Sylvie Bigras, President
The Board of the Lowertown Community Association has set out its priorities and objectives for the coming year.
Overall LCA Priorities
Social services – continue to work with leaders in the Community to better provide services to the most vulnerable, while ensuring a safe community in which to live and raise our families;
King-Edward – continue to work with varioius partners in looking at alternative options for routing truck traffic from Gatineau to the Ottawa area which will lessen the volume of trucks on King-Edward from MacDonald-Cartier Bridge (currently causing safety, environmental and traffic issues)
Enhancing our community through traffic calming, beautification, new & animated community spaces, respecting the heritage character of our community.
Committee priorities
Transportation
Ensuring the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists by increasing the walkability and biking infrastructure in Lowertown
Plan for parking in the Byward Market and surrounding area: if we solve walking, cycling and public transit issues then that will reduce the number of people driving
Explore the city’s plans for a tram from Ottawa to Hull – which would go along Sussex
Alternatives for trucking route which would reduce King-Edward truck use
Housing and Homelessness
Decentralization of social services for people who experience homelessness across the city of Ottawa (homeless is a city wide challenge, not just a Lowertown issue)
Ensure that social service provided in Lowertown and elsewhere have positive impacts on recipients and the community
Study alternative modes to tackle the housing crise and develop a policy paper for consideration by our elected officials.
Planning
The city-wide rezoning required as a result of the new Official Plan (which is still awaiting Provincial approval)
The new Official Plan’s promised Byward Market secondary plan
Negotiating a community benefit agreement with Ottawa Community Housing
Heritage
Completion of the Byward Market and Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District plans, including detailed guidelines and communication by the end of 2023
Development of Macdonald Gardens Heritage Conservation District work plan, with completion date for the plan in 2024
Safety and Security
Commitment for increased community policing focused on prevention of crime and local problem solving through increased foot and bicycle patrols
Engage Crime Prevention Ottawa in a project that focuses on the decreased sense of security for residents concerned about the concentration of social services
Friends of Lowertown Parks
Completion and implementation of the heritage conservation plan for Macdonald Gardens Park in 2023 (designated in 2017)
Completion of Bingham Park revitalization in consultation with community completion by end 2023
You are invited to join in on the efforts to pursue these objectives over the coming year. It’s as easy as emailing info@lowertown-basseville.ca