I think I managed to solve the Sparks Street problem...

Jamaican-Phoenix · #1 Posted **Oct 29, 2019, 10:32 PM**

Hear me out y'all, I have a controversial way of how we fix Sparks Street. Like, forever.

Make it the Red Light District.

You are technically allowed to sell sexual services in Canada, but obviously more should be done. However, it's a decent idea. You want the street to be active year-round and into the night? Boom, problem solved. Got a lot of stressed parliamentarians? Red Light District is a block away. Stressed businessmen, businesswomen and commuters? Relief is a block away.

Plus, the jokes writes themselves what with parliament just a block away. It would also firmly kill the notion that Ottawa is the city that fun forgot.

kwoldtimer · #2 Posted **Oct 29, 2019, 10:46 PM**

How retro! (There's an app for that ...)

Uhuniau · #3 Posted **Oct 29, 2019, 11:06 PM**

The solution for the Sparks Street problem is to eliminate the public-sector office uses along it by 35 or 40%.

phil235 · #4 Posted **Oct 30, 2019, 1:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The solution for the Sparks Street problem is to eliminate the public-sector office uses along it by 35 or 40%.

Not sure you have to go that far. Just get the retail storefronts out of the hands of Public Works.

I also think that the City likely has the power to mandate building entrances on Sparks (hello CBC), which would also help. That and allowing brothels.

Harley613 · #5 Posted **Oct 30, 2019, 1:49 AM**

Amsterdam's red light district is the very core of the city and immediately adjacent to the Royal Palace. This could work!

OTownandDown · #6 Posted **Oct 30, 2019, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

Amsterdam's red light district is the very core of the city and immediately adjacent to the Royal Palace. This could work!

You're forgetting about THIS representative Concerned Ottawa Citizen for the Truth:

People can't even handle *gasp* wine drinking in a park!! To think! They want to DRINK... WINE... in a PARK!

silvergate · #7 Posted **Oct 30, 2019, 7:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTownandDown

You're forgetting about THIS representative Concerned Ottawa Citizen for the Truth:

People can't even handle *gasp* wine drinking in a park!! To think! They want to DRINK... WINE... in a PARK!

The Glebe is not done there either... seemed relevant to this somehow

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...-worlds-oldest

acottawa · #8 Posted **Oct 31, 2019, 6:10 AM**

An interesting video I recently saw on this subject.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tg9IMCKa5M

acottawa · #9 Posted **Oct 31, 2019, 6:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The solution for the Sparks Street problem is to eliminate the public-sector office uses along it by 35 or 40%.

And replace it with what? Claridge Condos? 14-packs of flags? Monuments to victims of stuff?

Jamaican-Phoenix · #10 Posted **Oct 31, 2019, 7:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

Amsterdam's red light district is the very core of the city and immediately adjacent to the Royal Palace. This could work!

I joke, but the idea does make a startling amount of sense.

Harley613 · #11 Posted **Nov 1, 2019, 4:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

And replace it with what? Claridge Condos? 14-packs of flags? Monuments to victims of stuff?

You forgot a Shawarma Shop and a Shoppers!

Uhuniau · #12 Posted **Nov 1, 2019, 4:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by acottawa

And replace it with what? Claridge Condos? 14-packs of flags? Monuments to victims of stuff?

More private-sector office uses above grade, and ground-floor landlords who aren't PWGSC.

J.OT13 · #13 Posted **Nov 3, 2019, 11:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

More private-sector office uses above grade, and ground-floor landlords who aren't PWGSC.

And maybe convert/replace a few buildings to condo and hotel uses.

Kitchissippi · #14 Posted **Nov 3, 2019, 2:03 PM**

Sparks Street is more like a Red Tape District:

Federal government blamed for vacant storefronts on Sparks

With many of those storefronts being used as construction offices though, it seems they're already taking care of erections