General Update/Rumour thread

[JHikka]

For some reason the building behind the tree reminds me of the Henrys builiding on Bank but that isn't it. The arches remind me of the building near Bank and Somerset but it would have to be reversed to match whats next to it so that's not it either.

[J.OT13]

Linebox works in Montreal and Toronto too! Could very well not be in Ottawa no?

It's Ottawa. I know it's Ottawa. I recognize those buildings, I just don't know from where!!! :haha:

[.-:t-mac:-.]

Isn't that Rideau Street, just across from the Rideau Centre? Where the Urban Outfitters currently sits (in the two-level space covered by the archways), with the condos above? The bank, an RBC I believe, is directly to the right.
Of course I could be totally out to lunch. :)

[mykl]

Isn't that Rideau Street, just across from the Rideau Centre? Where the Urban Outfitters currently sits (in the two-level space covered by the archways), with the condos above? The bank, an RBC I believe, is directly to the right.
Of course I could be totally out to lunch. :)

No. They generally don't put out renderings for recently built buildings. And that one has more arches, as well as one slim arch.

[drizzo_613]

The tower in the background looks like 545 Rideau.

[J.OT13]

The tower in the background looks like 545 Rideau.

I had the same thought. Anyone know if Linebox designed 545 Rideau?

[rocketphish]

Add these sites to the Development Watch List:

[July 2022] 3, 5 & 7-9 Irving Avenue was purchased by Wellington Irving Commercial Inc. (Domicile Developments Inc.) from Named Individuals for $2,675,000 or $45,833 per unit. It is improved with a single-storey, restaurant that serves as the Tooth and Nail Brew Pub, and separate three-storey and two-storey apartment buildings. Marc Morin & Nick Hannah of Koble Commercial represented the seller.

http://juteaujohnsoncomba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/September-2022-Newsletter-July-Sales.pdf


[August 2022] 178 Nepean Street and 231 Bank Street were purchased by 211-231 Bank Street Holdings Inc. (Smart Living Properties) from Named Individuals for $8,075,000. It is improved with a variety of mixed-use buildings that range in height from one to three stories.

http://juteaujohnsoncomba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/October-2022-Newsletter-August-Sales.pdf


And this last one might be a candidate for the Linebox development, above. Those arches look like homages to 219 Bank St.

Streetview (https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.4171831,-75.6979581,3a,75y,81.78h,100.5t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s5x5Yr7DAQL0tjKnc7odD-Q!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3D5x5Yr7DAQL0tjKnc7odD-Q%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D333.74454%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192)

[J.OT13]

Gatineau (Hull) proposal posted by Julien on RailFans Discord.

https://i.postimg.cc/ZqP9HVxc/Gat2.png

What it replaces:

https://i.postimg.cc/GmyT8cB6/Gat1.png

https://i.postimg.cc/xC0X4MsS/Gat3.png

[Norman Bates]

Chez Rejean was my favourite pataterie. But it was never the same after he passed away about a decade ago.

[harls]

Chez Rejean was my favourite pataterie. But it was never the same after he passed away about a decade ago.

I remember going there when I first moved here in 2006. It was great.

[Skyway]

TD Bank now closed 400 Rideau Street. 2 parking lots beside this building.
Any rumours about the future of this site yet??

[shelltime]

It was sold to a Toronto Company in 2020, lease must have ended.

[rocketphish]

FairSquare no longer accepting new business

Jordana Springgay | Real Estate Magazine
Feb 17, 2023

FairSquare Group Realty, formerly known as Purplebricks, announced on Thursday that it will no longer be accepting new business.

The company, which has its roots as a for-sale-by-owner company, has evolved into a full-service brokerage that charges a fixed fee to clients. It has undergone several evolutions and rebrands over the years.

In 2009, DuProprio in Quebec acquired other for-sale-by-owner businesses throughout Canada, and these companies were later renamed ComFree outside of Quebec.

Then in June 2018, UK-based Purplebricks acquired both DuProprio and ComFree and officially launched operations in Canada in January 2019. ComFree was eventually rebranded as Purplebricks.

However, in July 2020, Desjardins Group acquired Purplebricks’ Canadian holding company, including its two brands—Purplebricks Canada and DuProprio—and later rebranded it as FairSquare in January 2022.

In an interview in January 2022, Pascal Laflamme, president of FairSquare, told Real Estate Magazine attributed the company’s changing business model to customers’ needs.

“Now it’s a full-service brokerage with the difference that we are working as a team instead of as individual, self-employed realtors,” Laflamme told REM.

“We’re charging a fixed fee on our side. So our part of the selling commission is fixed no matter what the home value is, and of course, our sellers are offering buyer/agent commission that varies from market to market.

At the time of the interview, Laflamme said FairSquare was operating in Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg, the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Windsor and the Niagara Peninsula, with plans to expand to Sudbury, Ont. The company’s headquarters is in Stoney Creek, Ont.

