By Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen, January 21, 2019 Gil Penalosa says the problem
with Ottawa is it’s a good city.
“I don’t think it’s great,” Penalosa said Monday in a conversation about the ByWard Market. “I think the biggest problem it has is it’s good. When it’s good, people are more reluctant to change.”
Penalosa is the founder of Toronto-based 8 80 Cities, a not-for-profit organization advising communities on improving public spaces. The company has worked with 350 communities around the world and is now involved in the City of Ottawa’s study of the public realm in the ByWard Market. 8 80 Cities is helping the city’s lead consultant, The Planning Partnership, consult the public. Penalosa is delivering a keynote presentation Tuesday night as part of the study. His presentation in the National Gallery of Canada’s auditorium is a free event. The presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. The city is asking people to register online if they plan on attending.https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/ottawa-is-good-according-to-this-public-space-guru-thats-the-problem