Making Main Street a Mainstreet
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© Clive Doucet 2007
Starting with sidewalks in 2003 in front of Saint Paul University.
Clive speaking at the first day of the design charrette
Reviewing plans at the second day of the Charrette in November 2005.
Saturday October 22, 2005 saw the beginning of the makeover of Main Street in Old Ottawa East. A design charrette sponsored by the Community Association organized with the help of our office brought many community people together to plan the revitalization of Main Street. At a follow-up on November 19th over 200 people attended to review the work ofthe charrette. The first steps to a new Main Street are underway.
Some Recent History.
The recent redevelopment of the former
Peach Gardens site at 105 Main Street
and
the loss of some
commercial
space
in favour
side-street
residential
has underlined how important it is that we rethink the use of Main
Street and push to transform it from traffic arterial to a true 'Main
Street'
providing the community with local retail and services with safe walking
and bicycling environment.
The Peach Garden proposal sparked a great deal of community discussion. "Is this the best use of commercially-zoned land fronting on Main Street?" "Can we find a coffee shop that would want to come in and set up shop at this location?" "We need more commercial frontage on Main, not less."
Over the course of several community association and resident working group meetings, it became clear that the bigger issue of Main Street's revitalization was what needed to be addressed, .
Some local improvements have already been made in the area, notably the new boulevard sidewalk in front of St Paul’s, the new signalization and pavement markings on Main for Immaculata students, and let's include the new pedestrian light at Bower/Beckwith.
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