LeBreton Flats | 14 fl (Ph.1)|Completed | 13 fl (Ph.2)|Completed

[waterloowarrior]

^^^

Community spirit returns to LeBreton Flats
Thursday, 25 September 2008
By Elise A. Milbradt

Right now, Claridge Homes’ Tower 1 in LeBreton Flats is a single structure sticking out of a sea of undeveloped land, but it stands as a tangible symbol of a reviving community.
New residents began moving into the tower this summer.

Thirty units have become occupied since the first week of August, says Susan Hughes, a sale consultant for Claridge Homes’ LeBreton Flats development.

Residents of the units represent the first people to live on the National Capital Commission land since the 1962 expropriation of former residents.

Rob Murphy, who has a one-bedroom suite on the third floor of the building, is one of them.

“Overall, I’m pretty happy with it,” he said.

Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes, says construction on Tower 1 is on schedule and would be finished this December.

Still to be completed are the interiors of a few of the apartments and the landscaping.

While Claridge Homes looks ahead, the history of LeBreton Flats remains a topic of emotional power, even today.

“It’s pretty much safe to say that Ottawa started there,” says Phil Jenkins, author of An Acre of Time: The Enduring Value of Place, a book that explores the history of Canadian attitudes towards land, using an acre of land in LeBreton Flats as his case study.

One of the first buildings in Ottawa was Firth’s Tavern at LeBreton Flats, he says.

But in the 1960s the NCC was reviewing their land use in Ottawa, he said, and LeBreton Flats did not fit with its plans.

“The NCC then set out to prove that [the houses there] were slums, and knock them down,” says Jenkins.

“[Nearby] Lorne Avenue looks exactly like LeBreton Flats would have today and it is now a heritage conservation street. So there’s a little bit of irony there.”

For almost 50 years, struggles to clean up the contaminated land – polluted with chemicals from the industries previously in the area – and organize development stalled progress.

“It wasn’t just the NCC, that was the problem,” says Jenkins.

“Everything costs twice as much and takes twice as long as it’s supposed to . . . If three levels of government are involved, it costs eight times as much and takes eight times as long. There were three levels of government involved in LeBreton Flats,” the author adds.

There were oddities such as a sidewalk belonging to the city but the sewers underneath it belonging to the region.

It took a long time to sort out, he says, but eventually, in the late ‘90s, the NCC controlled the area.

Today, nearly 50 years after the expropriation, residents are coming back to live on the historic land once again.

Hughes said the response from new residents thus far has been “very positive.”

While workers in construction hats will be a common sight for new residents, Murphy said the location more than makes up for it.

But not everyone is so positive.

Jenkins says that the new development has revived many Ottawa residents’ emotion about the area.

“People take their city personally, they take their landscape and cityscape personally,” he says. “People are watching [Tower 1] going up and I think they are profoundly disappointed. They know that’s not a neighbourhood. That’s warehousing. That doesn’t look like a neighbourhood.”

Others, including Ottawa architecture critic Rhys Phillips, have also criticized the building.

“I had aspirations for a neighbourhood that was aware of its own history,” Jenkins says. “But that seems to be considered a sin by the NCC.”

[clynnog]

^^^

Community spirit returns to LeBreton Flats
Thursday, 25 September 2008
By Elise A. Milbradt
Others, including Ottawa architecture critic Rhys Phillips, have also criticized the building.


In my mind, Rhys Phillips puts many SSP posters to shame in his back driver attitude...AFAIK the man has never designed anything...he is merely a critic who casts dispersions on the designs of others.

He has little practical knowledge of the world of real estate, land development or cost effective design.

[AuxTown]

Still a bit of land left do develop....

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2950328774_752aa2d1f0_o.jpg

From "southfacing" on Flickr

[m0nkyman]

That is a great photo!

[Deez]

Great shot.

FYI, a recent Citizen article quoted Claridge as saying it would be 8 more years before Phase 1 is wrapped up. It's looking like I may be a senior citizen before all of the flats are developed.

[p_xavier]

Great shot.

FYI, a recent Citizen article quoted Claridge as saying it would be 8 more years before Phase 1 is wrapped up. It's looking like I may be a senior citizen before all of the flats are developed.

See, they were thinking about that ahead of you. That's why their condos look like old folks' homes.

