Westboro Connection | Completed

[rocketphish]

There is a major hole in the ground here now.

[rocketphish]

Here are a couple of new renderings from their site:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3900/14908635146_46811005aa_b.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3915/14908635036_f8df922a3b_b.jpg

http://www.westboroconnection.com/

[Kitchissippi]

The second rendering doesn't make sense, McRae won't continue past Scott.

[Urbanarchit]

Wait... so there's surface parking between the stores and the sidewalk instead of the building fronting McCrae? I don't agree with surface parking, especially between the sidewalk and stores. If they couldn't put it underground, then they should have put the parking in the back and had the buildings right at the sidewalk. Or they could have done what they initially proposed (check page 2 for their concept for the area) whee they put the buildings at the sidewalk, then had parking along the street.

Also the "idea design" on the left to give an idea of what the area could be like is too tacky and Las Vegas-fake to me.

Overall, I like the buildings, but I think this mock-up was poorly executed, and I don't like the plan for the parking there.

[McC]

And the hydro towers magically disappeared: poof!

[HighwayStar]

Wait... so there's surface parking between the stores and the sidewalk instead of the building fronting McCrae? I don't agree with surface parking, especially between the sidewalk and stores. If they couldn't put it underground, then they should have put the parking in the back and had the buildings right at the sidewalk.

There are monster hydro towers running down the street directly over the parking which preclude any hope of putting the building on McCrae.... however as mentioned above... they have magically disappeared from the rendering..

[MaxHeadroom]

Make a note in about two years, that some offshore buyer of one of these units will be complaining about the power lines directly in the line of view from their balcony.

[HighwayStar]

^^^ I thought they were all rental units ??

[rocketphish]

Wait... so there's surface parking between the stores and the sidewalk instead of the building fronting McCrae? I don't agree with surface parking, especially between the sidewalk and stores. If they couldn't put it underground, then they should have put the parking in the back and had the buildings right at the sidewalk. Or they could have done what they initially proposed (check page 2 for their concept for the area) whee they put the buildings at the sidewalk, then had parking along the street.

As nice as it would have been, there was never a serious plan to have the buildings fronting the edge of McRae. That would require the relocation of Hydro One's high tension transmission towers... not an easy thing to do. The 15m wide strip of land running along the east side of, and immediately adjacent to McRae Avenue is a right-of-way used by Hydro One, who currently lease it on a renewable five year basis to the adjacent landowners*, hence it's continued use as parking.

You can see it clearly here:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14914134586_6eb9bc17da_b.jpg

* p.62: http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%20Referencing_Zoning%20Bylaw%20Amendment%20Application_Image%20Reference_Planning_and_Related_Studies_D02-02-09-0031.PDF

[J.OT13]

I always thought this was being built on Churchill at Scott for some reason! There a hole over there too, not sure what's going on.

Anyway, assuming someone buries the high tension wires at some point, I hope they either extend the building closer to the sidewalk or build a plaza/terrace/park over the parking lot. This thing is steps away for a Transitway Station that will be converted to metro within 10 years. Loosing 20 spaces won't make much of an impact.

[Urbanarchit]

As nice as it would have been, there was never a serious plan to have the buildings fronting the edge of McRae. That would require the relocation of Hydro One's high tension transmission towers... not an easy thing to do. The 15m wide strip of land running along the east side of, and immediately adjacent to McRae Avenue is a right-of-way used by Hydro One, who currently lease it on a renewable five year basis to the adjacent landowners*, hence it's continued use as parking.

You can see it clearly here:

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14914134586_6eb9bc17da_b.jpg

* p.62: http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%20Referencing_Zoning%20Bylaw%20Amendment%20Application_Image%20Reference_Planning_and_Related_Studies_D02-02-09-0031.PDF

That makes sense but is still not good. Because they want to keep it as a right-of-way for Hydro One. It has a negative affect on the form of the city...

I always thought this was being built on Churchill at Scott for some reason! There a hole over there too, not sure what's going on.

Anyway, assuming someone buries the high tension wires at some point, I hope they either extend the building closer to the sidewalk or build a plaza/terrace/park over the parking lot. This thing is steps away for a Transitway Station that will be converted to metro within 10 years. Loosing 20 spaces won't make much of an impact.

