Orleans Weekly Journal
Published: Friday, August 15, 2008

Lessons from European planning 

I’m just back from over two weeks in Europe and cruising the ‘med’ (Italy, Croatia, Spain and France), which effected some interesting reflections on our life in Orléans given my status of observing life from across the pond.  

On the positive side we are spoiled with space. Even if you live in a starter terrace home, compared to many European cities, you are living in the lap of spatial luxury, not to mention a place to park your car and relative ease of accessing major local, regional and highway routes.

And when it comes to safety, even the most crowded day at Place d’Orléans during Christmas shopping season is a breeze measured against the constant vigilance against pick pockets across the Rialto bridge in Venice, La Rambla in Barcelona, the bustle of crowds in the walled city of Dubrovnik or even the throngs of tourists at Vatican City in Rome.

However, for all of the advantages of our great community, Europe, and ancient Europe as well, has a few things to teach us about better urban living.

To start, parts of the Roman empire had things down pat when it came to city layouts. Take the ruins at Pompeii near Naples for example: the city was a perfect grid (avenues and streets) system. Yes I know it was built near a volcano, but work with me. While our zig-zagging streets and winding crescents yield great lot premiums for local developers, they are inefficient in terms of land use planning and utilities servicing, which we ultimately pay for through taxes and charges.

And the pedestrian-only squares, campos, piazzas and shopping areas are simply tops. No cars, accessible to strollers and wheelchairs alike and prices are to be read as opening barter bids, not a final sale.

Perhaps the minds behind the Orléans Town Centre could incorporate a more walk-friendly concept around the emerging Shenkman Arts Centre, the present site of our client service centre and other planned buildings.

The other striking feature of every city visited across four countries – both on and off, way off, the beaten tourist path – is the range of dining choices for all price points and fixed price menus to boot. Given our lack of dining options in the east end compared to other parts of the Ottawa region, this is something for local eateries to ponder ... food for thought, if you will.

And finally a small shout out to local teachers and newlyweds Dave and Fiona whom I met in Italy ... it’s amazing what happens when a Senators baseball cap spots a Sens T-shirt half a world away and a new friendship blooms.

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Comments can be sent to Walter Robinson at orleansouttakes@transcontinental.ca.