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NEW VITALITY ON PRESTON ST.
The Ottawa Citizen - Monday, March 10, 2003 - Preston Street feels like a neighbourhood holding its breath these days. In recent decades, parts of the street have been run- down, depressed, a little shabby. But soon, collaboration between the city and local merchants could turn Ottawa's Little Italy into the pride of the city.
For the people who live there, Preston Street has long been more like a village than a street. The older people in the area can remember what the neighbourhood meant to immigrants coming to Ottawa decades ago. The two-storey brick houses and storefronts that line the streets all have stories of their own.
Then, in the 1950s and '60s, Preston was disconnected from the rest of the city. On the north, the federal government razed LeBreton Flats, making Preston a street to nowhere, at least as far as pedestrians were concerned. Toward the south end, the new Queensway gave the street an ugly, industrial feel.
While it has remained the best place in Ottawa to get a good plate of pasta, the Italian charm of the neighbourhood now has to compete with commuter traffic. It is broken here and there with empty lots and desolate buildings.
But walk the length of Preston now and you'll see signs of renewal: construction sites, new restaurant patios, stores with fresh coats of paint. A new arch marks the beginning of Little Italy at Carling Avenue. On the concrete walls of the Queensway underpass pass a sign reads: "Future site of Preston Street Heritage Murals!"
These efforts aren't haphazard. For the past few years, the Preston Street Business Improvement Association has been working on a plan to renew the area. The BIA has consulted with merchants and residents, and even got some ideas from an architecture class at Carleton University.
A consultant is finishing up a study, to be presented to city planners. Then, after consultations with the public, the city and the BIA will determine how much to spend on the plan. They'll also decide how much of the money will come from the city and how much from fundraising or private initiative.
While the plan will deal with the street as a whole, its importance will probably be in the details:
- A more pedestrian-friendly sidewalk and landscaping, including more lively street decorations to mark the changing of the seasons or events such as street festivals.
- Less restrictive zoning to encourage a wider variety of businesses, mixing old buildings with new development. Some thought should also be given to development on the side streets, many of which are even more run-down than Preston itself.
- Beautification of storefronts and restaurants, with an emphasis on patios and pedestrian appeal.
The street's restaurants have already been very eager to co-operate with the city in making Preston more inviting. Pub Italia recently created a delightful patio area, with the help and encouragement of the city.
While the city should certainly help this revitalization process along, these kinds of improvements don't necessarily call for lots of public expenditure. A coat of paint, a simple bench, a few trees could make a real difference to the street.
In a few years, Preston Street could be bustling with people, walking from their apartments off Preston to their workplaces on Carling, grabbing a cappuccino, browsing newsstands, admiring the view. It won't take much: a little money, a lot of elbow grease, and some fresh ideas.
For more information on Sakto, or this press release, please email info@sakto.com.
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