As someone who lives downtown in the market area, I, for one, am happy to see some slow changes being made to this neighborhood. The byward market is the heart of the city: the heart of tourism, the heart of the entertainment district, restaurants, foot-traffic, Ottawa University, and the highest density of residential homes. It is in desperate need of revitalizing, and this is a welcomed step in that direction. (On a side note, I will say that I’m in the process of writing a letter to MPP, Madeleine Meilleur, in regards to the situation of Lowertown and in particular, the transport trucks that drive through it (I’m told that she has had a hand in kyboshing the proposed alternative highway through aviation parkway. Not cool.).
Check the link to see the planned building. (And look for my petition to rid downtown of transport trucks (and to clean up these homeless shelters as well:))
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa/Nine+storey+apartment+proposed+King+Edward+small+