LETTERS
Glebe Report March 18, 2022
Housing density helps local businesses
Glebe Tailor owner Shirin Farzin remembered
Editor, Glebe Report
Editor, Glebe Report
Re: “Glebe needs affordable housing,” Glebe Report, January/ February 2022
I was saddened to learn the other day that Shirin Farzin, the owner-operator of Glebe Tailoring, died this past summer at age 69 from cancer. Many of us have happy memories of chatting with Shirin when we dropped off dry cleaning or while she planned an alteration to a dress for a special occasion. With more remote shopping and a reduced need for services like dry cleaning and tailoring, life in the pandemic has meant that we are less likely to encounter many of the friendly faces who make our neighbourhood feel like home. I did discover during my visit that the shop will be in good hands under the new ownership of Mansour, who had been the store’s tailor. But Shirin, you will be missed.
I was pleased to see Dan Chook Reid‘s article on affordable housing in the Glebe. Clearly Ottawa, like the rest of Canada, has to more than double the number of houses created each year if we are to address the devastating situation faced by many Canadians. We also need to increase housing density in the Glebe. Adding affordable housing has to be addressed as well to provide for the many who can‘t afford ever-increasing rental costs. I am happy to see that the Glebe Community Association is working with the city to introduce more affordable housing in the Glebe. In addition to the need to provide housing for people, there is another reason why we have to aim for more housing density in the Glebe. The many small businesses in the Glebe are crucial for the quality of life we enjoy in this neighbourhood. However, COVID has accelerated the diversion of spending to online purchases to the detriment of bricksand-mortar businesses. One only has to walk by homes in the Glebe on garbage collection day to see how much is now being delivered from big warehouses directly to our homes. If we want to keep a vibrant business community in the Glebe for our enjoyment, we will have to accept more residents who can compensate for reduced spending in the Glebe by Glebe residents. If we lose more businesses in the Glebe and more empty shops line the streets, the community will lose much of its appeal. Doug Daniels NATTAPOL SEENGERN: NOUNPROJECT.COM
Parking woes Editor, Glebe Report For the last two years or so, we have had construction between Fifth and Fourth avenues with fences, trucks, cranes, you name it. The developer, Minto, had an encroachment permit for that time, but the permit expired about two months ago! The signs for the construction zone were not removed by the city. One of the signs was turned around, but the other is still there! Every morning, cars park on Bank Street without any problem. We are all happy to have our street back! But of course, it has to be me who got a ticket for $130. I am fighting the infraction, of course, but in the meantime, could that “construction zone” sign be removed so that it is clear that the regular two-hour parking applies? Caren von Merveldt Owner, Von’s and Flippers Note: Councillor Shawn Menard is following up.
Rink rats reunited Editor, Glebe Report Re: “Dudleigh Coyle honoured as volunteer extraordinaire,” Glebe Report, January/February 2022 Reading Roger Smith’s article on Dudleigh Coyle brought back many pleasant memories. I’m not sure how I was drafted by Dudleigh to become one of the gang he assembled to help run the Glebe Memorial rink, but it led to finding myself on quite a few evenings hosing down that precious patch of ice next to the Queensway. Dudleigh has a certain charm that makes it impossible to say no to his requests. I’m very glad he drafted me, it was a lot of fun. I have saved – and cherish – my Glebe Memorial Rink Rats sweatshirt. Hunter McGill
Mira Sucharov
With Lansdowne priorities clearly commercial sport and commerce, and the cars that go with them, there’s no room left for pedestrians. PHOTO: JOHN DANCE
Lansdowne priorities lead to absurdities Editor, Glebe Report We were not successful in transforming Lansdowne Park into Ottawa’s Central Park. Instead, developers and city councillors created a venue primarily catering to professional sports and commerce. Nothing wrong with either, but neither should be the primary activity at the park in the centre of the city and in the heart of the Glebe, Old Ottawa East and South. One of these months – after more than half a year of virtually no consultation with the neighbouring communities – OSEG and the city will propose a very expensive replacement arena and north side stands. With the coming municipal election, it’s time to say no to such a proposal. We need a Lansdowne Park focused
Crosswalk rage Editor, Glebe Report Every morning and afternoon during the school year, Mutchmor students need to cross Fourth Avenue because their yard is not on the same side of the street as their school. The Ottawa Safety Council is actively trying to hire a crossing guard for this location, and the city is planning safety improvements.
on pedestrians and active activity, not on spectating and consuming. Let the professional teams build their new facilities where there is LRT, rather than between the perpetually clogged Bank Street and a parkway that was never designed to be an arterial and in an area that has no high-capacity roadway in an east-west direction. To illustrate the absurdity of what happened with the previous Lansdowne refurbishment, just look at how pedestrians have to make their way through the park – the sidewalk before Aberdeen Square is minuscule while there is lots of room for vehicular traffic. That’s what happens when the focus is on professional sports and commerce. John Dance Old Ottawa East In the meantime, this continues to be a place of regular near misses and, recently, a disturbing incident that impacted a number of staff and students. In late February, a driver was so enraged at the group of children crossing the street that he began honking and edging his car ever closer to the crosswalk. He even got out of his car to yell at the teacher and the children. This type of behaviour is abhorrent and unacceptable. The police were called, and the incident was reported. Thank you to the parents who
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THANKS AND FAREWELL: De Groot Family Florencia Furbatto Robert & Heidi Brooks
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AVAILABLE DELIVERY ROUTES Holmwood Monk to Ralph Fifth Avenue south side Bank to Craig Bronson Carling to Fifth QED Greek Embassy to Bronson
CONTACT: circulation@glebereport.ca helped control the situation and protect our kids. As we rush through the neighbourhood, often running late or distracted, please remember that slowing down and being patient, especially around schools, are important first steps in making the Glebe a better, safer place. Elspeth Tory and James Stuewe Neighbourhood parents and members of the Mutchmor/Corpus Traffic Committee
