Peace and Environment News* April 1996
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Peace and Environment News * April 1996 |
by Donna Passmore
Sparks Street could become an example of the mixed-use development that many say could reshape Ottawa into a more vibrant and more sustainable city.
The Sparks Street Revitalization Project, an effort of the City of Ottawa with support from federal and regional governments, is putting together a call for developers to lease and revitalize the city block bordered by Sparks, Wellington, O'Connor and Bank Streets.
The project sparked some excitement last fall when rumours emerged that it would include redevelopment of the current federal government office space to create some housing along with the traditional administrative and commercial uses. Planners say that neighbourhoods that combine residential housing, businesses and other uses are more efficient to service and require less use of automobiles. They also tend to be cleaner and safer because people who live there have a higher sense of community pride.
However Bruce Lorimer, Director of the Sparks Street Revitalization Project, says speculation that Sparks Street redevelopment will incorporate housing is premature.
"The objective of the project is to enhance the commercial viability of the Sparks Street Mall," stated Lorimer. "We are not saying that the final product must include housing, or what kind of housing. The private sector will be financing this project and we believe they are the best ones to determine how best to use their money."
Lorimer added that the development proposals will be reviewed against federal environmental protection legislation, but he conceded that the major part of the review process will be the financial viability of the project. He is quick to point out that economic viability is not necessarily incompatible with attractive, efficient mixed use.
Unfortunately, Lorimer can offer no assurances that the development teams will be provided with City or Regional guidelines on sustainable urban development or with any of the abundant literature on this subject.
That's a major obstacle to the implementation of environmental policies, according to Michel Gareau of the City of Ottawa's Environmental Management Branch.
"There are some really valuable development ideas in the City's Official Plan and the Zoning By-law Z-22," says Gareau. "Those documents encourage sound ecological practices like the development of high density housing near public transit facilities. Unfortunately they are guidelines and not laws. They can be wholly ignored every time someone wants to build a Walmart at the far end of the region."
A previous effort to introduce mixed-use redevelopment in Ottawa was the "Re-Do-It" Team set up by Mayor Jacquelin Holzman. This group of area business and community leaders produced a report which focused on ways to induce people to come to the downtown to live and work. Mayor Holzman had City Council create economic incentives by eliminating municipal development charges for revitalization or infill projects.
Connie Jansen of the Mayor's staff points to a mixed housing development project across the street from Papagus Greek Restaurant on Kent Street as one of the results of Holzman's efforts.
City, regional and federal governments have shown an active interest in mixed-use, intensified land use strategies. There is general agreement that such strategies are an important alternative to the urban sprawl that eats away at our diminishing green space. But until these strategies are taken seriously, we will not have very many examples of environmentally sustainable planning and development.
Action for Sustainable Communities is a group concerned about finding ways to make communities healthier and more sustainable. We hold training workshops on community development and monthly workshops on sustainability issues. On April 12 and 13 we will be holding our second Annual Forum. The theme will be Sustainable Communities as a Solution to Poverty. For more information, contact us at 99 Seneca Street, Ottawa K1S 4X8, phone 730-9614.
Converted April 11, 2000 - Lg
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