[Cre47]

An even better proof that this building is so lonely right now.

[eemy]

The glass looks gorgeous in that photo. It's too bad it makes the brick look even worse.

[waterloowarrior]

Ottawa Urbain (http://www.ottawaurbain.ca/?p=web&menu=blogitem&blog_id=128)

Mise à jour des appartements des Plaines de LeBreton
par Alexandre Laquerre
La difficulté d'accès et l'isolement de ce bâtiment en dit long sur le type plan d'urbanisme qui a été adopté pour la revitalisation des plaines LeBreton. Avec l'aboutissement de la Promenade de l'Outaouais et un des principaux ponts qui traverse vers le Québec, il est clair que la fluidité automobile était l'ultime priorité lorsque les bases de cette revitalisation ont été lancées. La saga aura finalement durée 40 ans.

Bref, je cesse de critiquer, certains le font mieux que moi, et je vous fais part de certaines images que j'ai prises cette après-midi.

http://www.ottawaurbain.ca/include/interplex/ottawaurbain/images/uploaded/1227495582_28935.jpg

http://www.ottawaurbain.ca/include/interplex/ottawaurbain/images/blog/600/le_breton_2_10001227495781.jpg

[harls]

Les terrasses looks like a stumpy turd in that last shot!

[Beatrix]

Does anyone have a link to the development plan for LeBreton Flats as a whole?

Condos and townhouses are nice, but is there anything else planned? It would be nice if this became a real community with stores, a school, parks, social housing, police station, restaurants, etc, etc.

[waterloowarrior]

1966 proposal (ncc watch)

http://www.nccwatch.org/blunders/flats_ndhq.jpg

Minto proposal from the competition (pics from Barry J. Hobin's site)

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/minto_lebretonflats.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

LeBreton condo designer worked within set limits

Too many rules can hamper a building, architect says

BY MARIA COOK, THE OTTAWA CITIZENJANUARY 18, 2009


OTTAWA — Montreal architect Dan Hanganu, designer of the lone condo tower on LeBreton Flats, says if given a free hand he would have designed a different building, one that “goes to the essence of what this city is all about.”

Mr. Hanganu, who will give a free public lecture Monday at 6 p.m. at the National Gallery of Canada, suggests too many rules may not lead to the best buildings. He also says public concern about height has hijacked discussion of good design.

His Ottawa projects include the luxury residential building at 700 Sussex Dr., as well as a proposal for the Portrait Gallery of Canada, recently cancelled by the federal government.

“If I had been given the total freedom to do what I think could have been done there (on LeBreton Flats and Sussex Drive), I would have done it differently,” says Mr. Hanganu, 69. “I would have been less inclined to respect superficial image and more inclined to go to substance.”

The National Capital Commission oversaw both projects.

“In both cases, I was given a set of rules which I had to respect in order to build what is there,” he says. “I was given height, dimensions, program and everything else. So I did what I was supposed to do. I was a good soldier.

“The government, the public, everybody wants to have a say,” he adds.

“Everybody knows architecture. If you ask if someone is willing to perform surgery, you have no takers. But if you are going to build a building, lots of people are going to tell you how to do it.”

Mr. Hanganu is the winner of the 2008 Gold Medal for lifetime achievement from the Royal Architectural Association of Canada, the highest honour the Canadian profession can bestow.

Mr. Hanganu has designed a number of prominent Quebec buildings, including the Pointe-à-Callière Museum of Archeology and History, the Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Church, the Tour de la Bourse skyscraper, the Cirque du Soleil studio, and Espace 400, the festival site for the 400th anniversary of Québec City.

He completed a degree in architecture at the University of Bucharest in 1961, and arrived in Canada in 1970.

Mr. Hanganu was one of the architects of the Montreal Olympic Stadium and was among the three finalists in the international call for entries for The Canadian Human Rights Museum in Winnipeg. (That commission was given to U.S. architect Antoine Predock.)

At LeBreton Flats, his 13-storey building across from the Canadian War Museum is highly visible. It sits alone in a muddy field like a bun on a plate. A letter-to-the-editor described it as ugly.

Mr. Hanganu urges Ottawans to wait.

“This is the first phase,” he says. “There will be more buildings. You cannot take it out of context and say this building is good or bad. Judge it at the end. In the long run it will be OK. The second phase is better and the third is going to be even better.”

