n Thursday, May 3, a fire in the neighborhood started by an unattended barbecue and strong winds damaged six homes on Aylmer and Carlyle and left about 20 people homeless. Thanks to the efforts of Board member Jennifer Tipper and Executive Director Deirdre McQuillan, OSCA sprang into action.
After talking with several of the fire victims, it became apparent that immediate lodging and cash were the two most pressing problems facing them. With this in mind, OSCA called on the area distributors of the OSCAR to ensure that a pamphlet was inserted into the May edition calling on OSCA residents for assistance.
At its May meeting, the OSCA Board pledged $500 to the fire victims. We have set up a separate bank account and will accept donations up until June 30. Those wishing to donate can drop their cheque off at the Firehall or alternatively can attend the annual OSCA barbecue on June 21, 5 to 8 pm at Brewer Park and look for a special kiosk. The OSCA Executive Committee will make the decision on the distribution of the funds collected.
Of the many acts of generosity and kindness so far shown to the fire victims, none was more fun than the "Fire Bash" organized by Joan and Pat Garvey. (As well as a resident of Old Ottawa South, Joan is one of the owners of Boomerang Kids on Bank.)
The Bash, a street party with karaoke and a live auction, attracted some 200 residents over the course of the evening and raised more than $2000 for the fire victims. One small irony worthy of note: a young person who turned out to be a university student asked the Garvey's to turn down the music around midnight. Who said life wasn't fair?
Board member Leo Doyle, supported by several of his Sunnyside neighbors and Mary O'Neill, a representative of the Hopewell Avenue Public School Parent Council, made an impressive presentation about the traffic problems and safety issues on Sunnyside.
They noted that Sunnyside is the most densely and heavily populated street in our community. It is a major pedestrian route, one of only two streets that give Old Ottawa South pedestrians access to Carleton University and the new light rail station. It is also the main route for children attending Hopewell and St. Margaret Mary schools and programs at the community centre.
Recent history of the street is instructive. It has been 30 years since regional government widened a kilometre long stretch of Sunnyside from 29 ft. to a minimum of 34 ft. In doing so, regional government, without the consent of the City of Ottawa, destroyed 21 mature trees along the street. The region's road widening project blighted the streetscape and created conditions that induce drivers to speed through a densely populated residential area.
Sunnyside's traffic problems are well documented in various studies and reports. Indeed, since the Ottawa South Neighborhood Plan was adopted in 1980, ad hoc measures have been implemented to address traffic problems on Sunnyside. But the results have been mixed and are less than satisfactory.
As we all know, measures adopted, such as a raised intersection and additional stop signs, can do little to overcome the powerful, negative impact of a residential street that is badly designed. Sunnyside is too wide and sparsely treed for these measures to have any meaningful effect.
The Board supported two proposals put forward by Leo and his neighbors. First, as a short term measure, the Board passed a motion calling on the City to permit, in certain sections, on- street parking on both sides of Sunnyside. It is a low-cost, proven means of slowing down traffic. Second, the Board supported the long term goal to redesign and rebuild Sunnyside to better reflect its important role as a corridor for pedestrians and vehicles.
To develop specific ideas for the long term reconstruction of Sunnyside, OSCA Board member Mr. Larry Spencer, a professional urban planner, will join Leo Doyle in organizing a design charette with local residents, businesses, school representatives and City planners.
This charette, which has yet to be scheduled, would provide all stakeholders with an opportunity to plan, design and draft documents illustrating what a renewed Sunnyside Avenue might look like.
A starting point for converting longer term plans into actions may be the reconstruction of Bank Street. As I reported in last month's column, Councillor Doucet has been successful in securing City funding to conduct a 'street-scaping study' to assist in the planning for the reconstruction of Bank Street between the Rideau River and the Canal.
This project is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2002 and will include new wider, side walks, sewers, watermains, street lights and, of course, a new road surface. This street scaping study will need to look at key intersections including Bank and Sunnyside. Improving that intersection might be one of key themes that emerge from the design charette.
In supporting the Board motion concerning Sunnyside, several board members noted that the problems facing this street are hardly unique. Alymer Avenue and Riverdale come immediately to mind. Given the growing number of traffic issues facing the Board, we agreed that at our next planning meeting in the fall the Board should establish a special committee to focus exclusively on traffic.
Concerning Cameron Avenue, Board member Rob Burr will follow up with City officials to ascertain what they will be recommending to City politicians as to the preferred option for dealing with vehicle traffic proceeding the wrong way on this street. We may come back to this issue at our June meeting.
Brian Tansey updated the Board on the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor. The environmental assessment process is scheduled to begin in the August-September time period. Soon afterwards, OSCA will need to take a stand on whether it supports such a corridor and if so under what conditions.