Maybe investing billions into rapid transit, rebuilding Rideau St, and planning to invest hundreds of millions into a #BetterByWard plus at least $50m into a Rideau police détachement while not addressing the underlying issues isn’t the best plan. We know what works 1/

Heritage Ottawa - Tomorrow's Ottawa -- Setting the Path Towards Tomorrow's Heritage Welcome to the second of two special lectures this month that mark the BICENTENNIAL OF BYTOWN. Creating better built environments that conserve, restore and honour our past includes creating better places in 2026; better buildings, parks and landscapes that stand the test of time and become our heritage buildings of tomorrow. How do we create those meaningful experiences through built form that we hope future generations will honor and respect as much as we care about things built over the last 200 years? It starts with better policy, design leadership and engagement to create better places for people. A question and answer period will follow the lecture. Speaker: Toon Dreessen is a graduate of Carleton University, served as President of the OAA (2015 and 2016) and was inducted into the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada College of Fellows and the Order of DaVinci. He leads Architects DCA and is responsible for award-winning and high-profile projects. DCA is a company with roots dating back more than 40 years and is ISO 9001:2015 Certified. He leads the company’s activism and the role of architects in a strategic, visionary, and thoughtful planning. Toon founded, and is Chair, of the Ottawa Architecture Foundation. Heritage Ottawa is pleased to offer our lectures free of charge, but we do need your support. Consider making a donation or joining Heritage Ottawa as a member using our secure website: https://heritageottawa.org/en/become-member-make-difference

We could save hundreds of millions of $ on a #BetterByWard; we could support transit oriented communities, make our city safer and more attractive. But no, we have to “find balance;”

See more here. Be the city we want to be. bit.ly/4uUUIsf

In the consultation for a #BetterByWard in 2019, public input was clear: more than 70% of folks wanted more pedestrian space, dedicated bike infra; ignored. Businesses got private 1:1 consultation with planners and advocated for parking. Guess which won out.

Build a #BetterByWard: more #PlacesForPeople; that means more vitality, better economy and better outcomes.

Imagine a #BetterByWard

Imagin the courage to make #PlacesForPeople, to watch communities thrive and economies grow. Imagine making real change in our OP goals, our quality of life.

Imagine breaking the myth that parking = business survival

@brenttoderian.bsky.social
@urbantruth.bsky.social

The only time I’ve not felt safe in the ByWard market has been because of cars… Drivers not paying attention to pedestrians or otherwise distracted, searching for parking.

Make a #BetterByWard a #PlaceForPeople, bring more people 24/7 to have eyes on the street w/better urban design. Save money.

Little things like redeveloping a #BetterByWard is great, but plans include removing the only block of summer pedestrian space and pushing forward a plan that ignored public input; this would be a great opp to reset ideas, engage locals and create better while boosting the economy. 2/

And it would be so easy to develop a vision, create great #PlacesForPeople and build a strong economy; create homes and vibrancy; nurture a local arts and culture scene; it just takes will. Businesses in a #BetterByWard shouldn’t be dependent on parking: bsky.app/profile/bren...

Good afternoon!

Your call @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social! Create a #BetterByWard as a #PlaceForPeople or parking.

Two G7 capital cities; two different visions.

This: #OttCity has a golden opp in front of it to create a #BetterByWard what is squandering it by not spending any effort to make pedestrian or cycling space a priority; it’s even removing the paltry one block of pedestrian space that happens every summer #SquanderedPotential 1/ (repost due typos)

This: #OtCity has a golden opportunity in front of it to create a #BetterByWard what is squandering it by not spending any effort to make pedestrian or cycling space a priority; it’s even removing the poultry one block of pedestrian space that happens every summer #SquanderedPotential 1/

The 2020 study is that this is based on specifically excluded Murray Street and related shelters. To be fair, our pro bono study did as well, but we were not being paid in doing this for love of a #BetterByWard; but for +$600K City should have included as pt of a holistic solution

Mayor unveils short-term and long-term plan for ByWard Market, including pedestrian streets Mayor Mark Sutcliffe unveiled the ByWard Market Action Plan during the downtown Ottawa Forum on Thursday, outlining the city’s plan to revitalize the market area. The ByWard Market turns 200 years old...