The developer is Claridge Homes, for whom Mr. Hanganu created a design for the Portrait Gallery of Canada at the base of two condominium towers. It was Ottawa’s entry in a federal competition among nine cities.

Now that the project is cancelled, Claridge is going ahead, with permission from the Ontario Municipal Board, to build two 27-storey towers. City council had originally agreed to 20 and 24 floors.

But Mr. Hanganu says height on its own isn’t the be-all and end-all.

“The only issue which I hear discussed at public meetings is height,” he says. “You could make a beautiful 20-storey building, or you could have a very bad one at four floors.

“We’ve reduced the discourse to certain easy-to-understand criteria and eliminated some of the things which were dear to the human being, such as beauty and atmosphere. Maybe we forgot that architecture could help you be happier.”

Monday night’s talk is part of the Carleton University School of Architecture Forum Lecture Series.

© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Now we wait for the NIMBY's to start crying bloody murder...

[Beatrix]

Does anyone have a link to Claridge's full proposal for Lebreton Flats? So far I've only seen phase 1 (obviously) and a small render of phase 2.

This also leads to another question... Does Claridge even have a concrete, long term vision for the site? Or are they just making it up as they go???

[waterloowarrior]

Claridge Lebreton Flats proposal (http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16300-20444-20506-20510&lang=1) (scroll down)

[Beatrix]

Thanks! I haven't been too successful with online searches for this particular development.

[m0nkyman]

That would make an average suburban development.

It's utter fucking crap for a showpiece downtown neighbourhood. It literally makes me sick to look at.

:(

[harls]

The "bun on a plate" analogy fits perfectly.

[Ottawade]

This is probably the most prime chunk of real estate for something to happen on and its pretty sad that this is the plan we ended up with...

[waterloowarrior]

so I guess tower 1 is complete? or at least some units are. I'm seeing units for rent on the MLS

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/0/717930_3.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/3/714833_1.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/0/717930_7.jpg


http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/7/718537_3.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/7/718537_1.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/7/718537_2.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/0/711390_7.jpg

http://images.mls.ca/listings/reb76/medres/0/711390_3.jpg

[AuxTown]

Some gorgeous views from some of the unites in LF1. The best part being that they don't have to look at their own building ;).

[Ottawade]

One of the penthouses that is all glass walls is on MLS for 1.2M if anyone won the lottery last night and wants to live miles away from useful retail...

http://orebweb2.oreb.ca/mlssearch/frm_SearchMlsDetails.asp?x_mls_num=716064

[waterloowarrior]

One of the penthouses that is all glass walls is on MLS for 1.2M if anyone won the lottery last night and wants to live miles away from useful retail...

http://orebweb2.oreb.ca/mlssearch/frm_SearchMlsDetails.asp?x_mls_num=716064

fully furnished too, nice

http://orebweb2.oreb.ca/images/mls/716064_501_55.jpg

[Davis137]

By the looks of some of thpse interior shots, that building doesn't look to half-azzed-bad...

[Ottawade]

In some ways if you are going to drop millions on a condo you probably have the money to shell out for an interior decorator/architect to do things just the way you like em...

[yyz1971]

[QUOTE=waterloowarrior;4139834]so I guess tower 1 is complete? or at least some units are. I'm seeing units for rent on the MLS

From what I could gather, units in Tower 1 were completed by December. So far, there has been no activity on the construction of Tower 2. I went to the sales office last week to inquire, and I was told that not enough units have been sold yet. So anybody who's purchased a unit in Tower 2 are now looking at a move-in date of at least Winter 2011. Right on time for the economy to turn around! :)

[Radster]

What is going on at Lebreton Flats is a disgrace to Ottawa. The only good thing there is the museum and the Blues Fest.

The biggest let down and mistake is the height of the completed and planned buildings. Who are the NIMBYs who fought against the height? Was it the people on the other side of Wellington? Because if it was them, then why were they even involved, as this Lebreton project not even in their backyard! Further, the project is north of them, so taller buildings would not affect their sunlight at all, and in fact they would help to block some cold northely winds.

