The wild, wild west. Major developments in the Centretown West area of Ottawa.

Definition of the word invasion---An unwelcome intrusion into another's domain. An incursion by a large number of people or things into a place or sphere of activity. A flood, influx, torrent, deluge, infringement.
Centretown West has been invaded.
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 huge parking lot and a plaza.
Senate of Canada, Hon. Anne Cools: "The public fears that many other parklands, like the Experimental Farm and the Arboretum are on the National Capital Commission's list for sale." (April 23, 2002.)

The Hatrwell 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 also 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.

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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.)
18.) 401 Lebreton at Carling - former headquarters of the National Capital Commission:

401 Lebreton at Carling Avenue.

This is Ottawa, the Capital City of Canada. This is not Hong Kong.
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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, right next to proposed condominiums on 951 Gladstone.

The Adult High School on Rochester, also known as the High School of Commerce which I attended in 1980.

The Plant Bath, 930 Somerset.

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

The artist is Karole Marois.