This one (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=207938) is the one on the corner of Scott and Churchill. It's nothing special, though I could have sworn that it would look like this. (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.395159,-75.754618,3a,75y,111.38h,92.16t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sX0zrfB1xIDLJl2rh2kJwEw!2e0)

[Uhuniau]

Make a note in about two years, that some offshore buyer of one of these units will be complaining about the power lines directly in the line of view from their balcony.

Offshore?

[J.OT13]

This one (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=207938) is the one on the corner of Scott and Churchill. It's nothing special, though I could have sworn that it would look like this. (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.395159,-75.754618,3a,75y,111.38h,92.16t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sX0zrfB1xIDLJl2rh2kJwEw!2e0)

Both look extremely suburban. Very disappointed.

[Radster]

I beg to differ here. It looks way better than whats there now, I doubt any of you can argue that point.

This type of street-scape: grass, then sidewalk, then trees/grass, then parking and building, is actually quite common on certain streets in some European cities, it works and looks good once the trees mature. I also like how there is no on-street parking, it beautifies the street.

As for the left side condos with the big sidewalk, it looks good to me, will be a nice gateway into Westboro from the LRT station.

All this will alter this street from a nightmare for pedestrians to a pedestrian friendly street.

[J.OT13]

I beg to differ here. It looks way better than whats there now, I doubt any of you can argue that point.

This type of street-scape: grass, then sidewalk, then trees/grass, then parking and building, is actually quite common on certain streets in some European cities, it works and looks good once the trees mature. I also like how there is no on-street parking, it beautifies the street.

As for the left side condos with the big sidewalk, it looks good to me, will be a nice gateway into Westboro from the LRT station.

All this will alter this street from a nightmare for pedestrians to a pedestrian friendly street.

I like the Westboro Connection project. Looks good and I can even live with the parking.

I don't like is the buildings on defishel's links; proposals for the corner of Scott and Churchill.

[MountainView]

Let's not forget about these things like other posters have already pointed out.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.395725,-75.749945,3a,75y,350.26h,98.71t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sw6W__hqeITKOYY_GYJlHfQ!2e0

[HighwayStar]

There is a major hole in the ground here now.

Exhibit A:

http://blog.piworld.ca/dac_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/McRaeHole.jpg

[concrete06]

Tower crane went up today.

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20140829_164152.jpg

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20140829_164148.jpg

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20140829_163819.jpg

[concrete06]

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20140831_110843.jpg

[Uhuniau]

Exhibit A:

http://blog.piworld.ca/dac_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/McRaeHole.jpg

I really wish these construction sites would let some of the spoil fall outside the fences or hoarding. #rawks #fawsils

[Beedok]

I swung by today. There' two cranes now. (They seem rather visible so most people in western Ottawa probably knew that already.)

[rocketphish]

From the Westboro Connection Community Blog:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5ibnf0iKzg/VBBjhDLdqYI/AAAAAAAAAGU/d0UV839zM1s/s1600/033.jpg

http://westboroconnection.blogspot.ca/

[concrete06]

A shot from this weekend.

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20141011_110808.jpg

[Dado]

Oh look, footings directly on bedrock. What a concept. Too bad the residential construction industry won't do the same thing. Oh no. They've got to jackhammer the rock out, back fill it with gravel and then slap the footings down on that.

[concrete06]

Taken Oct 26

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20141026_104145.jpg

[Beedok]

Looking at the renders it's nothing amazing, but at least it will help break up the linear nature of the local urban build.

[concrete06]

Taken Nov 29, 2014


http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20141129_120518.jpg

http://i862.photobucket.com/albums/ab181/sci99/IMG_20141129_120539.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

The developer has purchased 1960 Scott (Trailhead) for $5.95 million - source - Colliers Q4 report

[Rob64]

I REALLY hope that they don't tear it down.

[cr872190]

I REALLY hope that they don't tear it down.

Uhh I really doubt they bought it to keep it running as is. Odds are it'll be turned into another mixed use development.