What a waste of land, prime land! Just think about it, it could have been the location of the Ottawa Sens, a nice modern arena right downtown, like in most normal cities in North America. That didn't work, fine, then it could have been a new highrise condo area, but even that didn't work as the height limitations were imposed for reasons unknown, even though the whole area is lower elevation than the CBD. Now we are seeing a development which will take so long to build and mature, that just like with the new transit plans in Ottawa, we'll be dead by the time its ready for us to enjoy.

Ottawa has to be the most frustrating places to live in for people who are into urban design, planning etc.... LOL.

[waterloowarrior]

If there is enough density I'm not too concerned about the height. There are plenty of European redeveloped areas with similar heights that seem to be doing well. I'm not sure how Lebreton compares to them in density though.A few point towers wouldn't be too bad though (Toronto is doing this with West Don Lands)

[Radster]

If there is enough density I'm not too concerned about the height. There are plenty of European redeveloped areas with similar heights that seem to be doing well. I'm not sure how Lebreton compares to them in density though.A few point towers wouldn't be too bad though (Toronto is doing this with West Don Lands)


Sure, I agree, but it just looks so strange in relation the the elevated CBD a stone's throw away. Its a big brainfart by NCC, which is typical really.

[Radster]

Its embarassing when you have a friend visit you from Vancouver, and while driving by Lebreton he sees the new building, all the empty space, the CBD above, and asks, "wtf is this?"

[harls]

from today..

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3406690841_c26d68f753_b.jpg

(me)

[yyz1971]

Well it looks like construction of Tower 2 won't begin until the fall. :(

[waterloowarrior]

‘I have a vision’
Katie Daubs , The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, May 08, 2009
http://www.househunting.ca/story.html?id=1577608

OTTAWA - On a recent grey day, seagulls and a beaver shared a rocky bit of land that will soon become the second phase of a housing development at LeBreton Flats. It is dismal and windy outside, and a solitary Claridge condo sits in the middle of a construction site.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.househunting.ca/1577609.bin?size=hhl

On the 10th floor of the blue glass tower, Doug Hunter surveys the scene, joking that some of his friends say it looks like a war zone.

"I don't see that," says the triathlete and newcomer to the first tower in what will become an urban village by the Ottawa River. "I have a vision."

Hunter, who works for IBM Global Technology Services, is still settling into his new space. His 18-speed bike rests on a rolled up area rug and there aren't any curtains on the floor-to-ceiling windows, but then there aren't any inquiring neighbours able to see into his new condo.

"I can see the future. It's going to be vibrant and nothing's going to be blocking the view."

The first time Hunter looked out the window over to the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills, his condo was under construction, a puzzle of concrete walls.

Today, the condo boasts a granite breakfast bar, stainless-steel appliances, hardwood floors, and lots and lots of sky on the other side of the window. "Downtown, you're staring at other buildings," he says. "There are none I know that have a view like this."

By 2014 or 2015, Claridge plans to build four more blocks of townhouses and condo towers in LeBreton Flats.

The first building - with the six-storey brick base and seven-storey glass tower, is almost sold out and most buyers have moved in. The second phase, which will also have a tower, is 40 per cent sold, and construction is set to begin this spring.

The most expensive condo in the first tower is close to

$1 million, but 95 per cent of the units in all phases are priced between $200,000 and $500,000.

LeBreton Flats is similar to other Claridge condominiums in its efficiency and luxury.

It is also modern in its design, thanks to Dan Hanganu, the award-winning architect who designed 700 Sussex for Claridge Homes.

"The building exemplifies simple and European elements, and open-concept design," says Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes.

The project is built to silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified standards, including high-efficiency designs, local recycled materials, and natural green space.

"Right now, people just see a building on its own, but you'll be in the neighbourhood," says Malhotra "There's more down here than people realize. ByWard Market, Bank Street, Booth Street, and Preston Street are all pretty close."

In 2004, three companies competed in an National Capital Commission contest to redevelop the prime piece of land which was once home to modest housing and shops, but two dropped out at the last minute, leaving Claridge Homes as the sole bidder: 4.4 hectares of LeBreton Flats for a little more than $8 million, with Montreal architecture firms Dan S. Hanganu Architects and Daoust Lestage at the helm.

Some questioned the default win and called the Claridge proposal bland, institutional and ordinary.

At the time, the NCC said the proposed design was excellent, but lacked poetry and needed revision.

