Grocery-anchored complex receives easy planning OK, church project draws community ire
Jon Willing, Postmedia
July 9, 2020
OTTAWA - July 9, 2020 - Planning committee on Thursday, July 9, 2020 approved a proposal by Arnon Corp. to build a mixed-use high-rise complex on a surface parking lot bounded by Preston Street, Aberdeen Street, Rochester Street and Beech Street. The complex is designed by Hobin Architecture
The lower half of Little Italy is one step closer to seeing a new mixed-use high-rise complex anchored by a grocery store.
Usually a big infill complex proposed by a developer has at least a couple of residents lined up with concerns, but not a single person signed up to address the planning committee Thursday about Arnon Corp.’s plans to build a large surface parking lot off Little Italy’s commercial main street.
The ward councillor, Catherine McKenney, also registered support for the development sandwiched between Preston and Rochester streets, save for some of their concerns about the high amount of parking (598 spaces, almost all underground) being planned for a site that’s not far from public transit.
The city’s nearby Trillium Line has a station at Carling Avenue and another one is under construction at Gladstone Avenue.
Still, it was an easy rubber stamp by the committee.
Arnon’s development, located on the properties that make up 450 Rochester St. and 367, 369 and 371 Preston St., would have heights between three and 26 storeys. About 550 residential units would be in the complex and there would be “privately owned public spaces” at the corners of Preston and Beech streets and Rochester and Beech streets.
A full-size grocery store along Beech Street is intended for the first floor, but there has been no official word on the identity of the grocer. A liquor store is also included in the ground-floor plan filed with the development application.
The Preston-Carling district secondary plan encourages the establishment of a grocery store in the area, since the community has been considered a food “desert” with no large food store in close proximity.
Arnon is planning the development in two phases, with buildings of up to nine and 15 storeys in the first phase. The first phase includes the grocery store. The tallest building, the 26-storey high rise, is eyed for the Rochester Street side of the property.
Council will vote on the required rezoning and official plan amendments on Wednesday.
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