FairSquare still has dozens of active listings in Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta on Realtor.ca, with one of the most recent posted six days ago.

It’s unclear how business operations will be impacted moving forward. Despite repeated attempts to contact the company for comment, FairSquare did not respond in time for REM’s publication deadline.

https://realestatemagazine.ca/fairsquare-no-longer-accepting-new-business/

[AuxTown]

I know I've said this before, but I'm just back from a few days in Montreal and it makes me very depressed! :(

They have so many cool developments in all central neighbourhoods and it seems they make so much more of an effort to include thoughtful design and interesting building features. Why do we suck so bad?

There are dozens of projects in and around Old Montreal that do such a great job of using brick/stone/steel to integrate well into the urban fabric. Why do we get so much shit in and around the market??

Not to mention all of the very tall landmark towers going up in the CBD....

Oh well, I recognize that we are 1/4 the size of metro MTL but how does 1/4 the size equal 0% the number of quality urban construction projects??
The best thing that every happened to that city is not being part of the late 90's/early 2000's construction boom that ruined Toronto's skyline with teal/seafoam glass condos everywhere. Anyway, I'm just glad we have such a cool/vibrant city only 2 hours down the road.

So the question is: How can we create a culture of quality/thoughtful design in our developers? Is this the city's job or the public?

[J.OT13]

Montreal developers build better quality, yet it's cheaper to live there. Ottawa developers must make a killing.

[Harley613]

Bill Malholtra is worth 1.7 billion. Building shoddy architectural disasters in Ottawa is very lucrative indeed.

[Mille Sabords]

TD Bank now closed 400 Rideau Street. 2 parking lots beside this building.
Any rumours about the future of this site yet??

This was the one that continuously had the Garda truck parked on the sidewalk, good riddance to that.

[Harley613]

That TD site is outside of the protected view planes. I can't wait to see a new 28 story CharcWhite there because that is what is going to happen.

[phil235]

Montreal developers build better quality, yet it's cheaper to live there. Ottawa developers must make a killing.

Not sure the new builds in urban neighbourhood in Montreal are cheaper as a general rule. My sense is that on the whole, Montrealers are more willing to pay for style than sensible, budget-conscious Ottawa folk. There’s also a lot more ostentatious wealth in Montreal, even if average incomes are lower.

[LeadingEdgeBoomer]

I read an article in the Lowertown Community newspaper --The Image--concerning St. Brigids. The owner is no longer selling it. The Pub in the basement is now open again and there will be cultural events held in the building. This reversal seems to have happened without any attention by the mainstream media.

[J.OT13]

I read an article in the Lowertown Community newspaper --The Image--concerning St. Brigids. The owner is no longer selling it. The Pub in the basement is now open again and there will be cultural events held in the building. This reversal seems to have happened without any attention by the mainstream media.

Good news story, I'd say, so not worth a mention by the media.

[Ottawacurious]

Found this (https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-22-0046/details) on the dev apps site.

Documents are updated. Not noticing any significant changes. Front façade is staying the same w/ the addition at the back serving 4 units....two ground floor commercial and 2 upstair residential.

D07-12-22-0081
157 HURON
1248 WELLINGTON
1249 WELLINGTON
1250 WELLINGTON
1251 WELLINGTON
1252 WELLINGTON

[J.OT13]

I have moved the School Board and School Bussing talk to a new thread called Pre, Primary and Secondary Education on the General Discussion board:

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=254235

[postingaboutottawa]

New OCH project at Friel and Chapel from Dimond Schmitt/KWC up on devapps

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0022/details

https://abload.de/img/screenshot157fncj4.png

[originalmuffins]

New OCH project at Friel and Chapel from Dimond Schmitt/KWC up on devapps

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0022/details

https://abload.de/img/screenshot157fncj4.png

I actually really like that! I wonder what they'll try to build on their Lebreton lot. Love it.

[Harley613]

Whoah! A reasonable looking building that will block the view of Story of Lowest Bidder + Mediocrity from some angles??? Bring it on!

[Williamoforange]

The Bel-air Motel is up for sale....The lot seems to include both the Motel, Car Wash, and old gas station.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25433053/2044-robertson-road-ottawa-7803

[rocketphish]

The Bel-air Motel is up for sale....The lot seems to include both the Motel, Car Wash, and old gas station.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25433053/2044-robertson-road-ottawa-7803

And look at that price! Do you think if we all pooled our spare change we could buy it ourselves? :D

https://i.imgur.com/MEmypzI.png

[zzptichka]

Can't stop laughing. This city.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ft_4JSjWIAI3t3D?format=jpg&name=large

[Williamoforange]

Can't stop laughing. This city.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ft_4JSjWIAI3t3D?format=jpg&name=large

The whole point of bricks are that you can just contact the ground and put them back in place....