[Proof Sheet]

Uhh I really doubt they bought it to keep it running as is. Odds are it'll be turned into another mixed use development.

Is there a gap in the Shoppers Drug Mart coverage that could be rectified:slob:

[Harley613]

Is there a gap in the Shoppers Drug Mart coverage that could be rectified:slob:

Good call. And a Shawarma shop would help too.

[silvergate]

Good call. And a Shawarma shop would help too.

If it is food, and it stays open all night, then I am all for it.

[waterloowarrior]

They have a neat community blog
http://westboroconnection.blogspot.ca/

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm9iQBnvN0o/VND2SMUxBMI/AAAAAAAAAC0/oCrTmXgAp4w/s1600/FEB%2B2%2BJPEG.jpg

[MoreTrains]

They have a neat community blog
http://westboroconnection.blogspot.ca/

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zm9iQBnvN0o/VND2SMUxBMI/AAAAAAAAAC0/oCrTmXgAp4w/s1600/FEB%2B2%2BJPEG.jpg

Thats awesome, more places should have blogs like that.

[J.OT13]

Not a community blog, but Performance Court was another one that had (and still have) a great website.

http://150elgin.com/

Other than the Confederation Line, Rideau and Broccolini projects (to a point), I haven't seen any other projects (private or public, infrastructure, office or residential) with great websites with detailed information and good coverage of the project's progress.

[cr872190]

Not a community blog, but Performance Court was another one that had (and still have) a great website.

http://150elgin.com/

Other than the Confederation Line, Rideau and Broccolini projects (to a point), I haven't seen any other projects (private or public, infrastructure, office or residential) with great websites with detailed information and good coverage of the project's progress.

Its yet to be seen how well maintained or informative it is but Tamarack is also posting pre-construction, permit, site prep and construction updates for their Wellington project.

[Harley613]

Yesterday's progress. I have been wondering why the crane is so tall for this one, upon closer inspection it's to clear a high voltage line running right in front of the building. I, for one, would not want my balcony ten feet from a high voltage line.
http://i.imgur.com/Gnii5jX.jpg

[Twoscents]

Thats awesome, more places should have blogs like that.

Amazing, I'd love to see more developers do this.

I'd move to Westboro in a second, stuck out west for now.

[Rob64]

I, for one, would not want my balcony ten feet from a high voltage line.



Balcony? :shrug:

[Harley613]

Balcony? :shrug:

Or window rather.. :p

[HighwayStar]

I, for one, would not want my balcony ten feet from a high voltage line.

or window... but remember these are all rental units where the occupants won't be quite as picky.

As a landlord of a triplex a couple of blocks from here... I'm.. uh... curious as to how this is going to affect the rental market in the neighbourhood :uhh:

[cr872190]

Construction as of this afternoon.

http://s1.postimg.org/5mjzkl7pb/IMG_0757.jpg

[rocketphish]

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8750/16660339877_358783d42c_b.jpg
Photo by me
Mar 6, 2015

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8655/16680244110_46dc846eda_b.jpg
Photo by me
Mar 18, 2015

[waterloowarrior]

The developer has purchased 1960 Scott (Trailhead) for $5.95 million - source - Colliers Q4 report

Creative set of company names involved in the transaction

http://www.juteaujohnsoncomba.com/newsletters/2015/February_2015_Newsletter_December_Sales.pdf

The other significant retail transaction was the sale of 1960 Scott Street from]Scott and McRae Development Inc. to McRae/Scott (Ottawa) Development Inc. and McRae/Scott (Ottawa) Development Limited for $5,950,000 or $249/sf of
building area or $232/sf of site area.

The property is improved with a three-storey, walk-up retail/office building that was constructed in 1992.

[McC]

lol

[MoreTrains]

Any new pictues of the progress?

[Harley613]

Yesterday:
http://i.imgur.com/VsvUkZV.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7753/17325831319_492859572e_b.jpg

from this afternoon

[Boxster]

Love the building and location except for the hydro "towers" immediately in front.

Big turn-off. :(

[waterloowarrior]

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5349/18066650641_d5fbd1a292_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7716/17445235883_6ecb73b642_c.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7723/17878049320_bf961d1797_c.jpg

A few from today

[J.OT13]

Looks decent.

