Serving the Glebe community since 1973
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ISSN 0702-7796 Vol. 47 No. 3 Issue no. 512 FREE
PHOTO: LIZ MCKEEN
March 22, 2019
The city has launched a study of Bank Street height and character aimed at producing better policies and bylaws that reliably shape future Bank Street development.
CITY LAUNCHES BANK STREET HEIGHT & CHARACTER STUDY By Carolyn Mackenzie
The city has launched a long-awaited study of development on Bank Street. Back in 2015, the Glebe Community Association (GCA) was told by city planning staff that Bank Street had little development potential and that the city would not take on any sort of localized planning study. So the GCA kicked off Imagine Glebe to develop a vision for Bank Street that would provide guidance to development discussions that we knew were coming. Over 900 people participated and the consensus vision for
Bank Street in the Glebe was… “A historic main street in the heart of a vibrant urban village. A thriving social and commercial district that is welcoming and walkable and features green spaces.” Just some of the key elements included in the vision are: • Advocating for buildings that enhance the human scale and strengthen walkability; • Promoting the enhancement of the historic nature of Bank Street; • Minimizing negative impacts including undue shadowing, wind effects, building “loom”;
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
• Achieving appropriate transition to low-rise residential areas (behind Bank Street buildings); • Promoting varied and attractive store fronts; • Enhancing and expanding seating and social areas as well as pedestrian space; and • Encouraging diversity by promoting mixed-use development and affordable housing. On the heels of the ImagineGlebe effort, the city allowed rezoning of a few contentious developments on Bank Street. These projects include the “beer store” at eight storeys and
the Fifth Avenue Court site at seven storeys. The four-storey maximum building height in the existing zoning bylaw was essentially ignored – and even the maximum six-storey building heights for Traditional Mainstreets was exceeded. General policies in the city’s Official Plan about the need to intensify were pointed to as a key rationale for approving these projects. Many people asked, “Did the city not pay any attention to ImagineGlebe? What exactly is the city’s vision for Bank Street?” Continued on page 3
WHAT’S INSIDE
Mar 20–30.....King Lear, The Gladstone Mar 23............Who Needs Church? documentary film, 7:30 p.m. Southminster Ch. Mar 26............GCA monthly meeting, GCC, 7-9 p.m. Mar 26–31.....VERSeFest, see p. 23 Mar 27............Community Meeting re 99 Fifth Ave. development, Fourth Ave Baptist, 7 p.m. Mar 30............A Sentimental Journey a capella concert, Trinity Anglican Ch., .......................1230 Bank St, 4:30 p.m. Apr 6...............Sonic Splendour, Carleton U. Choir, Dominion Chalmers Ch., 7:30 p.m. Apr 7...............The Seven Last Words of Christ, St. Matthew’s A. Ch., 4 p.m. Apr 9–14........Wind in the Willows play, GCC, Preview Tu 7 p.m., We-Su 7 p.m., Sa 2 p.m. Apr 11–14......Mutchmor Book Sale, 185 Fifth Ave., Apr 16.............GACA meeting, GCC, 7 p.m.
One Renfrew.............................. Page 2
Mutchmor Book Sale................. Page 33
NEXT ISSUE: Friday, April 19, 2019 EDITORIAL DEADLINE: Friday, March 29, 2019 ADVERTISING ARTWORK DEADLINE*: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 *Book ads well in advance to ensure space availability.
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