Comments on: Opinion: a reborn Union Station could hold our history

By: Kevin B

Kevin B — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 04:37:40 +0000

What's the status on this? Does any one have inside information?

By: Fraser Pollock

Fraser Pollock — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:20:11 +0000

I have had interior tours of both Ottawa Union Stations old and new plus Union Stations in Toronto and Chicago, North Toronto Station, Grand Central in New York, a former station in Detroit and Cincinatti's (part of which is a museum) as well as several in Britain and France. I am a past board member and still a semi active member of a Railway Museum located in a former CNoR/CNR train station in Smiths Falls Ontario. As a member of the public I have been in even more railway stations than that and it always knocked me out that the people of Ottawa have put up with what the federal government allowed to happen here with the old Ottawa Union Station formaIly, Ottawa's Grand Trunk Railway Station. Thankfully, the National Historic Places Act forced the NCC to make sure all their modifications were reverseable. The museum concept is good but, unlikely due to the fact museum funding is on the decline. That being said, if the city can actually get the federal government to give up this building and that's a big, if, this building still has many posibilities. Having been inside I can say honestly that, as a space, it competes rather well architecturally against any railway station big or small anywhere. My Idea would be to use it as hybrid type of space. In the design of the DOTT the Rideau station is considered a possible third entrance accessing somwhere near the middle of the planned LRT platform. The interior of the station lends itself well to small amounts of retail because as a railway station, it did have retail in it. Secondly, museum space can be provided for several museums not just one. Union Station in Toronto is getting a massive rebuild and a large mall is being built underneath however, a significant amount space is being included for museum displays particularly for the Toronto Railway Heritage Park, I know this because a close friend of mine is helping design these displays. The main waiting room is stunning and should stay just that, a waiting room. The many ancilary rooms and offices can be used for commercial office space and public rented meeting rooms. Lastly, the entrance to Rideau Street should be maintained as it is a wonderful way to view downtown. The dramtic view was by design to impress on the traveler the beauty and grandeur of Ottawa.

By: betsy

betsy — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:04:13 +0000

I would much prefer to come into a beautifully restored Union Station than into the Rideau Centre. I would also love a comprehensive transit plan that either gets most of the buses off Rideau Street or at least gives riders somewhere to wait other than the sidewalks.

By: eric darwin

eric darwin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:26:41 +0000

Early on in the Downtown Ottawa Transit Tunnel planning process, the DOTT documents identified the Union Station as a possible new site for the public library. I thought that had significant potential but alas, it was not to be.

By: eric darwin

eric darwin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:24:23 +0000

Re-using the Union Station is proper. But as a LRT station it could not replace the Rideau St access. Who wants to come up in the station from a escalator, then traipse through the building, up the stairs out onto Rideau Street, and then cross one or two sets of lights to walk 300' down rideau to get to their bus stop if they are transferring?

I think it more likely the Rideau Street subway entrances will remain, as will the inside-the-Rideau Centre entrance should one be practical, and one on the Confederation Sq/NAC side, preferably with indoor access to the NAC.

What then is the purpose of the Union Station entrance to the subway and exit? A civic museum is unlikely to attract that much daily traffic to make a viable civic space. More popular uses might be a part of or extension of the new Convention Centre being built adjacent, or some use that involves public crowds, like additional City hall meeting space.

BTW, whatever happened to the idea to put the Hockey Hall of Fame there?

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:58:08 +0000

I really hope that Union Station will be re-acquired by the city of Ottawa and turned into the centrepiece of the downtown LRT line. Certainly, you could have a museum that would compliment what the Bytowne museum does. It could house Ottawa's more contemporary history, while the Bytowne continues to tell the story of Ottawa's origins. I have been inside the conference centre and I agree that it is not a very good place to hold conferences. It is definitely time for a new and better use for this noble building.

By: S.

S. — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:38:10 +0000

This is one idea of Mayor O'Brien's that I agree with: a first. Using union station for its original purpose is a great idea and could inject more vitality into the city's core. The other aspect of his plan not mentioned here, moving the bus terminal out to Tremblay road (where the train station is) earns a big fat goose egg, however.
I'd rather see something more vibrant than a museum at such a location. A spot for some live music, or local artist/locally--produced crafts etc.

By: J

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:31:05 +0000

Good idea. The Conference Centre is a horrible place as it exists now - the acoustics are bad and the layout is not conducive to anything. The time for redevelopment is perfect as the Convention Centre will be done in the next few years.

The inside does need some work to restore the building to its full glory. Currently, half the conference centre is a display area for art (inuit i think) while the great hall is the open space for events.

By: Christopher King

Christopher King — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:18:34 +0000

Kind of sounds like the City of Montreal's Windsor Station, which was irresponsibly removed from serving the public (and the train tracks) when the City moved the Canadians hockey team to their new home.

I love your theoretical idea though. it sounds absolutely wonderful.

By: Tonya

Tonya — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:14:06 +0000

I like your idea David!
One might say- (like you mentioned)- but wait- what about the Bytown Museum, and while I love the Bytown Museum and think it does a great job, it is a museum of Bytown- the era of this region pre-1855, there is so much about Ottawa the city that should be celebrated.
In any case, it will be exciting for people to be able to see the inside of that impressive building.