[cr872190]

Very nondescript. This kind of architecture looks good in a Kanata business park. But nothing to really complain about either.

[HighwayStar]

I live a couple blocks away, pass by it several times a day... and actually like the way it's taking shape.

As a local landlord... I'm.. uh.. curious to see what the sudden appearance of 160 rental units is going to do to the local market... :o

And as a long time local resident.. I'm beyond tired of Westboro continuing to claim the centerfold of "Overhead Wires" magazine.

[Harley613]

The finishes and glazing look very high quality. I like the shape, but I also agree it would look at home in a Kanata business park haha.

[rocketphish]

The cranes are down.

[Admiral Nelson]

The cranes are down.

Must have been moved to 460 St. Laurent and to the Gov Conference Centre :D

[Kitchissippi]

So I heard a rumour that Farm Boy will be setting up shop here, taking up a significant portion of the ground floor retail. It will be nice to have an alternative to the Superstore!

[Rob64]

So I heard a rumour that Farm Boy will be setting up shop here, taking up a significant portion of the ground floor retail. It will be nice to have an alternative to the Superstore!

Where did you hear that rumour? I was thinking that it would be where Trailhead is? :shrug: The Westboro Connection website still says that the entire ground floor is available for lease (minus the Alterna Savings :yuck:)

I hope this is true!

[Kitchissippi]

Well, Trailhead isn't closing, is it? I'll dig some more, stay tuned...

[Rob64]

Wasn't there a thread here saying that the Trailhead building was sold?

[Kitchissippi]

That would be post #128 on this thread. I'm assuming for now that my rumour source means a location that is already under construction. It might even open in a few months.

[waterloowarrior]

found this on reddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/ottawa/comments/3e7qxx/anyone_know_if_there_is_a_farmboy_coming_to/

[cr872190]

Yeah, cant really say how, but I confirmed there will be a farm boy there.

[Skipper]

New 19 storey commercial/residential tower at the corner South West corner of Mcrae at Scott, with 2x4 storey buildings to the South. According to Councillor Lieper, this proposal will be "hotly" debated at an open house meeting on Wednesday evening: http://kitchissippiward.ca/content/public-consultations-1976-scott-st-320-mcrae-ave-proposal

[rocketphish]

Businesses are moving in...


Pythian's new Westboro office positions firm for growth

Tom Pechloff, OBJ
Published on December 14, 2015

There is still much to do on the outside and a little more work to do on the inside, but Pythian celebrated the grand opening of its new Westboro office Friday.

While workers in hard hats and steel-toed boots might make it difficult to find the main entrance at 319 McRae St., the IT service company has been fully functional at its new digs since Dec. 7.

“It’s really exciting to see the whole thing come together after all this time,” CEO Paul Vallée said when he gave OBJ a tour ahead of the grand opening.

Mr. Vallée said he knew by the beginning of 2013 his company was going to outgrow its space at 1200 St. Laurent Blvd.

The firm’s headcount had cracked the 400 mark and even though more than half the staff don’t call Ottawa home, the St. Laurent office was “bursting at the seams,” he said.

While McRae Street may have a completely different feel from St. Laurent Boulevard, there was one major similarity that was appealing, according to Mr. Vallée.

Neither location is in the downtown core.

With most of Pythian’s clients coming from out of town, Mr. Vallée said there was no particular benefit to being in the heart of the city.

“You pay more money,” he said. “It’s not that you’re more convenient to anybody anyway.”

Westboro was attractive for other reasons too.

“This is a really hot up-and-coming neighbourhood. Not only are there already pretty good restaurants and amenities,” he said, “the investment that is happening in this neighbourhood is sky high right now.”

Being close to the Transitway and eventually the LRT Confederation Line was also a bonus, said Mr. Vallée.

Mr. Vallée estimated the old office, which included additional space rented across the street, was about 28,000 square feet. Pythian has closer to 40,000 square feet at its new space on the fifth and sixth floor of the new Westboro development, he said.

A bigger office could be seen as somewhat ironic for a company that delivers its services electronically, allowing many of its staff to work from home.

