Sussex and Rideau is one of the most complex corners to address in downtown Ottawa. Very few cities in Canada have the jurisdictional confusion and confrontations that come with a piece of land less than an acre in size in the heart of a city.
In the 19th century it was a typical street corner, but after Confederation, the corner rapidly evolved into a hub of transportation and commercial establishments. By the early 20th century, a canal, streetcar lines, two roads, a Beaux-Arts railway station, a Chicago style office block, and a grand Chateau style railway hotel lined the corners. The Greber Plan called for the elimination of the streetcars, the train station and the removal of the train tracks; the NCC demolished the Daly Building; the federal government created an underused conference centre from the vacant train station; the NCC built a pedestrian way which is used as a shelter for kids living on the street...This last feature is a good candidate for redesign.
In the 19th century it was a typical street corner, but after Confederation, the corner rapidly evolved into a hub of transportation and commercial establishments. By the early 20th century, a canal, streetcar lines, two roads, a Beaux-Arts railway station, a Chicago style office block, and a grand Chateau style railway hotel lined the corners. The Greber Plan called for the elimination of the streetcars, the train station and the removal of the train tracks; the NCC demolished the Daly Building; the federal government created an underused conference centre from the vacant train station; the NCC built a pedestrian way which is used as a shelter for kids living on the street...This last feature is a good candidate for redesign.
I've included a quick sketch of what could be at this site. Essentially, I would invert the pedestrian underpass with the roads. A larger grassy area, sloping down towards the parkway, with a seating area, outdoor patio and perhaps a large projection screen would overlay the roads. A wide ramp would lead up from 700 Sussex to the plateau. Along the Rideau Street facade, at grade, would be steel trestles for the underpass and include a separate bike path. Bikes could reach the plateau by the ramp.
The redesign may hark back to 60s planning, but why not? With proper lighting and its use as a Winterlude site, the space could generate into a viable public meeting place.
The redesign may hark back to 60s planning, but why not? With proper lighting and its use as a Winterlude site, the space could generate into a viable public meeting place.
