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Top of the list, and let’s get it out of the way, are the condos on the LeBreton Flats. You know what I’m talking about. And now the next phase, the siblings of the ones already built, are underway. It’s getting worse.

Photo by Pat McGrath / POSTMEDIA

The police station on Elgin Street, presumably built as in bunker form to withstand rioting mobs when taxes get too high, is as unwelcoming a place as could be. A distressing place to enter if you are distressed.

Photo by Jean Levac / Ottawa Citizen

The luxury condos at 700 Sussex, the prison wing for rich people, hurts my eyes every time I try not to look at them. Being next to the Chateau Laurier and across from the old train station (Note to Stephen Harper: Can we have that back, please?) doesn’t help.

Name your own shopping mall, but my retail atrocity of choice is St. Laurent. But then, who looks at the surroundings when you are staring down at a screen asking for your PIN number?

A last minute inclusion on the list as I was compiling it came about when I recently walked down Albert Street. In the 200 block there is large puce box without a single redeeming feature. What happens in there?

And last and among the least, I’ll leave the sixth spot blank for readers to fill in. You will no doubt appreciate the chance to vent.

I propose that this column hands out two annual awards, to be dubbed the Edies, after the word edifice; one for the most beautiful building erected that year, one for the ugliest. The Edies are not to expected to dramatically alter the future streetscape, but they may add a redeeming feature or two. And talking of buildings, beautiful and otherwise, let me quickly mention a chance for you to visit and discuss several of Ottawa’s 19th century belles that fall under the title of “domestic Gothic.” There’s a conference about them (Earnscliffe is the jewel in the crown) on September 26 and 27. Contact Bruce.Elliott@carleton.ca to get on the list for the limited tours.

Phil Jenkins is an Ottawa writer. Email phil@philjenkins.ca.