The NCC reminded the public that a detailed design for each building had to be individually approved by their national advisory committee before anything was built.

"It's a process," Malhotra says of the experience "It's been beneficial, and at times, you know, you're just arguing about pointless things."

As he stands in the sales centre, Malhotra shakes his head at the bland and ordinary labels.

"If you want someone to say something positive, you can find them; if you want someone to say something negative, you can find them. It's the same guys critiquing the NCC and us. But people know what it is," Malhotra says.

Cindy Sezlik, a well-known Ottawa realtor and condo guru, calls it "the gateway to the western section of the city."

"Heritage Hintonburg, Wellington Village. It's the beginning of Ottawa's transformation."

The first person to lay claim to a condo was a retired Kanata high school teacher attracted by a corner condo with a view of the Parliament buildings and the Gatineau Hills.

Amid the flurry of parent-teacher interviews, she sent Sezlik a cheque to take to the private launch party. She had her condo before sales officially opened.

So far, half of the buyers are twentysomethings and thirtysomethings, first-time buyers who want to be close to work. The other half are baby boomers with active lifestyles who like being close to downtown. Many choose to live in the units, rather than rent them out.

From Hunter's condo, it's a 10-minute bike ride to the Gatineau Hills. Endless paths provide all sorts of running routes for training.

"I love the access to the park, and it's close to all outdoor things," says the avid skier, runner and cyclist.

"A lot of people say, ‘Won't the noise from Bluesfest bug you?' " he says. "Geez, it's over by 11 p.m. anyways. I don't know what the big deal is, and I'm probably the one most affected as my place faces right on to it."

Besides, he says as he looks out the window, "I plan on going."

[waterloowarrior]

Stunning LeBreton Flat condos are slick, with some of the best views in town
Katie Daubs , The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Friday, May 08, 2009
http://www.househunting.ca/story.html?id=1577611

You can spot the blue condo tower from the western edge of the downtown core, but the real fun is going indoors and seeing two new, furnished model suites.

http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.househunting.ca/1577613.bin?size=hhl

Suite 205, boasting a northeast view over LeBreton Flats, is a surprise stunner. Upon entry, it seems like a regular condo, but as you take a few steps down a small hallway and turn the corner, the view is arresting.

All of the large windows are covered in airy white curtains. Outside is a kayak slalom course that flows from the Fleet Street pumphouse to the Ottawa River. Just past the churning water are the green copper rooftops of Parliament Hill.

Inside the condo, the floors are a warm nutmeg maple with ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathrooms.

The kitchen, complete with stainless-steel fridge, oven, stove and dishwasher, has granite countertops, ceramic tile and wooden cabinets that complement the hardwood floor in the dining room.

A pair of leather stools slide up to a counter that separates the kitchen from the dining room, yet keeps the open feeling in the urban address. The dining room gives way to the living room, which is an interesting space with a triangular window that will eventually look onto a courtyard formed by the first condo tower and a second that will be under construction this summer.

A smaller bedroom sits off the dining room area, and beside it is the master bedroom with ensuite bathroom. The suite is 1,202 square feet, priced at $443,000 and comes with monthly condo fees of $345.82.

One floor above, suite 306 overlooks the same water slalom course to the north, and large windows will have a big view of the future site of the Canadian Firefighters Memorial to the west.

Like all of the condos planned for the tower, it is an open concept with 1,259 square feet of urban living space. Here, the floors are a dark maple and there are lots of avocado green and brown accents.

The open kitchen has a light-coloured granite counter and loads of cupboard space. The added bonus is a triangular balcony accessible off the living and dining rooms.

Down the hall, the master bedroom also offers up big views of the city and a luxurious bathroom with another helping of granite counters and double sinks for speedy morning cleanups. There is second bathroom off the foyer, with an efficient shower. The second, smaller bedroom could easily do double-duty as a home office. The suite costs $470,000 with monthly condo fees of $360.91.

The suites in the glass tower portion of the tower feature impressive floor-to-ceiling windows, while condos in the lower levels have slightly smaller windows. To make up the difference, all residents have access to an outdoor terrace on the seventh floor.

Both buildings are silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, with high-efficiency designs, local recycled materials, and natural green space, including the rooftop garden on the roof of the sixth floor.