But yes, the city is entirely too relaxed with it's replacement enforcement.... New connection dug for a house on Woodroffe and the backfill has already settled such that it's now a reverse speed bump.

[Harley613]

What....what am I looking at Here?!?!? An April Fools joke that hasn't been dismantled?

[Ottawacurious]

What....what am I looking at Here?!?!? An April Fools joke that hasn't been dismantled?

They ran out of black bricks so paved it instead.... ;)

[Proof Sheet]

The Bel-air Motel is up for sale....The lot seems to include both the Motel, Car Wash, and old gas station.

https://www.realtor.ca/real-estate/25433053/2044-robertson-road-ottawa-7803

That place could tell some stories. :) I know that they were wanting to sever off the gas station/car wash from the motel a while ago but I don't think they did.

[Kitchissippi]

What....what am I looking at Here?!?!? An April Fools joke that hasn't been dismantled?

It’s the National Sink Hole Monument.

[Harley613]

This has always been the main spot to see really talented sidewalks chalk artists in the summer for as long as I can remember, maybe it's a monument to them :haha:

[zzptichka]

For those unfamiliar, it's a fairly recently(~2018) pedestrianized plaza at Nicholas & Rideau.
There was nothing wrong with the street. They just installed a storm drain and threw away the bricks. :shrug:

https://i.imgur.com/iKc4PDSh.jpg

[Harley613]

Ahh yes! At first glance I thought this was the pedestrian area by the O-train/Scotiabank between Rideau and George.

[rocketphish]

Shopify to lay off 20% of staff
Company is selling its entire logistics division

Pete Evans · CBC News
Posted: May 04, 2023 8:11 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

Ottawa-based Shopify Inc. said on Thursday it would cut 20 per cent of its workforce, the second major round of layoffs at the e-commerce company in under a year.

"This means some of you will leave Shopify today," CEO Tobi Lutke told staff in a memo. "I recognize the crushing impact this decision has on some of you, and did not make this decision lightly."

Affected employees have already been advised, via email, if they still have a job. Everyone will receive a minimum of 16 weeks severance plus a week for every year they worked at the company.

Part of the cuts come from Shopify's sale of its logistics division to Flexport, based in Silicon Valley, Calif.

Only last year, Shopify was beefing up its logistics unit, buying delivery firm Deliverr for more than $2 billion. But the company has decided to go in a new direction, handing the entire logistics business to Flexport in exchange for a 13 per cent stake in the company.

"Making the global supply chains efficient and software addressable is Flexport's main quest and so this is the perfect home for this part of Shopify," the company said.

According to regulatory filings, at the end of its last fiscal year, Shopify had 11,600 employees, so the 20 per cent reduction announced Thursday amounts to more than 2,300 people. While slashing costs over the long run, the company says the cuts will incur about $150 million US in severance costs.

The company appears to be targeting managerial roles for the cuts, as opposed to people who work on the company's software, with Lutke saying in his note to staff that the company had too many of the former.

"The balance of crafter to manager numbers is a tricky one to strike. Too few and you risk misalignment on the most important things, too many and you add heavy layers of process, approvals, meetings and… side quests. Our numbers were unhealthy, just like it is in much of the tech industry," he said.

It's the second major round of layoffs at the company in under a year, as the company announced last summer that after expanding aggressively during the pandemic, it would lay off 10 per cent of its staff, as sales growth on its e-commerce platform was slowing.

The company announced the layoffs as it revealed quarterly results, which beat expectations on a 25 per cent increase in revenue.

The company's shares were up by eight per cent in pre-market trading.

Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Anurag Rana says the move to cut staff is the right call.

"This strategy shift, while painful in the short-term due to writedowns and layoffs, will increase the company's focus on selling more products through its platform," he said.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/shopify-layoffs-1.6831842

[J.OT13]

I was sure I had started a thread for this one.

Les résidents de Val-Tétreau veulent dicter la transformation de leur quartier

Mathieu Bélanger, LeDroit
9 mai 2023

Le quartier Val-Tétreau existe depuis 1884. À la frontière du centre-ville, le petit secteur d’un demi-kilomètre est apprécié de ses résidents pour son échelle humaine, sa densité douce et son tissu social où peuvent se croiser des universitaires, des familles, des jeunes professionnels et des aînés qui habitent encore la maison de leur enfance. Val-Tétreau est cependant de plus en plus préoccupé par la densification résidentielle et commerciale qui pointe à l’horizon.

Michel Chénier, président de l’Association citoyenne de Val-Tétreau, a voulu être très clair avec le conseil municipal, mardi soir, lorsqu’il est venu déposer au nom de ses voisins une pétition de 1150 noms demandant l’appui des élus pour assurer un développement harmonieux du secteur.

