By Adam Kveton, Ottawa Community News, October 23, 2015
City council has approved the development of a water backflow prevention program that is expected to affect about 13,000 buildings that use city water, and cost the city $3 million.
The proposed program would require owners of both new and old buildings, judged to be either a severe or moderate risk, to install backflow prevention devices.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, October 22, 2015
Uber could also eat into the market for accessible transportation services.
According to a KPMG report released this week, Uber's WAV service (it stands for wheelchair accessible vehicle) operates in New York City and the company has partnered with drivers in Toronto to provide accessible service.
The report is part of KPMG's review of the city's taxi bylaws.
By Matthew Pearson, Ottawa Citizen, October 23, 2015
Ottawa’s planning department appears to grudgingly accept a Toronto developer’s plan for a “landmark” condo building at Wellington Street West and Island Park Drive, but Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper remains unimpressed by the design.
Mizrahi Developments initially sought city permission to build a 12-storey building at 1445 and 1451 Wellington St. W., but council turned down the project because the proposed height exceeded what the rules allow for that location.
By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, October 22, 2015
The big predators in Gatineau Park have no name. But there are six small packs of them, watching you even when you can’t see them, and traversing great distances in West Quebec.
But the new census of these packs — the first ever — leaves a tricky question: What do we call them?
Wolves? Coyotes? “Coywolf” hybrids? All of the above, probably, as National Capital Commission experts who surveyed the park found a “canid soup” that mixes the genes of wolves and coyotes. (Canids are wolves, dogs and their relatives.)
By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen, October 22, 2015
Uber might be creating new markets, not merely cannibalizing work from licensed cab drivers, suggests a report commissioned by the City of Ottawa.
Uber and other Internet ride-hailing firms have responded to markets that were poorly served by taxis, including the suburbs and low-income people, and might be “generating a new, larger ridership pie,” says the report from the Mowat Centre, a Toronto policy think-tank.
By Ottawa Citizen, October 22, 2015
For the second time this year, Ottawa Public Health is advising residents of a Greely subdivision to boil water used for drinking, food preparation, brushing teeth and rinsing dishes.
The health department said the advisory, affecting about 200 homes in the Shadow Ridge development, was spurred by a “depressurization in the communal well system.”
By Tom Spears, Ottawa Citizen, October 21, 2015
A “super El Niño” stronger than any since 1998 will probably bring us a warmer winter, Environment Canada says. But it won’t cancel skiing and skating.
“There’s no guarantee — there never is with weather — but it shows you the dice are loaded to give you a milder winter,” said David Phillips of Environment Canada.
By Lucy Scholey, Ottawa Metro News, October 20, 2015
A developer’s revamped Wellington West condo development still lacks that “wow” factor, according to an Ottawa city councillor.
Mizrahi Developments is bringing a new 12-storey Wellington Street West condo design to the planning committee on Tuesday.
The plan needs a zoning amendment because it surpasses the nine-storey height limit. However, the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) ruled that the design gets the go-ahead if the top three stories are distinctive enough to make it a “landmark building.” Or an “element of wow.”
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, October 21, 2015
A pair of citizen transit commissioners want OC Transpo to consider helping low-income customers as management considers changes to the fare structure.
"I know there are a number of citizens in Ottawa that live below the low-income cut-off line and that a monthly pass for them (and) any means of transportation would be difficult to afford," Francois Malo said Wednesday after a transit commission meeting.
By Alex Robinson, Ottawa Community News, October 19, 2015
City council has approved the mammoth redevelopment of the CFB Rockcliffe lands, which will create a new neighbourhood that will eventually bring 10,000 new residents to the area.
“It will be an exciting day for many people who have been eagerly anticipating the approval of this very ambitious project,” Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Tobi Nussbaum said at a council meeting on Oct. 14.
By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun, October 20, 2015
Expect a "landmark" debate at next week's planning committee meeting.That's when councillors will be asked to approve a new design for the proposed Mizrahi Developments condo at 1445-1451 Wellington St. at the corner of Island Park Dr.
The Ontario Municipal Board told the Toronto company to come up with a better design that reflects the intersection's qualities as a landmark, gateway location.
Mizrahi wants to build a 12-storey building. The city wanted nine storeys, max. The OMB told Mizrahi to make the top of the building distinct if it wants to build more than nine storeys.
By Vito Pilieci, Ottawa Citizen, October 19, 2015
Ride-sharing company Uber is offering new users a $30 credit to pay for a return trip to their nearest polling station.
Uber confirmed the free ride for voters initiative early Monday morning. The company said any new users interested needs to install the Uber app, and enter the promo code “CanadaVOTES”. They will be credited $15 for a ride to the polls and another $15 to return home afterwards.