I’m thrilled to hear that the city is finally moving forward on a #BetterByWard; as ever, my hope is that the city will prioritize design and be true to #ShopLocal when it comes to commissioning a project. @stephanieplante.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social 1/ www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...

A P3 plan was launched with an RFP; the is wd privatize the dev for profit (think LRT, Lansdowne); rfp was quietly shelved. No design competition or public engagement process. 2020 city study, done by Toronto firm, ignored public input into a #BetterByWard

So yes, to festivals and events and fun, but we need permanent things that are year round, that make a #BetterByWard as a place to belong. And imho, Wellington as a plaza is a better place for festivals, brings more one-off life to DT. See article bit.ly/3Y2EHji

Imagine a #BetterByWard: imagine a 2y pilot project w/the right supports, organization, design thinking. Imagine better #PlacesForPeople @stephanieplante.bsky.social @strongtownsottawa.ca @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social

I’d refer those to a broader discussion about muni design policy; our lack of design leadership means the loudest voice gets heard so we make decisions (roads, road widenings) due to lack of coherent strategy on policy for what’s best: #PlacesForPeople not parking ( #BetterByWard for ex)

We all know the solution to a #BetterByWard is a better public realm. What prevents us from building that is the political will to make #PlacesForPeople bc it’s easier to cave to the perceived needs of parking and drivers, despite all the economic and social evidence otherwise.

Imagine if our struggling ByWard was closed to car, but open to people. How much more would local ppl visit, shop, let alone boost tourism. Build a #BetterByWard

Me neither. ESP since they bullied/mocked me mercilessly in advocating for a #BetterByWard

I’d like to see the same narrative posted for what would happen if we spent the same or less on a #BetterByward: boost gdp, tourism, transit use, housing, heritage renewal, accessibility; let’s also keep in mind the spin: LEED silver is barely better than code minimum….

Further, imagine if we invested in a #BetterByWard, invested in solving the unhoused crisis and transit dependability instead of half a billion on Lansdowne.

Imagine if we held a Christmas market in… the ByWard Market and made it a vibrant #PlaceForPeople, saw attendance and retail sales bloom and built on this success to create a #BetterByWard

We have an opportunity to make a #BetterByWard that is unfunded; we have hundreds of parks, community centers, pools, and libraries that need maintenance and attention; we have billions in public assets that need repair and investment. It’s up to us to make the right decisions. 7/

Won’t even get into a #BetterByWard; reminder that we spent over $600k to hire a Toronto consultant to come up with a plan they got approved shelved ignored; plan was the latest in a string of plans totalling millions of dollars on which no action has been taken; it also ignored public input 3/

That’s consistent with many city projects. For example, a few years ago a failed RFP to replace the Clarence Street parking garage was predicated on a zero net loss of parking spaces and preferences given to ones that would add additional. How is that a worthy goal for a #BetterByWard?

Why design matters for a better ByWard The City of Ottawa needs to take action to save this once beautiful home to venders.

Better engage the public and private sector in leading change to create better #PlacesForPeople while moving more quickly. Second quibble is that reference to expecting the feds to do this heavy lifting. Consider a #BetterByWard; almost all of the land is municipal 3/ bit.ly/3ScHh3G

When retailers and resto owners (a sm handful exert outsized influence on the market BIA) refuse to accept pedestrianization of a #BetterByWard, they hold all #OttCity hostage to outmoded thinking on making better #PlacesForPeople; we need to act in the public interest and make change 1/

Weeps in York Street; sobs in a #BetterByWard

Why design matters for a better ByWard The City of Ottawa needs to take action to save this once beautiful home to venders.

We don’t have to. Make a #BetterByWard

@architectsdca.bsky.social

bit.ly/3ScHh3G