«Nous sommes pour la densification de ce secteur et le oui dans ma cour, mais nous croyons toutefois que cette densification peut se faire autrement qu’en hauteur et en s’intégrant à l’architecture ambiante», a-t-il lancé. Du même souffle, il a ajouté que les résidents du quartier sont prêts et mobilisés pour contribuer avec la Ville à l’élaboration d’une planification cohérente, à l’image du quartier et capable, a-t-il dit, de relever tous les défis en matière de logements, de transition énergétique et de qualité de vie.

La réflexion citoyenne est en cours depuis 2020 dans Val-Tétreau. La Fabrique de la paroisse Saint-Joseph venait de surprendre tout le monde en vendant, dans la controverse, l’église en plein cœur du quartier à un promoteur privé. La Fabrique avait auparavant rejeté l’offre d’achat d’une coopérative d’habitation qui avait l’appui des gens du quartier.

«L’arrivée possible d’un tramway, les projets de l’Université du Québec en Outaouais et la transformation urbain ont guidé notre initiative, a expliqué M. Chénier. Cette réflexion était en cours quand, en octobre 2022, les représentants de ces promoteurs ont informé les citoyens de leur intention de construire, sur le site de l’église, un complexe d’immeubles en hauteur, deux tours de 12 étages et une tour de huit étages. C’est un méga complexe [de 260 unités] présenté sans égard au patrimoine existant et aux aspirations et souhaits des résidents.»

Le promoteur du projet, le Groupe Marc Dubé, n’a toujours pas officiellement déposé son projet à la Ville. Sa représentante, Katherine Villeneuve Bellfoy, a affirmé, il y a six mois, que des changements pouvaient encore être apportés au projet afin de susciter une plus grande adhésion dans le quartier. Mme Villeneuve Bellfoy a précisé au Droit, mardi, qu’il n’y avait «aucun développement» dans ce dossier depuis.


L’Association des citoyens de Val-Tétreau rappelle au conseil que le plan d’urbanisme adopté en 2020 prévoit des outils permettant «de modeler le quartier, ses infrastructures, les services et la trame urbaine de façon réfléchie et non à coup de changements de zonage par exception». De fait, le plan d’urbanisme enchâsse l’élaboration d’une démarche de planification urbaine propre pour Val-Tétreau. Cela doit se faire de concert avec les citoyens. «On demande que ça soit amorcé le plus rapidement possible», a indiqué M. Chénier. En attendant, l’association demande au conseil de ne pas déroger des hauteurs prévues [4 à 6 étages selon l’endroit] actuellement inscrites à la grille de zonage

Des élus confirment leur appui

Les citoyens de Val-Tétreau ont reçu l’appui au conseil des élus d’Action Gatineau. La conseillère Caroline Murray a indiqué qu’elle allait militer pour l’élaboration d’un programme particulier d’urbanisme (PPU) pour le quartier Val-Tétreau.

Le conseiller de Val-Tétreau, Jocelyn Blondin, a paru quelque peu irrité par cette intervention de sa collègue. «Tant mieux si l’appui d’Action Gatineau peut vous aider, a-t-il lancé aux citoyens venus interpeller le conseil municipal. Je prends aussi l’engagement de travailler avec vous. Pour le processus de planification, je vais travailler avec le centre de services de Hull pour que Val-Tétreau se développe bien. Il y a un potentiel de nouveaux logements dans le quartier, mais on ne veut pas permettre n’importe quoi, n’importe où.»

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actualites-locales/2023/05/09/les-residents-de-val-tetreau-veulent-dicter-la-transformation-de-leur-quartier-5QG46IVSTJBHDDGIXANB7MIIKU/

[East-End]

Anyone have any info on the 100-unit apartment, 6-floor building being proposed at this location?

[OTSkyline]

Anyone have any info on the 100-unit apartment, 6-floor building being proposed at this location?

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245255&page=2

[East-End]

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=245255&page=2

Thanks... don't know why a search on "300 Tremblay" didn't yield this thread.

[East-End]

Once again, forum search is beyond useless so I'll ask here...

Anyone have any info on the 6-storey apartment building at 1050 Canadian Shield Ave? Looks like a pretty big project.

[Harley613]

Once again, forum search is beyond useless so I'll ask here...

Anyone have any info on the 6-storey apartment building at 1050 Canadian Shield Ave? Looks like a pretty big project.

Googling the address for a project followed by 'Skyscraperpage' works flawlessly for any project :cheers:

[East-End]

Googling the address for a project followed by 'Skyscraperpage' works flawlessly for any project :cheers:

Thanks for the tip! Pretty sad when Google does a better job at searching your own website. :rolleyes:

[J.OT13]

Once again, forum search is beyond useless so I'll ask here...

Anyone have any info on the 6-storey apartment building at 1050 Canadian Shield Ave? Looks like a pretty big project.

Here's the thread. No updates since November 2022.\

https://skyscraperpage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=247812&page=2&highlight=1050

[J.OT13]

381 KENT Street Old Ottawa

9-storey mixed use residential building. Commercial uses are proposed at the ground floor in the northwest corner of the site. A total commercial gross floor area of 171m2 is proposed. The remainder of the ground floor envisions walk-out residential apartment units. The upper floors consist of apartment uses. A total of 218 units are proposed.

