[acottawa]

While condo retail works well on "main streets" I'm not sure I would agree that retail on side streets adds much to downtown. You don't often get popular businesses that generate pedestrian traffic or serve local residents, but small niche businesses that invest little in the appearance of their stores, are hardly ever open and go bankrupt frequently, leaving an eyesore. There are a few exceptions. I think a restaurant or coffee shop facing Nepean would have done well at the Charlesfort building.