The ragtag crew behind Bluesfest do a remarkable job | Letters to the Editor

From left: Devinder Gill, RBC regional president; Mark Monahan, founder, executive and artistic director of Ottawa Bluesfest; and Kris Depencier, RBC executive vice-president of personal banking, marked another year of collaboration between RBC and Ottawa Bluesfest. Photo by ASHLEY FRASER /POSTMEDIA

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Thank you for in-depth investigative journalism

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Finally, someone has shed light on what is happening with the entire dilapidated and boarded-up block on Bank Street between Lisgar and Nepean. Thank you for this in-depth investigative journalism. A similar story (minus the tenants) could be told about the block kitty corner to it at Bank and Lisgar, which has been vacant for years, or the huge parcel of land down the way at O’Connor and Gilmour, or the vacant lot behind Staples or the still wretched Somerset house at Somerset and Bank.

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While the article dives deep into the complex investment back story for that block, what the article does not venture into is the impact of protracted dilapidated vacancies on both the safety and economic viability of the area and the core. Street involved people congregate creating hazardous environments. Small businesses trying to open up across the street from that boarded up block struggle with foot traffic as people dont want to stop. Commercial real estate is doing well everywhere in Ottawa except downtown, and if the City approves zoning and not proposed developments, as Jeff Leiper is quoted in the article, how about they decline to approve commercial zoning outside the core until the core is actually full/”economically revitalized”?

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Perhaps in lieu of approving commercial zoning for the suburbs, they could approve zoning for safe supply pharmacies, 24 hour drop-in centres, and supportive housing including support for transit to these places. These steps might actually revitalize downtown, if suburbanites put their money where their mouth is, and would take us leagues further than the fluffy “economic revitalization” plans for the core we’ve seen to date.

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Stefanie Bowles, Ottawa

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Please uncover Jimmy Baptiste’s work

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Our city wants to create something that should occur more organically — the cool and trendy-sounding ACE or Arts, Culture and Entertainment district — and immediately covers up some actual art by a local artist with a vinyl sheet depicting…? It’s bad enough that Jimmy Baptiste’s mural was covered over but the work covering it is not even recognizable as anything. To add insult to injury, the vibrant colours of Baptiste’s work peek out from the bottom of the vinyl overlay.

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Can’t we get anything right here? As Saturday’s author said, the committee is mistaking product for process. There is no reason these vinyl sheets couldn’t have been put up around the market (though to what end, I’m unsure) but why cover up existing works that are already creating the “sense of place” the committee is trying to achieve.

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Please uncover Baptiste’s work, move the picture of whatever that is to somewhere else, and get back in consultation with the people who actually live and work in the Market.

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Sharon W. Moren, Kanata

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A round of applause for Bluesfest

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Whether you enjoy Bluesfest or not, the fact remains that the ragtag crew that started it decades ago have done a remarkable job.