somerset street prototype

429 Somerset is 14 stories high

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This building is at the intersection of Kent street not far from Bank Street. There is a great sea change in the character of Somerset that begins to occur near here, more condominiums , upscale restaurants, lawyers and doctors offices etcetera. It is a borderline that, when crossed, takes the pedestrian through another world.

471 Somerset street is an old apartment building

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There are maybe 8 or 9 (plus of minus  . . . ) apartment buildings like this in the general area of Kent and Lyon street on the north side . They all seem to be about the same age and my guess is  that they were erected somewhere between 1920 and 1940. This one has been rennovated and  looks pretty good. Many years ago as an election enumerator I climbed the stairs of many of these buildings looking for people to add to the voters list. This was a fascinating and rewarding task to do. The diversity of tenants was wonderful.

399 Somerset Street West

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This banal store front is part of a number addresses at the bottom of a high rise building which can be seen here and here. The owner approached me to ask why I was taking a picture of his business and I told him " because I am photographing all of the buildings on the street . . . "  he seemed to be satisfied with this answer  and I continued on my way west.  - no problem.

395 Somerset is a high rise apartment building

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There are two high rise apartment buildings on Somerset West and they are both close to Bank street where the white painting and condominium construction is most intense.

Close to Bank Street , 401 and 393 Somerset

click images to enlarge Located on the north side of the street in the ground floor of a high rise apartmnt building are several "mini or 'strip mall' type units including the Ottawa Addiction Treatment Centre (a methadone clinic) and a community Police Station almost next door. The intersection of Somerset and Bank Street is a busy business area with a very different sense of community from the parts of the street further to the west. This is  the eastern edge of the Somerset street images being added to the aregeebee blog.

480 Somerset Street West

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The Ottawa Physical Health Centre at 480 and a view from directly across the street looking east, in the distance on the right picture you can see the new low rise condominium developments that increase in number as you approach the intersection of Bank street.

492 1/2 Somerset Street

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492 1/2 Somerset Street and its parent building which is called Bolling Terrace 1890 on a little masonry plaque on the second floor. This building is on the south east corner at Lyon Street. The little shop with the curtained window has had a lot of tenants in the last few years. An art gallery (Gamma Ray Gallery), a  dog grooming emporium, an internet cafe/convenience store a stone carver's studio and most recently there is a sign in the window that indicates the current tenant would like a partner to help share the work and expenses involved in maintaining the studio. I  spent a fair while in there once helping some students hang an exhibition of their work. The students were Lisa Egan, Linda Archibald, Tina Jubinville and Martine Chartrand. I remember poking around in the basement and it was what you would expect from a wooden frame building that is pretty much like it was when it was erected nearly 120 years ago.Draughty, damp, etcetera.

472 Somerset Street West

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This is the Ottawa Chinese Freemasons Lodge, a beautiful building that - as my wife stated - looks as if it could talk.