What that means, Mr. Vallée explained, is that he expects the new space to be able to accommodate Pythian’s continued growth for its full 10-year lease.

“We really tried to create a very modern office feel with a lot of hoteling opportunities so people who don’t want to be in the office full-time don’t have to be,” Mr. Vallée said.

The sixth floor features many open, unassigned spaces, the necessary board room and plenty of smaller rooms for quick conversations or just the opportunity to work in a different space.

Mr. Vallée points to a La-Z-Boy reclining chair in one of the rooms.

“You can settle in, read, relax a bit, take a break,” he said.

One of the rooms features high tables designed specifically for standing. In fact, users can book the room only on the condition that they stand while working or meeting.

The abundance of open space will be helpful when the company hosts its quarterly conferences, called Pythian Days, for its clients who fly in from around the world.

Making a personal connection with customers really does matter, Mr. Vallée said.

“It’s what makes electronic delivery possible. Once you have a personal relationship with someone, then you can deliver electronically. That’s a really important part of how it works,” he said.

It’s clear Mr. Vallée is fond of the area he calls the café, a space not just for lunch but for the company to hold various events. Featuring two secure entrances and an adjoining patio, it can accommodate about 260 people.

“Because it is separately secured, you don’t have to worry too much about how to manage the security in the case of an event like that. I’m really pumped about that,” he said.

Mr. Vallée said he sees versatility in the café, hoping it becomes the social nerve centre of the company.

“The concept is to try to create ad hoc meeting space where you don’t need to have a booking. You just say, ‘Well, let’s just go to the cafe and figure it out.’”

The patio will also serve a work-related purpose for Mr. Vallée, a self-described “pacer” who said he’s anxiously awaiting spring.

“I’m looking forward to just walk out there … walk up and down and have my phone call in the sunshine,” he said.

The office is the latest example of the modern office design taking over the capital, but it also features some unique traits meant to reflect the Pythian philosophy.

“Some of the cool little touches that I’m proud of,” said Mr. Vallée, pointing to an image on a sign by one meeting room that shows a man heading into a meeting.

“Some of them have women. Isn’t that cool?” said Mr. Vallée, who recently became an executive sponsor of Women in Communication and Technology’s Protégé Project, designed to promote women into top decision-making roles in the knowledge-based economy.

Pythian also recently became the first Canadian tech company to reveal the gender ratio of its workforce. Through its Pythia Program, the company is actively recruiting women who are difference-makers in the IT world.

The meeting rooms are also given city names, reflecting the places where the 18-year-old company has either a significant client or staff footprint, Mr. Vallée said.

There are still some kinks to work out. Along the tour, we pass some staff figuring out how to work the blinds. The view, while breathtaking, can also be blinding at certain times of the day. Mr. Vallée said he also hopes the reception area, with a stainless steel Pythian sign over a wooden background, will be finished soon. The company is still waiting for permanent furniture for its boardrooms too.

While the sixth floor is for “delivery,” home to the executive service delivery teams, the fifth floor is what Mr. Vallée calls the “platform” floor, home to the HR, IT, R&D, finance and legal departments. Essentially, the work done on the fifth floor allows the work done on the sixth floor to happen.

While the sixth floor has the temporary work space for staff who spend most of their time working from home, the fifth-floor staff tend to come into the office every day. There are smaller board rooms and a smaller kitchen, as Mr. Vallée said the intent is for people to use the café more.

The fifth floor has more of a neighbourhood feel, including furniture from the old office that was still in “perfect condition,” he said.

“We steam-cleaned it, we unbuilt it, we rebuilt it.”

The floor is less open too, Mr. Vallée said, adding that it’s more of a maze because activities on the fifth floor are a bit more security-conscious.

If there’s any indication – temporary furniture aside – that the company has just moved in, it’s in the IT department, where monitors, various other pieces of hardware and cables are strewn throughout the space.

“I don’t know how long it is going to take them to tidy this up. It looks like an infinite backlog of work, but that’s what happens when you need to fit up an entire building and keep everything around and ready,” Mr. Vallée said.

The IT team were responsible for the “technical guts” of the move, he said, at all hours of the day and night.