Docs not up yet.

https://ottwatch.ca/devapp/D07-12-23-0031

[harls]

The two sites right at the entrance of Gatineau on A-5 are getting quite large.

[RogueNacho]

Six-storey mixed-use building proposed for 224 PRESTON STREET in Little Italy. Features two ground floor commercial units and a total of 28 residential units; 19 bachelor units and 9 one-bedroom units.

Docs not yet uploaded:

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D07-12-23-0060/details

[harls]

Went down to the Galeries de Hull last weekend and the Bloome site is almost topped off. I think I should go do a tour tomorrow with the ol' D40x.

[SL123]

Can't stop laughing. This city.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ft_4JSjWIAI3t3D?format=jpg&name=large

They actually did something really cool with this! Dare I say I love this and would love if this was made permanent and not replaced with pavement.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/52936300995_d95da7ca5d_b.jpg

[zzptichka]

They actually did something really cool with this! Dare I say I love this and would love if this was made permanent and not replaced with pavement.


Wow. This is great.

[Richard Eade]

Although certainly not done by the city, I wonder if it was at least authorized by the city – or if it is gorilla art. Unfortunately, I suspect that it is the latter.

This is one type of thing that enlivens an area. It provides a ‘surprise’ for those who stumble across it. This makes them feel better about the area and encourages them to return, hoping to fine another treasure. Street entertainment (chalk drawings and buskers, for example) is a cheap way to animate a place. Yet the city feels that it needs to vet and over regulate that resource.

[Kitchissippi]

Although certainly not done by the city, I wonder if it was at least authorized by the city – or if it is gorilla art. Unfortunately, I suspect that it is the latter.

Made me chuckle as I pondered who would make a better art director, Jane Goodall or Che Guevara?

[J.OT13]

This looks awesome! Better than the uniform, somewhat boring pavers that were there before. Better than most "art" the City pays hundreds of thousands for.

Simple, cheap projects like this would go a long way in making the City more vibrant.

[harls]

Made me chuckle as I pondered who would make a better art director, Jane Goodall or Che Guevara?

*snort*

[Uhuniau]

they actually did something really cool with this! Dare i say i love this and would love if this was made permanent and not replaced with pavement.


dang.

[J.OT13]

Office to residential conversion of 360 Laurier proposed. Docs aren't up yet:

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D07-12-23-0055/details

[J.OT13]

Mixed-use, Nine (9) storey building with commercial units at a grade and residential uses above (94 residential units).

725 SOMERSET Street WEST Old Ottawa

https://ottwatch.ca/devapp/D07-12-23-0072

[rocketphish]

Interesting... And no, these sites are not next to each other - a block apart curiously.

[September 2022] 3 Hamilton Avenue North and 233 Armstrong Street were purchased by 1000147699 Ontario Inc. (Taggart Group) from Markton Properties Ltd. and Spencedale Properties Ltd. for $8,500,000 or $98 per square foot. It is zoned Mixed-Use Centre with a holding designation.

http://juteaujohnsoncomba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/November-2022-Newsletter-September-Sales.pdf


[October 2022] 1 Hamilton Avenue North was purchased by 1 Hamilton Holding Inc. (TCU Developments) from a Named Individual for $5,425,000 or $208,654 per unit. It is improved with a five-storey, plus partial penthouse, residential apartment building that was constructed sometime in the 1960s.

http://juteaujohnsoncomba.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/December-2022-Newsletter-October-Sales.pdf

[SL123]

Mixed-use, Nine (9) storey building with commercial units at a grade and residential uses above (94 residential units).

725 SOMERSET Street WEST Old Ottawa

https://ottwatch.ca/devapp/D07-12-23-0072

Documents are online including renderings

[J.OT13]

I thought we had a Bronson Centre thread, but I guess not.

Doing some work at the Bronson Centre.

https://i.postimg.cc/50v17c9y/BC1.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/PqCdDpBm/BC2.jpg

[harls]

Saw the crane is up for the Terrasses rehabilitation project now.

[Harley613]

From CBC This Morning:

15 highrise megaprojects that could reshape Ottawa's skyline

https://www-cbc-ca.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6907968?amp_gsa=1&amp_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQGsAEggAID#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=16902023562411&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbc.ca%2Fnews%2Fcanada%2Fottawa%2F15-highrise-megaprojects-that-could-reshape-ottawa-s-skyline-1.6907968

[McKellarDweller]

^ My top 3 wishes after looking through that:
1) 2 Robinson proposal completely started over and/or site sold to someone else. There isn't a single redeeming feature about the design.
2) More height variation in the 400 Coventry concept plan.
3) Claridge bean counters don't cut every possible corner on the exterior of 829 Carling

[Harley613]

Have it in good information that something is in the pipeline for 113 Mann ave. Don’t see it in the forum anywhere

Very sensible spot for a redevelopment. I can't see anything over 9fl, but a decent midrise would be very nice there.