There is no need to buy a health club membership since the first tower has a gym, sauna and hot tub. A pool is planned for the second tower.

Inside the sales centre, there is a third model that will be built in the second tower. The Lett (all suites in phase two are named after Ottawa Streets, while all of the suites in the first tower are identified with numbers).

This is a spacious, open-concept design with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large living room and kitchen with granite countertops. The windows are floor to ceiling. The suite is 932 square feet and costs $320,000 with monthly condo fees of $297.19.

The second tower will have two-bedroom, one-bedroom, loft, and studio suites.

The sales centre has floor plans for all of the units - from the quick-selling one bedrooms to the grand penthouse suites.

[Tor2Ott]

...LeBreton Flats is similar to other Claridge condominiums in its efficiency and luxury...:jester:

[waterloowarrior]

southfacing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23575605@N08/3568629564/

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2422/3568629564_084acece84.jpg

[AuxTown]

Phase 2 starting soon? Anyone have inside info?

[yyz1971]

Well it looks like they've begun to prepare the site for construction of Tower 2. For the past few days a backhoe has been clearing the stone and debris in the hole where the new tower will be erected.

[waterloowarrior]

took Bixi over to the flats at lunch... here are some pics

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3339/3652089146_1869df0fda_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3652091124_b0c187663d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2465/3651298545_c781648888_b.jpg

blue!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3316/3652097646_54a3d777fd_b.jpg

good surface for the driveway to indicate a shared/slower speed space.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3636/3652100136_2e4daa34d5_b.jpg

the parking garage door is small and unintrusive

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2439/3652101990_881ea2de84_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3320/3652104160_54669099ed_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3651309327_6fa1898d24_b.jpg

[Tor2Ott]

That building is just sad...

[harls]

What the heck is that blue tile stuff? it looks like my high school gym shower..

[Rathgrith]

What the heck is that blue tile stuff? it looks like my high school gym shower..

You still go to a high school gym shower?

[AuxTown]

Creepy....not surprizing though

[Mille Sabords]

That building is just sad...

Nah, I don't agree. My taste, though, but I like it. It's grown on me. And remember, it's out of context. You have to visualize it as part of a built-up neighbourhood. It's all right in my book.

[harls]

You still go to a high school gym shower?

Fuck ya, man. You should see the high school chicks in Aylmer.. mother of g..(deleted by wife)

[yyz1971]

The concrete base for the crane to build tower 2 has been poured. Any day now the crane will be up!

[AuxTown]

The concrete base for the crane to build tower 2 has been poured. Any day now the crane will be up!

At this rate, Lebreton Flats should be done by 2080!

[Aylmer]

At this rate, Lebreton Flats should be done by 2080!

Hey, now!

Let's not rush this! I would give it At Least a century.

:)

[p_xavier]

At this rate, Lebreton Flats should be done by 2080!

Well just think about the people that need to have bad taste to buy an unit there. Even by Ottawa standards, they need to have lots of immigration.

[Davis137]

U guys are too funny :p

[waterloowarrior]

west side action has a couple of updates
phase 1 landscaping (http://westsideaction.blogspot.com/2009/07/landscaping-resumes-at-claridges-condo.html)

phase 2 construction (http://westsideaction.blogspot.com/2009/07/recession-over.html)

[Sens1992]

The crane for the second tower is up... They built it yesterday (wednesday).

[harls]

^ yup, here she is..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2645/3765591999_c3f3467f0b_b.jpg

[Davis137]

You have to admitt that when this area is done, it'll br a great location...

[waterloowarrior]

How's phase ii looking these days?

[harls]

I'm downtown today.. I'll take a look on my lunch break and post a pic.

[Tor2Ott]

I'm downtown today.. I'll take a look on my lunch break and post a pic.

Harls, could you post some HP pix while you're there? Thanks...

[movebyleap]

Dang that's one unattractive building! It has absolutely NO redeeming qualities!! So glad I don't need to look at it every morning when I go to work! Thankfully I get the pleasure of admiring the eye candy that is the Shenkman Centre instead!!:haha:

[harls]

Looks like they're almost up to ground level..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2548/3948468922_4487739727_b.jpg

[waterloowarrior]

Great pic, thanks harls

[rakerman]

You have to admitt that when this area is done, it'll br a great location...

err - if being cut off from the rest of the city by a moat and an encircling tangle of highways and roads makes for a good location.