“This is a bunch of people who have not rested a lot the past little while,” he said.

The move actually started in July when the building was still a shell because a lot of the networking technology had to be built right in.

Pythian started in 1997 offering services to companies that had revenue-generating systems. With the emergence of software-as-a-service technology, that market is exploding, and the company now has clients that include the likes of American Apparel, National Geographic, Fox Sports and Harvard Business Publishing, to name but a few.

Mr. Vallée compares his company to a soccer team, helping clients on both the defensive side of their business – security and performance – and the offensive, by keeping them efficient, competitive and on the road to growth.

The company works to help clients leverage the assets they already have, he said.

“Almost always we’re talking about data.”

Mr. Vallée said there is no end in sight to the SaaS trend.

“I don’t think the SaaS transformation is done. I think it’s really just beginning,” he said.

Pythian now has the space to accommodate that anticipated growth.

http://www.obj.ca/Technology/2015-12-14/article-4375624/Pythians-new-Westboro-office-positions-firm-for-growth/1

[waterloowarrior]

It's official! We're excited to announce the 21st Farm Boy location. Westboro, here we come! #Ottawa #fresh https://www.farmboy.ca/locations/ottawa-westboro/
https://twitter.com/FarmBoy/status/718106873799389185

[HighwayStar]

It's official! We're excited to announce the 21st Farm Boy location. Westboro, here we come! #Ottawa #fresh https://www.farmboy.ca/locations/ottawa-westboro/
https://twitter.com/FarmBoy/status/718106873799389185

Oh boy, oh boy!! I was getting tired of my 8 minute walk to Superstore... now it'll be a 4 minute walk to Farmboy :D

And if they get on Wynne's "authorized to sell beer" list... that would be too much to hope for!

[cr872190]

Launched a new website for rental units. http://315mcrae.ca/ (www.315mcrae.ca/)

http://s32.postimg.org/52eedbdh1/Lobby.jpg

http://s32.postimg.org/ifn1wf5kl/Rooftop_Terrace.jpg

http://315mcrae.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/A01.jpg

http://315mcrae.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/D14.jpg

PRICING

STUDIO
from $875/mo.
342 – 400 SF

1 BED
from $1,175/mo.
480 – 671 SF

1 BED + DEN
from $1,325/mo.
555 SF

2 BED
from $1,475/mo.
684 – 881 SF

[J.OT13]

Wow those are expensive!!

[Boxster]

Wow those are expensive!!

I Know its Wesboro but the rates are way over the top!

[OTSkyline]

Have any of you rented in the not so distant future? For a completely new building in Westboro those are actually very decent rents.

Look at any condo in downtown, market or Westboro (or even some of those student residences like Envie and the updated Holiday Inn behind City Hall), you will see comparable if not higher average rents...

FYI, I pay more for my 1BED + DEN then the below...

[McC]

Have any of you rented in the not so distant future?
you just blew my mind, maaan.

[HighwayStar]

....................

[HighwayStar]

Have any of you rented in the not so distant future? For a completely new building in Westboro those are actually very decent rents.

Look at any condo in downtown, market or Westboro (or even some of those student residences like Envie and the updated Holiday Inn behind City Hall), you will see comparable if not higher average rents...

FYI, I pay more for my 1BED + DEN then the below...

As the owner of a rental triplex not far away, I was somewhat hoping they'd be higher... they're very competitive for this neighbourhood... especially considering they'll be getting a Farm Boy on the main floor...

[rocketphish]

Farm Boy 'urban concept' store to open Thursday in Westboro

OBJ Staff
Published on June 20, 2016

Ottawa’s Farm Boy has announced its first ever “urban concept” store will open Thursday morning on McRae Avenue in Westboro.

While continuing Farm Boy’s tradition of locally sourced foods, lots of fresh produce as well as natural and organic foods and specialty items, the urban concept store will also provide what the chain calls an “unparalleled selection” of ready-to-eat meals that can be taken home or enjoyed in-store at its mezzanine eating area.

“The new urban store concept was a natural development for Farm Boy,” CEO Jeff York said in a statement. “The smaller footprint and convenience of the urban location, combined with our ongoing commitment to freshness, quality and value, allows us to bring our unique fresh shopping experience closer to home for urban dwellers.”

