ebruary was a busy month for the community association. Highlights include the following:
John Doran of Domicile Developments presented his company's concept for a 40 unit, three-storey townhouse development at the corner of Bronson and Sunnyside, current site of the former courthouse and detention centre.
The major concern of Board members centred on potential traffic impacts on Sunnyside and Hopewell. Mr. Doran indicated he had engaged a traffic consultant and made a commitment to get back to us on the results of this study and any changes to the concept resulting from it. Other points that arose during his presentation and the ensuing question period included the following:
The City will consider the zoning application for the project in mid-April. OSCA will return to this issue at its March meeting.
Old Ottawa South has two recipients for the Mayor's Award for Community Service - Mike Lascelles and Rob Clipperton.
A former OSCA Board member for many years, Mike has worked tirelessly on a wide variety of community projects. Most recently he has spearheaded a millennium project centred on restoring the Rideau River ecological system in our neighbourhood, a project that has garnered over $100,000 in funding.
Among Rob's many contributions to our community have been long hours of voluntary time as part of aneighbourhood group dedicated to maintaining the Windsor Park ice surfaces over many winters. Rob is also a fixture as our unflappable master of ceremonies at OSCA's media night and, of course, has been part of many similar events across the City supporting such diverse groups as Opera Lyra and the Heart Institute.
The awards ceremony will take place on March 9 in Victoria Hall Council Chambers of Ottawa City Hall. Congratulations to two exemplary citizens of our community, Mike and Rob.
Anne-Marie Corbett and Brenda Lee reported the community group working with the City to replace the Park play structure has now raised $8,500 (the City will contribute another $7,500 from its Self-Help Program).
On May 6, their group is planning a major Park clean-up with the help of Carleton University students and OSCA's ECOS committee to be followed by installation of the new structure on May 27
All in all, it has been a textbook example of community mobilization over a short time period to achieve a concrete objective. Our hats go off to Anne-Marie, Brenda and the other members of their group. Truly an impressive piece of work!
Another group headed by Gary Lum has also been working hard on improving Windsor Park. Last year, thanks to them, Councillor Berg and Mayor Watson, the City decided not to sell off the property at the edge of the Park on Windsor Avenue where the City yard is located.
In a recent development, the City informed OSCA it plans to tear down the building on the site but wants OSCA to match a $7,500 Self-Help grant for the rest of the site rehabilitation leading to integration with the Park.
Proposed rehabilitation would involve ripping up the concrete on the site, removing the chain link fence and planting grass. Councillor Berg undertook to investigate this City plan and report back to us.
OSCA's Firehall redevelopment committee held a successful meeting with Mayor Watson, Councillor Berg and city officials. Among other things, we learned that the redevelopment concept proposed by OSCA, thanks to the work of local architects Bill Semple and Bob Webster, conforms to City heritage criteria.
Further, officials agreed to place the redevelopment of the building on
the City's list of capital projects and consult us in developing criteria for setting priorities among the sixty or so projects on the list (this list will be passed on to the new amalgamated city).
Official also announced the City will spend $46,000 this year on a new furnace, lighting and flooring for the Firehall, all to be done consistent with the long term OSCA concept. Finally we received a commitment from officials to work with us onresolving parking concerns with the proposed plan, concerns raised by neighbours of the Firehall. Thank you, Mayor Watson, for arranging this meeting!
And we received a final piece of good news from Councillor Clive Doucet in the way of a cheque for $1,000 from his office budget for the Firehall Redevelopment Fund. We have invited Clive to make an official presentation at OSCA's media night on April 8.