If they cleaned up the ridiculous mess of criss-crossing streets west of Bronson and extended Queen to Fleet with a good pedestrian crossing, it might be ok.

[Davis137]

They now have the 2nd strcture above grade, and I think they are on the second floor already (at least, that's what it looked like from the Bus yesterday)...

[Admiral Nelson]

Took this last week. Not the best angle, but hey, I was in a bus ;)

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/6954/img1789b.jpg

[Cre47]

Seems they are already starting either the 3rd or 4th floor (seen from the south end of the Portage Bridge).

[Davis137]

They have the western portion up to 4 floors as of this morning...

[waterloowarrior]

west side action has a few photos from nov 25
http://westsideaction.blogspot.com/2009/11/lebreton-flats-condo-grows.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qVgnHDIZ3_w/SwsE4iV1lTI/AAAAAAAAA8s/BQvAM_59Tcw/s400/PB230755.JPG

[Davis137]

I think this building is upto the 6th or 7th floor now, or at least portions of it is. Is this phase going up going to have a small tower on top of it too? If so, It'll make the first tower look slightly less out of place or lonely...

[ServiceGuy]

They are pouring the back portion of the 5th floor slab and yes, it will also have a tower rising up past the first 5 floors in the back (East) corner but it will be done in brick and not inset like the glass tower. From what I hear they are on schedule for the advertised closing dates despite the engineering revisions that were needed below grade.

[AuxTown]

My good friend bought a rather large unit in phase 2 and has also been told that things are back on schedule (for the moment). Let's hope things don't grind to a halt once this one's completed and they continue with the next phase of the project. It's too valuable of land to be sitting there vacant the way it has for the past 40 years!

[waterloowarrior]

re: phase 3, Claridge recently submitted an application (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7TBVSZ)to increase the height based on a discrepancy between zoning and subdivision plan (source: Dalhousie Community Association blog (http://www.dalhousiecommunityassociation.blogspot.com/))

[waterloowarrior]

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4004/4296669500_38b5e5a68b_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2494/4296674322_2096955705_b.jpg

taken 22 January 2010 by mbugua waihenya (http://www.flickr.com/photos/around_kenya/4296674322/in/set-72157623139800483/)

[harls]

Yep, I went by there on Saturday and it is really coming along. Looks massive from Bronson/Slater.

[Mille Sabords]

taken 22 January 2010 by mbugua waihenya (http://www.flickr.com/photos/around_kenya/4296674322/in/set-72157623139800483/)

Wow, beautiful photos! :tup:

[waterloowarrior]

Update from West Side Action (http://westsideaction.blogspot.com/2010/02/lebreton-flats-condo-grows.html)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qVgnHDIZ3_w/S2TFxRHCFDI/AAAAAAAABPg/dP3q6FkP6vU/s320/P1300931.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVgnHDIZ3_w/S2TFNiWeI8I/AAAAAAAABPQ/FJNAczRsCgY/s400/P1300929.JPG

The tower part should be rising soon

[AuxTown]

Will it be beside the current tower or in the opposite corner? When will we start seeing more of Lebreton developed (townhouses, retail, proper streets)?

[Lakche]

Took some pictures today. Weather wasn't great, it was snowing...

http://i49.tinypic.com/m7xbiw.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/302w85l.jpg

Looks like they're done with the bottom part and beginning work on the tower (somewhat visible in my second picture)

[Davis137]

When I was on the bus this morning, it looks like the 1st, if not 2nd level of the tower is formed now. This is going to look a lot better than just one stand alone tower in the middle of the brownfields...

[harls]

Standing on Wellington Street looking west, you can see that this place will almost completely block out the view of the Tunney's Pasture complex.

Once LeBreton is entirely filled in, it will look quite different coming in on the parkway past Parkdale.

[waterloowarrior]

bad photo (Phase II is behind trees) but I'll post it anyways
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2764/4398455793_d9de7959e8_b.jpg
stopped at red light btw ;)

[waterloowarrior]

SBC9 flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbc9/4410408600/sizes/l/)- looks like the podium brick is up to the third floor
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4410408600_453710193f_b.jpg

[eemy]

I have to say that the building itself looks far better than its rendering.