This is Farm Boy’s first new Ottawa store since the company opened its Train Yards location in 2013. It has been expanding in southern Ontario, and Mr. York said earlier this month the urban concept model will be tested at the Westboro location before the company starts rolling it out as part of its continued expansion plans.

McRae Avenue has seen much development recently. While the new Farm Boy will occupy the ground floor of a residential building at 317 McRae Ave., another office complex next door welcomed Pythian last December.

Other proposed projects on the street include a plan for a 19-storey mixed-use highrise and several other commercial and residential buildings at the corner of Scott Street.

http://www.obj.ca/Local/Retail/2016-06-20/article-4565512/Farm-Boy-urban-concept-store-to-open-Thursday-in-Westboro/1

[HighwayStar]

Farm Boy 'urban concept' store to open Thursday in Westboro


Oh boy, oh boy!!! My 8 minute walk to Superstore is now a 4 minute hike to FarmBoy... :drooling:

I suppose selling beer would be too much to ask for :rolleyes:

[1overcosc]

For a brand new, higher end unit in the urban core, that's reasonably affordable.

[Kitchissippi]

Went into the Farm Boy on its first day. It's great, a much needed alternative and competition to the Superstore. The prepared foods section reminds me of the Whole Foods at Lansdowne. I think this will be my new default grocery store :)

[HighwayStar]

Went into the Farm Boy on its first day. It's great, a much needed alternative and competition to the Superstore. The prepared foods section reminds me of the Whole Foods at Lansdowne. I think this will be my new default grocery store :)

Me too!! Just got back... I must have passed you in the aisle :)

All that Farm Boy goodness in one compact space... seemed pretty organized for opening day too... only sadness is no craft (or any) beer selection :(

[1overcosc]

Who knows, maybe that Farm Boy will snatch up a license soon. The province will be selling another 70 supermarket beer licenses this summer to add onto the 60 already in place.. and there will continue to be more auctions in the future.

[Marshsparrow]

Prices compared to traditional Farm Boy? Parking? Were the Westboro (whatever they call themselves) out in full-force uppity upping the place?

[HighwayStar]

Prices compared to traditional Farm Boy? Parking? Were the Westboro (whatever they call themselves) out in full-force uppity upping the place?

I've been a Westboro (whatever I call myself) for 20 years. I, like many of my neighbours, feel very lucky to have gotten in on the ground floor. Probably similar to what Hintonburg or Vanier are today.

I only did a 5 minute walkthrough looking for beer, and at first glance it was certainly no cheaper than Superstore (where I've been almost daily for years). I can't comment on comparison to other Farm Boys.

Parking is underground for about 100 cars... Scott and the vacant lot across the street were full though. Going to be interesting to see how that pans out.

I'll visit often in the coming weeks and will report back once the dust settles.

[Marshsparrow]

Took a chance this AM very early - very, very, very nice store - prices in line with suburban Farm Boys - it will do very well!

[rocketphish]

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5150/29971286531_09ce5cfb05_b.jpg

Sept 30, 2016
Photo by me

[Mikeed]

I think they're replacing the Hydro pylon in front right now.

[kwoldtimer]

Replacing it or removing it?

[HighwayStar]

Looks like replacing it with a "sleeker" type of pole rather than the unwieldy Eiffel Tower type thing...

[Kitchissippi]

Too bad they're tearing down the Trailhead building, the wooden pole tower in front was made to match the building. It was cool that they spent that much effort and attention to detail.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.3967811,-75.7507701,3a,75y,123.26h,112.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgW2vkhPanh6btHCvu3aqGA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[HighwayStar]

The exciting new pole is in place... you can see the old-style Eiffel Tower type it replaced in the background.

Looks like it will create 4 new parking spots...

http://blog.piworld.ca/dac_wordpress/wp-content/uploads/New-Pole3.jpg

[Skynet]

Has anyone had any experience living here? How has your experience been? For me, the presence of a Farm Boy downstairs is a major plus. That said, it would've been nice if the LRT stretched all the way to Westboro station.