[FutureWickedCity]

Hmmm. I know it's an ugly plaza but it is the only commercial area for quite a distance. I would hope the new development would include commercial

[J.OT13]

Hmmm. I know it's an ugly plaza but it is the only commercial area for quite a distance. I would hope the new development would include commercial

Agreed. Even if the new development replaces the current retail, that retail will be lost for three or four years, and new tenants probably won't include a convenience store.

[7empest]

Not very exciting or newsworthy but the plaza East of St. Laurent on Montreal Road by the McDonald's, Independent, Dollarama, etc. is having the facade redeveloped/updated.

Looks like it'll bring it up to the mid-2000's at least.

https://goo.gl/maps/Rgn3y7XF6mATKJKLA

[SL123]

Couldn’t find the page about the World Exchange renovation so i'm gonna post this here.

They've started unwrapping the new glass entrance

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53080418309_3695408511_b.jpg

[J.OT13]

Looks good. Clean and modern compared to what it was.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4217338,-75.6980601,3a,75y,150.04h,103.03t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sCZ-5RZFVofiA0FX3uk5PYw!2e0!5s20160501T000000!7i13312!8i6656?entry=ttu

Also removed the doors for a skybridge that was never built.

Really disappointed the renovations didn't come with a direct entrance to Parliament Station. That station really needs one more set of street to concourse elevators.

[OTSkyline]

It also feels like the construction and renos to the outdoor plaza have been going on forever.

[waterloowarrior]

Another example of challenges for affordable housing - Interval House on Goth Ave in Blossom Park purchased an adjacent property to build a 10 unit apartment building. Council approved, neighbour appealed and it was dismissed without a hearing. Community meeting February 2022, an application filed June 2022, approved February/March 2023. Tens of thosuands in appeal costs because of one person. Housing emergency?
https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onlt/doc/2023/2023canlii71709/2023canlii71709.html

Not that anyone should be able to dictate who lives beside them, but I lived beside an Interval House for years and they were great neighbours.

[rocketphish]

Move along... nothing to see here ;)

Not the Rideau River flooding this time, just a lot of rain in a short period.

https://i.cbc.ca/1.6933109.1691698621!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpeg_gen/derivatives/original_1180/pebb-building-flooding-aug-10.jpeg

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/flooding-power-outages-ottawa-1.6932806

[DarthVader_1961]

Isn’t there a big ass tower or 2 going in close to this building?

[rocketphish]

Isn’t there a big ass tower or 2 going in close to this building?

Ya, but you can be sure that they aren't going to build them in a bowl like this one is.

[Catenary]

There was a rotating chain of vac trucks trying to suck the parking lot dry last night, a valiant effort.

[Uhuniau]

There was a rotating chain of vac trucks trying to suck the parking lot dry last night, a valiant effort.

For a second I thought I had stumbled onto one of several particular local reddit threads.

[rocketphish]

Former Ottawa city councillor Mathieu Fleury named Cornwall CAO

Standard-Freeholder staff
Published Aug 28, 2023 • 3 minute read

https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/ottawacitizen/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/co-0829-co-fleury.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=550

Mathieu Fleury, a former long-time city councillor in Ottawa, has officially been introduced as Cornwall’s new chief administrative officer.

Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale and city councillors approved the hiring of Fleury as new CAO, effective Monday.

“The City of Cornwall is excited to welcome (Fleury) to the role (of CAO),” Towndale said in a news release on Monday afternoon. “With his background as a city councillor and chair of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Mr. Fleury is a great fit to help move Cornwall forward.”

Fleury, 37, has been hired to a five-year term. He most recently served as interim executive director of J.W. MacIntosh Community Support Services, a Williamsburg-based organization that provides housing and community support services to seniors and other adults, where he led a comprehensive organizational review, solidified its financial accountability, spearheaded its Accreditation Canada certification process and positioned the organization for future growth.

Fleury’s long track record of public service also includes 12 years as an elected municipal official in Ottawa and, previously, as policy adviser in the federal government. He has not worked as a municipal employee at any level, and takes over management of a staff team in Cornwall that includes 640 full-time positions, along with hundreds of other part-time employees, and is responsible for direct oversight of five general managers, the paramedic services chief, the fire chief, a strategic planning co-ordinator, and the city’s communications co-ordinator.

He takes over the Cornwall position for Mark Boileau, whose last full-time role with the city during what has been a 37-year career with it was interim CAO, a position he was appointed to late in 2022, just after Maureen Adams announced she was leaving the position to become CAO for SDG.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mark Boileau for acting as interim CAO, well past his retirement date,” Towndale is quoted saying in the statement. “His efforts ensured that the city kept running while we completed our recruitment efforts.”

