“…City and business officials are starting to picture a certain joie de vivre pulsing along [Montreal Road] the historic thoroughfare. They envision people strolling along a lantern-lit street, stopping to remark on the restored building facades in what may become known as the region’s French Quarter.… The project involves upgrading streets and sidewalks with brick paving stones, old-fashioned lamps, courtyards and wrought-iron furniture. Merchants and professionals will be encouraged to renovate their storefronts” (Jane Wilson, Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 1988).
As discussed last week, the City of Ottawa has launched a review of the City’s Official Plan, with attention also directed to the specific plan affecting Vanier– a plan currently dating to the late 1980s. Then, not only were zoning and site plan control tools being used, but so too were less traditional means proposed, including design guidelines or design principles.
The guidelines were drafted specifically for Vanier’s Commercial Sector and Residential District, offering guidance on streetscaping, on architectural and building features and on creating a pedestrian-friendly environment. Stores were encouraged to create storefronts with francophone heritage design elements.
The guidelines were part of an effort to strengthen the image of Montreal Road (the French Quarter), to restore pride, and to celebrate the community’s identity as a cultural hub for the Franco-Ontario story. An important element, outlined in one visioning report from the Heritage Canada Foundation, was the presence of a community vision to guide development (1989, p15).
This was the community vision then. With the City’s Official Plan review underway, and with (renewed) efforts to promote Montreal Road as a ‘French Quarter,’ what should today’s Design Guidelines look like?
Image:
Image Design: VanierNow, 2012 (Building silhouette taken from cover of Design Guidelines for the French Quarter, Commercial Sector, City of Vanier, Planning and Development Department, c. 1989-90)
Sources:
Guy, David (1987) “Vanier activates plan to spruce up Montreal Road” Ottawa Citizen, November 18, p B3.
Heritage Canada Foundation (1989) “Rapport de l’équipe-ressource, Vanier, Ontario” Main Street Program, December.
Wilson, Jane (1988) “Montreal Road could become 'French Quarter'” Ottawa Citizen. December 12.