s this report is being written just a few days before Christmas, it seems things on the OSCA front are just starting to gear down as preparations for the holiday start to take over. Never-theless, there have not been any shortage to developments since my last column.
As some of you will be aware from last month's column, the city asked the developer of the site to consult with OSWATCH on the design of the donut shop when it approved the go ahead to demolish the old Strand Theatre and build a new Tim Horton's store. I am pleased to be able to report that OSWATCH and the developer have come to an agreement on the design of the store after a fair amount of negotiation, as the developer's preferred design option was to replicate a suburban type store design on the site.
The final agreement involves a commitment by the developer to build a low wall along the front of the parking lot to help conceal the open parking space and encourage drivers to use only the designated entrance and exit to the store. The developer will also change the design at the top of the building and roof treatment to resemble a 1920s style of commercial establishment, which will help the building to blend in with the older buildings on Bank Street. The fact that the store will also front on the sidewalk and will now have a significant amount of landscaping included will also help it blend into the streetscape in a more attractive way.
The Open House held at the Firehall on Dec. 11 was a resounding success with a very large turnout of interested residents and merchants. The displays of the new street and inter-section layouts, the landscaping proposals and the examples of street furniture and lighting attracted a lot of comment, most of it very positive.
We still have a lot of work ahead of us. Over the next several weeks the written comments and the suggestions made at the Open House by participants will be analysed by the consultants and city staff. The com-munity working group made up of OSCA reps, local merchants and representatives from the two schools will meet again early in the New Year to go over suggested changes and to work out more detailed design proposals.
This will be followed by a second Open House to look at the revised plans, before they are sent to the city's Planning Committee for approval. The Planning Committee stage is an open public meeting, where the public also will have a final opportunity to present their views on the proposals.
Thank you to all who came and made comments. For those of you who would still like to have further input, I would suggest you contact Neil Stout at the city of Ottawa as soon as possible - you can reach him by mail (City of Ottawa, 110 Laurier Avenue West, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 1J1), or by e-mail at neil.stout@city.ottawa.on.ca.
As many of you will have noticed, the Pioneer Gas station on the corner of Bank and Sunnyside closed just before Christmas. According to the owner of the property, another gas station on the site is not very likely, but it is unclear at the present time what sort of commercial development might take place. Clearly, this will be major development that could significantly change the character of one of the most prominent, and busy, intersections in the community and one which is located right opposite Hopewell School.
A number of retail stores fronting on the sidewalk along Bank and Sunnyside, with perhaps residences above would obviously be a very desirable outcome and could significantly improve the character of the street. OSWATCH will be approaching the property owner to exchange ideas on development opportunities on the site.