Robertson Road Is Robertson Road
Kudos to College Councillor Laine Johnson for attempting a program called Reimagining Robertson Road.
The shame of it all is that it won’t work. Robertson Road is Robertson Road. It will never be the Glebe because the commercial ribbon buildings are already built. The only way to save Robertson Road is to move the big retail outlets close to the road (like the Real Canadian Superstore in Westboro) and put the parking lots behind the store instead of in front as on Robertson, Merivale and Strandherd roads.
No retailer will do that because, first the cost is wildly high and, second retailers like the parking lots in front because it shows potential customers there’s parking. Basic enough.
The key to the three impossible-to-fix roads above is to not build them in the form they are today before they are built. You know, planning.
But Strandherd Road is a recent creation with worse (it’s hard to believe) planning than Robertson and Merivale. That’s a current planning department creation. Congratulations.
A suggestion for Johnson and Knoxdale Merivale Councillor Sean Devine … rather than spending your time trying to fix Robertson and Merivale respectively by “reimagining” them, instead spend that time trying to stop the next retail planning monstrosity as should have happened on Strandherd.
Robertson, Merivale and Strandherd messes can be avoided, not with “reimagination” but with imagination and fortitude before they are created. Good intentions won’t fix ruined retail strips. Prevention will … in other places. The Strandherd retail mess could have been prevented with just a modicum of intelligence.
It’s called planning. Ottawa should get some.
Ken Gray
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So here’s Johnson below with an excerpt from her newsletter:
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I am happy to share that I am working with city staff and the Bells Corners community and business community to take a hard look at Robertson Road.
It’s a busy street that carries a lot of commuter traffic, but is also well-used by locals, including pedestrians and cyclists. How could it be made better? What can we do through our land and transportation planning to improve access to businesses, homes, and transit? These are the questions we’ll be exploring over the next few months.
Why ‘Reimagining Robertson Road’? The act of reimagining and rethinking our current state and envisioning what could be is the first step in moving towards tangible change. I’m excited to do this together as a community! The goal of this project is to develop a community-informed vision for transforming Bells Corners into the “Village in the Greenbelt” that it strives to be – one with a vibrant main street, welcoming public spaces, and good connections within and beyond the community.
Reimagining Robertson Road: Project Launch and Walkshop!
Saturday, June 28th
11 AM – 12:30 PM
To kick off the Reimagining Robertson Road project, we will be hosting a Robertson Road ‘Walkshop’ on Saturday, June 28th starting at 11 AM. Mobycon, our consultants for this project, will be leading a walking-based workshop or ‘Walkshop’ along Robertson Road to learn more about resident priorities and dreams for this road. The Walkshop will help provide essential community-grounded feedback and perspectives that will support next steps in our community consultation processes.
Participants will be led on a 1 – 1.5 km walk along Robertson Road. It should take roughly 60 to 90 minutes, and will be done at a low pace, incorporating various stops to rest and chat. The route chosen will also be wheelchair accessible. The Walkshop will be followed by a community barbeque to celebrate the event launch, and to provide more opportunity for feedback collection for those unable to participate in the Walkshop. More information about the barbeque will be coming shortly.
Please RSVP at our webpage linked here if you are interested in participating. We’ll send an email closer to the walk If you have any accessibility support needs that you would like to share with us for the Walkshop, please send an email at collegeward@ottawa.ca.
If you want updates and information about the Reimagining Robertson Road project as it unfolds, please sign for email updates here.
This newsletter excerpt is courtesy of the city-wide community group Your Applewood Acres (And Beyond) Neighbours.
For You:
City Should Come Clean On Security: GRAY
Bubble Bylaw Is Necessary: BENN
New City Security Insults Taxpayers: CULLEN
City Can’t Produce Total New Security Gate Costs
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– The Bulldog – News Feed Enter 
I can do you one better! The Palladium Drive chaos currently in planning which will have Tanger Malls, tons of new big-box stores, 2 giant entertainment centres, of course the CTC, 2 Asian grocery stores, several industrial warehouses, etc.
It is imply planning chao as the city deals with everything piecemeal.
It’s a lot more expensive putting in an electrical plug after the house is finished!
Robertson Road, the erstwhile Hwy no. 7, was the shopping destination for those who lived in Kanata in the 1970s and 1980s. There was little choice for shoppers, other than Hazeldean Mall. Once Kanata built-up and Kanata Centrum opened, people no longer had to shop in Bell’s Corners.
The councillor who thinks they can bring Bell’s Corners back to the old days will have to wonder where the customers will come from.