunder...
The Dalhousie Community Centre on 755 Somerset Street West in Chinatown was sold for $1 dollar to a youth centre. The building was appraised at $3,380,000 dollars and Ottawa taxpayers paid $4 million dollars in 2017 and 2018 to refurbish the landmark.

Why did the City not approach the federal or provincial governments before giving away this Crown jewel? The federal government would have designated 755 Somerset a Classified Federal Heritage Building, and converted it into a museum showcasing the history of Chinatown, Nanny Goat Hill, etc. A Canadian Maple Leaf Flag and our Coat of Arms would have been attached to the property.
 Does the "youth centre" have enough money to maintain the site? There is a Use Restriction Covenant.

If I were the City Councillor for Somerset Ward:
1.)I would designate Little Italy and Chinatown Heritage Conservation Districts, protected by Section V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
2.) Conduct an inventory of historic properties in the Ward, accompanied by members of:
 Heritage Ottawa;
a representative from the Ontario government's Ministry of Tourism and Sport;
a local tourism guide or specialist;
an official from Parks Canada/the Heritage Sites and Monuments Board;

3.) Return 755 Somerset Street West to the City of Ottawa's portfolio of properties. For $1 dollar.
4.) Ban the construction of residential towers on the Sparks Street Mall, the Mall does not have to be animated.
5.) Transform the Lebreton Flats into a National Park.
6.) Promise that the Tom Brown Arena will never be flattened.
7.) Promise that land behind the Adult High School, which I attended in 1980 will never be sold.

Rochester Field in Ottawa is being redeveloped.

In 1973 the field was known as Rochester Park.

The City rezoned the land in order to facilitate the construction of apartments along Richmond Road. The entire site will eventually be turned into a construction zone.

Maplelawn House and Gardens, 529 Richmond Road, Ottawa.

 The grey area between Richmond Road and the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway is the field. Sold to the Federal District Commission by the Cole/ Rochester family so that it would remain a green space---for the inhabitants of this nation to enjoy in perpetuity. (1950's deed.)

And the condos will be much higher than eight storeys, this is what local politician Diane Holmes told reporter David Reevely:
     "...The Development Review Services Branch is responsible for processing development applications. It has become increasingly apparent that this branch no longer represents the citizens or neighbourhoods in this ward, Rather, this branch represents the development industry...Input from the general public is generally disregarded because this branch considers residents comments to be NIMBY comments. The branch provides support to any application with little-or-no recognition or consideration of the neighbourhood wants or needs...This is happening throughout the ward where applications are submitted before the developer and the community have a chance to sit down and discuss the proposal. You want to add 10 extra stories on your building? Fine by us. You don't want to provide visitor parking? Use street parking instead. Too many trees in front of your building? No problem, we'll remove them." (Ottawa Citizen newspaper, May 19, 2014.)
Intensification is being forced on Government of Canada real estate near LRT stations:
 933 Gladstone;
 Lebreton Flats;
80-90 Bayview Road;
1010 Somerset Street West.
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The City of Ottawa should not ignore traffic studies, environmental reports and the will of the people:
Save Little Italy.
Alliance to Save Our Greenbelt.
Save Our Greenspace!
Ontario Chapter|Sierra Club of Canada.
Friends of Rochester Field.
Friends of the Central Experimental Farm.
Civic Hospital Neighbourhood Association.
Save Mooney's Bay.
Moffatt Farm Citizen's Coalition - 2002.
Save Mile Circle - near Rockcliffe, 1986.
Saving the Central Experimental Farm|Heritage Ottawa.
Protect the Farm-Home|Facebook.
Save the Farm (1975).
Save the Central Experimental Farm - Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital.
SAVE THE FARM - Protest to save our trees and greenspace - Ecology Ottawa.
The National Trust for Canada.
------------------------------------------------------
Canada does not have a ruling class that owns castles and hundreds of thousands of acres of land. It has become apparent during this epidemic, this quarantine that we need green spaces for our mental and physical health. Access to public land is a human right, a God-given right. We need sunlight and trees and space.
I think of all the people who are living in apartments without air conditioners, and who are suffering; of children who are confined because they do not live near playgrounds. How traumatic that must be. The children may not be Their Royal Highnesses; they may not be the offspring of high tech billionaires or legendary musicians. But they have the right to enjoy Mother Nature which was created by God for all of Mankind. Not for a privileged few or the descendants of warriors.
 Politicians are out of touch with reality to even contemplate selling:
the Greenbelt;
Queen Juliana Park;
Rochester Park;
Ev Tremblay Park;
Lebreton Flats;
the armoury on Gladstone;
the National Parks:

