CapitalSeven
Senior Member
I also like their big sign about living "in the Glebe", which the building is not.
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The Clemow | 52m | 17s | Katasa | RLA
- Thread starter urbottawa
- Start date
They contradict themselves in their own marketing.
When Taggart originally proposed this project, prior to Katasa buying it out, they had a far more clever way to market it as Glebe Adjacent. 'Glebe Annex'.
When Taggart originally proposed this project, prior to Katasa buying it out, they had a far more clever way to market it as Glebe Adjacent. 'Glebe Annex'.
urbottawa
Active Member
That actually is the neighbourhood name
It's a shame the red brick got axed, turned out nice enough on the Norman building that also had a generic RLA design.
I have never in my life noticed that on Google Maps or heard the area referred to as Glebe Annex. Does anyone know if that's a recent development? Still, it should remain marketed as part of the Glebe Annex.
SweazyCavalry
Active Member
Google often have neighbourhoods that don't actually "exist" per-say with most locals, but some groups actually push for a non-common identity, so it gets added. As well, people make some neighbourhoods up and recommend them to Google who just adds it. If you see a "neighbourhood" called Waroncarson village", it wouldn't have come from me
Ottawacurious
Active Member
I've heard it as Glebe annex for a while. The Glebe Annex Community Association formed in 2013 as an example.
There's a series of articles by Sue Stefko that talk about the history as well (she also happens to be the president)
glebereport.ca
There's a series of articles by Sue Stefko that talk about the history as well (she also happens to be the president)
The early history of the Glebe Annex |
glebereport.ca
CapitalSeven
Senior Member
To be fair, by some definitions the are north of Carling and West of Bronson is considered part of the Glebe in an official sense because there's nothing else to call it. But walking through it, it would never occur to you that you're in the Glebe. The southern section between the real Glebe and Dow's Lake is loveley. North of Carling it's really just part of the random hodge-podge between Bronson and Preston.
Gives me a cheap 1970s office building corporate sign vibe.
Oh god...they have put these signs up on all sides. This has instantly made it on to my top 10 'Ugly Ottawa' list. I have never supported The Glebe Retired Lawyer NIMBY/BANANA club, but for once I actually hope they take action against something.
Yeah. Tis makes it so much worse. Rendering showed a low-key, elegant building. The entire mechanical box and its signs absolutely ruins it.
Ottawacurious
Active Member
CITY | ||
Is it too loud? Glebe residents say noise coming from Clemow Apartments cooling unit is unbearable | ||
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If you've been in the Glebe near the corner of Carling and Bronson, you might have heard a constant noise overhead. To those just passing, it could sound like the loud hum of a helicopter. | ||
But it’s constant and residents say after some digging, they realized it was coming from the air conditioning on top of the newly built Clemow Apartments, a rental community for those 50+. | ||
Online comments show the neighbours are not pleased. They’ve taken to Google where they’ve offered one-star reviews. | ||
“It is shocking that a city-approved building can be erected in an established neighbourhood and then ruin the enjoyment of that neighbourhood for tax-paying residents once its roaring air conditioning units are switched on,” wrote one reviewer. | ||
Another said: “The noise of the air conditioners has totally taken away my enjoyment of working in my garden and eating in my backyard. It is difficult to carry on a conversation with the constant helicopter-like drone.” | ||
In an interview with the Ottawa Lookout, Marc Leblanc — who lives seven houses away from the Clemow — said the hum began in mid to late April. Once neighbours discovered what was causing the unwanted disturbance, they called Bylaw to do some digging. | ||
”Bylaw told me that they received tens and tens of complaints, so they went on a journey of taking noise readings of all the houses. But every single one of the noise readings were under the threshold so they closed the file,” said Leblanc. | ||
According to the City of Ottawa website, limits for permitted noise from the operation of air conditioners are 50 decibels or lower. | ||
On Tuesday, Leblanc bad Bylaw came and took a reading again and it was 55 decibels — meaning it was over the legal limit. | ||
The Ottawa Lookout reached out to Bylaw services who said in a statement that ”no violations have been observed” at this time. Roger Chapman, Director By-law and Regulatory Services, also noted they couldn’t comment further “as the investigation remains ongoing.” | ||
The Clemow did not respond to the Lookout’s request for comment, but on Google reviews told distressed residents they “understand how frustrating” the sound has been, and noted they are actively working with professionals to stop the rooftop noise. | ||
Chapman also said they’ve been in communication with the property manager ”to explore potential ways to reduce fan noise from the air conditioning system.” | ||
Despite the recent reading being five decibels over the threshold, Leblanc said a bylaw officer told him they typically give a 10-decibels threshold to allow for ambient noise, meaning it could go as high as 60 decibels. The Lookout posed this question to Ottawa Bylaw, but did not get a direct answer. | ||
On Thursday evening, Leblanc got an email from Capital Ward Coun. Shawn Menard’s office which said further tests would be done when the cooling machine was off. | ||
Residents of the Glebe are used to noise, said Leblanc — who noted they hear music from Escapade and Bluesfest, which he called a welcome perk of living in central Ottawa. But he said, unlike the festivals, the noise from the cooling unit is constant and needs to stop. | ||
“I was hoping not to have it for the entire summer because it's a bit less enjoyable outside, but I'll keep pushing and hopefully it gets resolved at one point,” he said. | ||
This is not the only time noise from air conditioning units have impacted Glebe residents. Leblanc said a similar incident occurred when the Lord Lansdowne was built, but the issue was resolved after pushback from the neighbourhood. | ||
As Ottawa continues to grow upward, Leblanc said he feels regulations should change to require noise deterrents be used in high-rise buildings. The Glebe resident said the community is on edge as Clemow developer, Katasa Group, is proposing another building at the vacant lot next door. They intended for it to be 26 storeys — well above the 12 storeys the land is zoned for — but after consultatio,n they’ve settled for 22 storeys. | ||
“It's their time right now to show that they want to be a good neighbour and just install some sound-cancelling devices or deflectors on the AC unit,” said Leblanc. “It’s very common that most buildings have it because if not, the noise pollution would be outrageous.” |
Yes. Shocking. How dare they approve housing in established neighbourhood and ruin the lives of tax-paying citizens. Is this an assumption that the people living in the Clemow don't pay taxes, because I assure you, they pay taxes. The developer charges taxes as part of their rents.
I don't know how bad the noise really is. Everywhere else I've lived, from single family homes, townhomes and condo communities, hearing other people's a/c's has always been part of the deal. If it is particularly bad, then sure, Katasa could invest in sound dampening.
phil235
New Member
It's pretty bad. Like think highway-level noise at all hours of day and night. I'm not one to complain about noise in the city, but I have to agree with the "tax-paying citizen" that this is a bit ridiculous (incidentally, why do they describe themselves like that and instantly lose all credibility). Apparently Katasa was too cheap to invest in even the most standard sound mitigation measures, and you can literally hear the AC above every other sound source at all times. It seems like the by-law is pretty ineffective, so it may be that the City needs to update its regulations to cover this sort of thing.
Thanks for the background. Then yes, absolutely, Katasa should do something about noise levels from the A/C unit before being granted the next permits for projects in the area. City rejected the money they were going to offer to improve the intersection, well use that money for sound dampening on your own projects. It just doesn't help when the NIMBYs throw in NIMBY arguments; focus on the problem, because that extra B.S. about how "shocking" it is the City approves intensification that impact "tax payers" is a good way to lose credibility on an otherwise good point.