Fleury, who attended the University of Ottawa, graduating with a masters in health sciences, in the city news release said he’s looking forward to working with city employees to deliver on council priorities. Fleury said he will immediately get to work addressing Cornwall’s infrastructure deficit, preparing for climate-change impacts, addressing housing needs, revitalizing main streets, offering safe, attractive spaces for seniors and youth, and welcoming newcomers, among other priorities.

“When it comes to finding solutions to challenges, collaboration is key,” Fleury said. “Together we can accomplish so much and I look forward to working with the Cornwall team to deliver for residents.”

Fleury is married to his wife, Lai. The couple have a son, Jacob, and a daughter, Adele.

Biographical information the city put out on Fleury includes his experience in public policy, infrastructure renewal, affordable housing, governance, and government relations.

As chair of Ottawa Community Housing, Ottawa’s largest landlord with 32,000 residents, he oversaw several multi-year strategic plans, and pioneered a new path for the construction and renewal of 10,000 new affordable housing units in Ottawa. Fleury’s extensive service on local boards includes local Business Improvement Areas (ByWard Market, Rideau and Vanier), The Shaw Centre, and Ottawa Public Health.

He served as Ottawa’s Sport Commissioner, having founded the Ottawa Sport Council, the Rideau Winter Trail and the Ottawa Basketball Network, and was instrumental in the expansion of the Ottawa Art Gallery, the reconstruction of La Nouvelles Scène and the reinvestments in Arts Court.

He was first elected in the Rideau-Vanier ward in 2010 at the age of 25, and re-elected in 2014 and 2018. He announced in early 2022 that he would not seek re-election.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/former-ottawa-city-councillor-mathieu-fleury-named-cornwall-cao/wcm/2df8763c-91f7-4b32-8e37-c0c3d4a6bc30

[J.OT13]

he was a Policy Analyst at the Feds before becoming a City Councillor? Isn't that a fairly high ranking job for a guy in his mid-20s? I thought he was at the City (recreation department or something).

But anyway, wonder if he had applied for the top job in Ottawa, lost, and decided to move to Cornwall instead.

[Acajack]

he was a Policy Analyst at the Feds before becoming a City Councillor? Isn't that a fairly high ranking job for a guy in his mid-20s? I thought he was at the City (recreation department or something).

But anyway, wonder if he had applied for the top job in Ottawa, lost, and decided to move to Cornwall instead.

Could have been a junior policy analyst.

[shelltime]

Looks like the City of Ottawa has determined that none of the Transit Stations need to be upzoned as per Bill 23, where municipalities are required to upzone major transit station areas within one year of the OP being approved. I guess this is a sign for things to come with the New Zoning By-law. They will never properly zone properties and we will have spot zoning forever.

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0067/details

[Proof Sheet]

Looks like the City of Ottawa has determined that none of the Transit Stations need to be upzoned as per Bill 23, where municipalities are required to upzone major transit station areas within one year of the OP being approved. I guess this is a sign for things to come with the New Zoning By-law. They will never properly zone properties and we will have spot zoning forever.

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0067/details

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

[Uhuniau]

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

I thought they had already pre-upzoned.

[shelltime]

I thought they had already pre-upzoned.

Only St Laurent Station

[Williamoforange]

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

London Ontario is putting forth the idea of permitting 4 units as-of-right on every lot, and Ottawa planning management thinks the MTSA zoning is good to go, while the head of planning committee is fighting two separate 12 story devs within MTSA, where the ZBA they had to apply for is supported by staff... The very staff that's now stating that the zoning of these MTSA are good.....

Yet I'm told Ottawa planning is doing a good job so far :sly:

[shelltime]

London Ontario is putting forth the idea of permitting 4 units as-of-right on every lot, and Ottawa planning management thinks the MTSA zoning is good to go, while the head of planning committee is fighting two separate 12 story devs within MTSA, where the ZBA they had to apply for is supported by staff... The very staff that's now stating that the zoning of these MTSA are good.....

Yet I'm told Ottawa planning is doing a good job so far :sly:

Policy Planners having a tantrum because the province is telling them what to do. Development Review planners know they'll lose at OLT... Council bending over to NIMBYs. Gotta love it

[Proof Sheet]

Policy Planners having a tantrum because the province is telling them what to do. Development Review planners know they'll lose at OLT... Council bending over to NIMBYs. Gotta love it

Perfect summary. I attended a virtual meeting when Bill 23 came out and the City's response/reaction and it was all just 'woe is me' and pushback and the City knows best attitude. They will be brought into the new Bill 23 world kicking and screaming and trying to delay yet claiming that they want to work with the 'industry' to bring more housing to the market.

[RogueNacho]

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

[Harley613]

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

I have been wondering about this lot for a very long time. It's within the view plane restriction, so I can't imagine you're seeing a clump breaker, but it would be nice to see a decent building fill the space.

