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| not the Guggenheim, Byward Market Ottawa |
The spacious and ultra modern Freiman's Parking Centre, hailed as "a milestone among shopping and parking facilities on the North American Continent", was officially opened last night glitter usually associated with a Hollywood premiere.The article mentions the structure's 403 parking spots spread over five tiers, the 251-foot climate-controlled tunnel connecting it to Freiman's department store and the "handy counter-to-car automatic [?!] package conveyor".
Only the traditional kleig lights were missing as a 50-car cavalcade, led by Mayor [optician George] Nelms' chauffeur-driven limousine, pulled up before the white ribbon stretched across the entrance to the imposing new building on George [no relation] street.
Alighting from his car, Mayor Nelms shook hands with Lawrence Freiman, president of A.J. Freiman Ltd., congratulated him on "insight" shown in establishing a much needed facility in the city and sliced through the ribbon across the entrance...
The balance of the piece is given over to people hopping in and out of Cadillacs and otherwise seeing and being seen while saying nice things about each other. Interestingly the thrust of the conversation seems to have been the importance of bringing cars into the Byward Market.
This, we should remember, was at a time when the Market was the place to see drunks and prostitutes, visit the shops of Jews who sold used furniture, fruit and vegetables, cheap and funky clothing (Sir Plus!) and kitchenware (enamelware from China!) — also to buy from farmers who spoke French and sold local produce including kittens and live chickens — all of which is to say, a real market.
Now we have drunken students, tourists and crackheads. plus ça change...