THIS IS OUR LAND.
Take away the No Trespassing and Private Property signs. And the Gates of Hell that stop the people of Canada from entering land that should be in the public domain.

Real estate holdings in 1996-1997.

Greenbelt properties.
Gatineau Park.
Parkways.
Confederation Boulevard.
Ottawa River Parkway.
Rockcliffe Parkway.
Aviation Parkway.
Voyageur Parkway.
Colonel By Drive.
Philemon-Wright Parkway.
Other parkways - Quebec.
Other parkways - Ontario.

Parks.
Rideau River Park.
Brewery Creek.
Parliament Hill Promenade.
Du Portage Park.
Victoria Island.
Tache Park.
Sentier-de-I'Ile Park.
Commissioners Park.
Vincent Massey Park.
Hog's Back Park.
E.B. Eddy Park.
Other parks - Quebec.
Other parks - Ontario -( Rochester Park between Richmond Road and the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway was part of Maplelawn; Mile Circle near Rockcliffe.)

Bridges and Approaches.
Portage Bridge.
Champlain Bridge.
Macdonald-Cartier Bridgeheads.
Deschenes-Brittania Approach.
Hog's Back Bridge.
(From: NCC Annual Report - 1996-1997, Page 67/77.)

The former National Capital Commission Headquarters, Ottawa.

The Recognized Federal Heritage Building was located on 401 Lebreton Street at Carling.

Jacques Greber outlined his vision for the National Capital in this building. The sign mentions 'Dow's Lake'.

How to save the Lebreton Flats from inappropriate, mass redevelopment.

1.)  Enforce the National Interest Land Mass rule.
                               National Interest Land Mass General Description (map attached.)
     The National Interest Land Mass consists of "national shrines, the river and canal banks, the Confederation Boulevard, the Gatineau Park, and the Greenbelt in the National Capital Region...considered essential to the realization of the vision of the Capital..."
     There are 37 individual parcels of property in this category currently owned by the NCC totalling some 44,200 ha. in area. (94 per cent of the total NCC holdings in the area.)
     Land forming part of the NILM will be retained by the NCC on behalf of the government in perpetuity, for purposes which lie at the core of the NCC's mandate.
                             NCC NILM Lands in Ontario.
     Part of Lebreton Flats N. of the transitway - 65.37 ha. or 161 acres.
NCC LANDS HAVING A POTENTIAL FOR INCLUSION IN THE NILM.
Lebreton Flats - 35.0 ha. or 86 acres.
(Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC.)
2.)  Enforce the height restrictions for new construction near the Parliamentary Precinct.
3.)  Designate the Lebreton Flats a National Historic Site of Canada. Senator Serge Joyal recently introduced Senate Bill S-203, to ban the construction of inappropriate buildings (especially high rise condominiums) on or near historic landscapes in the National Capital Region.
4.)  During the late 1960's plans were underway to create a Western Annex to the Parliamentary Precinct on the Lebreton Flats.
5.) Turn the Flats into a Capital Park.
6.)  Recognize the fact that nearby streets cannot handle any more traffic.
     "As a resident of the Preston Street neighbourhood, I have serious concerns about traffic from an arena or large public events venues. The roads as they stand are clogged at rush hour...There would need to be MAJOR incentives for folks to use public transit."
     "How will parking be handled? If bringing visitors/tourists to the area, where do they park."
     "The proposal notes that hundreds of thousands of visitors can be expected for each attraction. These hundreds of thousands of people will not all use public transit. The roads surrounding LeBreton Flats cannot handle such traffic, nor can the surrounding residential streets support the thousands of cars that continuously search for parking spots." (From: Public Consultation on the Redevelopment of LeBreton Flats, Final Report, April 28, 2016.)
-----------------------------------------
House of Commons Debates pertaining to Lebreton.
February 23, 1965
Mr. Cardin (Minister of Public Works.) Liberal.
     "...Some time ago a decision was reached to construct the Department of National Defence headquarters building in the Lebreton flats area. At that time it was also decided that other government buildings should be located in the same area, forming a government complex of office buildings in the area from Parliament Hill west to lebreton flats."
October 22, 1969
Mr. Barry Mather, New Democratic Party.
     ".Is the Government of Canada giving favourable consideration to the establishment of a national park in the Lebreton Flats area in Ottawa?"