[RogueNacho]

I have been wondering about this lot for a very long time. It's within the view plane restriction, so I can't imagine you're seeing a clump breaker, but it would be nice to see a decent building fill the space.

Correct, it will not be a clump breaker, but the colour and architecture will be something different compared to the usual Ottawa business.

[OTSkyline]

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

Nice, excited to see! I've been wondering when that lot would be filled after the old dilapidated apartment building was torn down. I wonder if there will be pushback because it will mean the end of the temporary park that was put there. Yes, I know it was temporary, but do other people know that?

With the 2x Loop towers, the 2x Tribeca towers, the Met and this one, this little pocket of the CBD should be very active and have lots of density!

[Harley613]

I wonder if the style will tie into 150 Elgin, being that Morguard owns both this lot and that adjoining building.

[J.OT13]

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

Good to hear. Looking forward to seeing it!

Nice, excited to see! I've been wondering when that lot would be filled after the old dilapidated apartment building was torn down. I wonder if there will be pushback because it will mean the end of the temporary park that was put there. Yes, I know it was temporary, but do other people know that?

With the 2x Loop towers, the 2x Tribeca towers, the Met and this one, this little pocket of the CBD should be very active and have lots of density!

I really liked the old apartment building that used to occupy the site. it was quite nice, but was in severe disrepair. The brick wall fell at one point and was poorly patched.

I really appreciate that they covered the site with grass and included a cut-through path instead of paving it over for a parking lot.

There shouldn't be any complaints about the loss of the park since it's mostly off limits thanks to a fence. There should be no confusion. Emphasis on shouldn't, but I'm sure some people will still play that card.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4197878,-75.6947499,3a,75y,69.63h,91.74t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1snPt_CVATVthdP11i4ftdag!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Marshsparrow]

Wasn't sure where to post this - but 1%ers really have their issues - just wait until intensification and 30+ storey apartment blocks land in their area of the city!

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/rockcliffe-park-fountain-fight-a-wellspring-of-cascading-complaints-1.6578806

[J.OT13]

Wasn't sure where to post this - but 1%ers really have their issues - just wait until intensification and 30+ storey apartment blocks land in their area of the city!

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/rockcliffe-park-fountain-fight-a-wellspring-of-cascading-complaints-1.6578806

Call a whambulance :haha:

[J.OT13]

Groupe Mach from Montreal, who owns Place Bell, is considering replacing the parking garage with residential high-rise. They are also working on a 400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer.

Groupe Mach to replace former DND building on O’Connor Street with new residential tower

David Sali, OBJ
October 31, 2023

==SNIP==

The biggest buy of them all came last spring, when the Montreal firm partnered with family office investor Sarees Investments to purchase One60 Elgin from Toronto-based H&R REIT for $277 million.

At one million square feet, the 27-storey tower at 160 Elgin St. is the city’s fourth-largest office building. Opened in 1971, the building underwent an extensive renovation between 2015 and 2017 that included tens of millions of dollars in improvements, such as the addition of a 39-foot-by-115-foot curved glass wall that surrounds the main entrance.

With a tenant list that includes the federal government, Bell Canada, satellite equipment powerhouse Telesat and two of Ottawa’s largest law firms, Gowling WLG and Kelly Santini LLP, One60 Elgin instantly became the crown jewel in Groupe Mach’s collection of Ottawa assets.

Its vacancy rate of around 10 per cent is par for the course for a class-A asset in the downtown core as landlords and tenants grapple with the new reality of hybrid work.

“A lot of the institutional owners are shying away from office in general,” Chiara said. “They think this asset class has a bleak future, and therefore a lot of pressure is being put on them to dispose of these assets – whether it’s market pressure, whether it’s board pressure or long-term strategic pressures.”

But Chiara sees lots of life yet in the 52-year-old building, even if many experts believe the office sector faces an uncertain future. He notes that the weighted average lease term of One60 Elgin’s tenants is about eight years, long enough to allow the sector to recover.

“We’re starting to see signs of people coming back to the office,” he said. “I think some of the large employers are starting to put pressure on their employees to come back because they’re starting to lose some efficiency … by having their employees work at a distance.

“We definitely think that if and when (the office sector) comes back, One60 Elgin is definitely going to be at the top of your list if you’re setting up shop in downtown Ottawa because it is one of the premier properties as far as location and quality goes.”

https://obj.ca/groupe-mach-to-replace-former-dnd-building-with-residential-tower/

[SL123]

Groupe Mach from Montreal, who owns Place Bell, is considering replacing the parking garage with residential high-rise. They are also working on a 400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer.

https://obj.ca/groupe-mach-to-replace-former-dnd-building-with-residential-tower/

"400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer."
Any idea where that could be?

[Acajack]

"400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer."
Any idea where that could be?

The parking lot at Portage and Hôtel de Ville would be great!

[Harley613]

Something 25 stories+ on that triangular parking lot could be a real game changer for the area.