[Davis137]

This is going to look decent when it's finshed...

[harls]

Shot today from Hull by me.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2802/4415077225_317ef6c505_b.jpg

[harls]

More photos by francely in the Canada section:



that construction near the War Museum, seen from Alexandra bridge
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_0022.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_0024.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_0048.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_0107-1.jpg

reflection in the War Museum

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/francely57/UC/IMG_0109-1.jpg

[Davis137]

That 2nd tower is going up really fast now...will only be a matter of weeks when they top it off I think.

Great Pano's of the Northern Ottawa Skyline and Tunneys!

[K-133]

When the first tower stood there all alone, the project looked dismal. Now that the second tower is rising, you can really feel it coming together. Once the whole project is completed, I think this is really going to feel like it fits in.

Though the next ten years may be somewhat difficult to endure.

Harls, that picture from the Hull side really capture it!

[jcollins]

What else is planned for the surrounding areas other than these two towers?

[K-133]

There are three more 'phases' planned.

Two shorter buildings with, I believe townhomes, condos and some retail space. Basically, if you're at the corner of Fleet and Lett looking towards Chinatown, that will all be filled in with the above. If standing in the same place you turn 180 degrees to look at Hull, that area is planned to have a Firefighters monument. It is currently still owned by the NCC.

[waterloowarrior]

Here`s the model from Claridge`s bid

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2697/4426338312_bdc197d425_o.jpg

The next Claridge phase is currently trying to get rezoning
http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7TBVSZ. I think it`s the building above Claridge's Phase 1 and Two in the model image (aerial view)

I believe the next part of the overall LeBreton Flats development (i.e. other than Claridge's section) will be the NCC selling blocks U and T, which are on the south side of the ORP, just west of Claridge's Phase 1 & 2 (on the aerial view they are the blank area to the right of the existing development).

[K-133]

waterloowarrior

My understanding is that those sections will be used to erect a monument.

[waterloowarrior]

Here's a couple more images for context

http://chelkowski-urban-design.com/images/lrg/Lebreton_colour_1600x1200.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3221/2950328774_752aa2d1f0_o.jpg
(source: southfacing flickr)

Here's where the Firefighters monument will be according to http://www.cfff.ca/en/memorial/
http://www.cfff.ca/en/memorial/images/memorial_map.jpg

[K-133]

That makes much more sense then. Thanks waterloowarrior.


Any idea what's happening in that section between Booth and the transit path? There's been crews working those grounds all winter.

[ServiceGuy]

Any idea what's happening in that section between Booth and the transit path? There's been crews working those grounds all winter.
That's infrastructure work... water mains, gates, or something like that.

[jcollins]

Thanks for all the info everyone!

Looks like it's going to be quite the project. I like the mix of townhomes and condos.

Does Claridge have the contract to do the entire thing?

[Ottawan]

Claridge has the contract for the area that they have built models for (the orange buildings in the renderings), they would have to compete to build anything west of Booth and/or south of the aquaduct.

I've personally always been most interested in those buildings along Booth - I can't wait for Claridge to get there.

My big disappointment with the project isn't the look (I always have maintained that while one lonely building looks bad, the area as a whole would look quite good), but the pace. In 2004, when Claridge won the bid, the whole development was supposed to be complete by 2015. I find it unlikely that even Claridge's portion will be complete by then.

[K-133]

Ottawan - I share your frustration. Where you and I see the whole, many people see only a lonely building, surrounded by dirt. Though, I look at this as opportunity - without demand prices remain stagnant. Once this project really begins to come together, demand will rise more sharply - and so will the pace.

Unfortunately, until that demand comes, Claridge will not be motivated to move any faster. I give this project at least another 10 years.

[Aylmer]

Well at least it's moving faster than the first tower... Claridge might be able to finish for 2013 at the earliest.

:)

[K-133]

Well at least it's moving faster than the first tower... Claridge might be able to finish for 2013 at the earliest.

:)

You're right, it is possible. They've sold 80% of tower 2 as well.

It also appears that the pace of the second tower is much faster now than tower 1.

[ajldub]

We need to figure out a way to get a major sports hub that is home to the sens, 67s, CFL and soccer on the rest of this land. Preferably in two buildings. I can't think of anything that would go further in pulling this city together.