The City of Ottawa is taking over federal property in the National Capital.

Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney tried to stop the City from using federal property as a land bank, by creating the National Interest Land Mass designation. (Google: 1988-09-15-TB-re-NCC.)
The City wants to own 13,700 acres of the Greenbelt. Environment Ministers Jim Prentice and John Baird refused to give the City of Ottawa any Greenbelt land.
The Greenbelt and Lebreton Flats are untouchable, they are protected by the NILM and they are owned in perpetuity by all Canadians.
The following Crown assets have already been released by the National Capital Commission, Public Works, Agriculture Canada, the Department of National Defence and Forestry Canada to the municipality:
Part of CFB Rockcliffe
Former Teacher's College - 195 Elgin.
The Mackenzie King and Laurier Avenue bridges.
DOC Telecommunications Engineering Lab - 1241 Clyde Avenue, sold to Ashcroft Homes.
Mooney's Bay Park - owned by the NCC and rented to the city.
Beaver Barracks - 464 Metcalfe Street.
Forintek Laboratory - 800 Montreal Road.
933 Gladstone, the Oak Park Armoury.

"Affordable Housing Opportunities." (Google: 1010 Somerset Street West - OttWatch - Page 1 of 40.)
1010 Somerset Street West is a Public Works and Government Services building. Adjacent to Plant Bath, 930 Somerset, a designated heritage building. Zoning: No height limit.
80-90 Bayview Road. Located along the easterly limits of Mechanicsville and Hintonburg. Heights will range from 6 to 30 storeys. Opportunity for dense development.
1430 Riverside Drive - NCC and City of Ottawa. 49.1 hectares. Adjacent to the Rideau River and Rideau Canal which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, National Historic Site and Canadian Heritage River.
Former RCMP Headquarters on 1200 Vanier Parkway - plus or minus 14.9 hectares.

The RCMP Headquarters on 1200 Vanier Parkway, 1983.

Former CBC-CBOT Building, 250 Lanark Avenue - 3.2 hectares.
Former Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation rowhouses opposite the Adult High School, 300 Rochester.
--------------------------------------------
The NCC is comprised of members from all across Canada. I am surprised that not one official (to my knowledge) has confronted the NCC and told the bureaucrat who is giving away our grandchildren's inheritance:
     "Look, this property belongs to all Canadians, not to Ottawa Community Housing or the transportation committee. Why can it not be reserved for parkland, or a memorial, or a museum? Canada does not have a National Portrait Gallery. Why are you giving away land that will be needed for an official purpose, maybe an embassy, in the future?"

It is a ridiculous idea to build high rise condos and public venues on Lebreton Flats.Visitors from outside of the region will receive conflicting messages---is this private or public land?Before long a noise bylaw will ban fireworks on Canada Day and performances at Bluesfest.

1010 Somerset Street West. Building count-4.

Land area: 2.5487 ha. Parking: 292 spaces.