[Gatineau] Cartier-Wellington | ??m | 14 fl | Proposed

[harls]

New condo proposal for downtown Hull

*** Construction to start Fall 2010, occupancy Spring 2012******

Address: 150 rue Wellington (corner Wellington/Leduc)

140 luxury condo units - Price range $150K - $1 Million

Rendering:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4293771796_c33f471d2c_o.jpg

Website:

http://cartierwellington.ca/bienvenue_en.html

(thanks to Radster for the link).

[waterloowarrior]

Nice! Who is the architect for this one?

[Davis137]

That's pretty nice, and would give the downtown a fresh start...

[gjhall]

Wow, a million in Hull is certainly ambitious.

I've always thought that Hull could tap a great market by developing its core like cities along the Hudson river in New Jersey successfully did, by marketing its proximity to the actual city and tremendous value for money. With height restrictions on the Gatineau side considerably more relaxed, this may be the future for them.

[harls]

I'm not sure who the architect is, WW.

Agreed there is so much potential for this area. With this project, the Chez Henri refit, and the recently announced Federal building a just couple of blocks to the west, things are starting to pick up.

I'm sure the million dollar view includes Parliament Hill.

[Acajack]

I'm not sure who the architect is, WW.

Agreed there is so much potential for this area. With this project, the Chez Henri refit, and the recently announced Federal building a just couple of blocks to the west, things are starting to pick up.

I'm sure the million dollar view includes Parliament Hill.

The top floors are likely to have great views. Hull is “terraced” (bad translation) in the sense that elevation slowly but surely rises as you move away from the river. Almost every street is higher than the previous parallel one as you move north. Laurier near the river is lower than promenade du Portage, which in turn is lower than Wellington (where the condo building will be), and so on.

[harls]

Yes, that's true - then it sort of drops down again roughly along Papineau (where the outdoor swimming pool is).

I did a rough photoshop as to what this will look like from the Ottawa side. Probably will be a bit higher, just eyeballing it.

from I picture I took when things were just a bit warmer..

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2678/4295593372_e0507c11b1_b.jpg

[Radster]

$1M is not that ambitious actually, as for that price, you will get a top floor penthouse of well over 2,000sq ft! How much would you pay for a similar type of unit in downtown Ottawa? At least double!

Keep in mind, the location of this place is amazing, especially for anyone who works in the Portage / Terasses complexes.

Also, this will be a LEED certified building (not sure which level though). There will be a lap pool downstairs, and a huge green roof/terrace, with BBQs, grass, trees, showers and a couple jacuzzis.

Worth noting is the fact that the City of Gatineau want to populate the island of Hull, so anyone who buys a unit in a new construction on the island, gets a roughly 75% rebate on property taxes for 10 years, which is a HUGE incentive if you ask me!

[harls]

Here is the site - I took this at the top of the parking garage across the street.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2792/4420277442_bcd6bac343_b.jpg

Coming soon! :banana: :banana:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2793/4420217624_f92a1868fd_b.jpg

[RTWAP]

..

That's an interesting and attractive looking building. It'll be a huge upgrade from the void that's there currently.

[ajldub]

:previous:
Let's see if it gets built first. Personally I hope it does, but this kind of development is unprecedented in Gatineau.

[Acajack]

:previous:
Let's see if it gets built first. Personally I hope it does, but this kind of development is unprecedented in Gatineau.

They are rare but there have been some. Probably the best example is the Port de Plaisance luxury condo tower on Laurier just across from Parc Jacques-Cartier. It was built around 20 years ago if I recall.

Depending on your point of view, the "Park Place du Parc" condos under construction to the west on Alexandre-Taché might fall into this category.

And Brigil's Place Champlain development near the Champlain Bridge as well (maybe).

But yeah, I have seen a lot of signs for developments that have never materialized.

[harls]

At least these guys have a functioning website.. that's a start :D

[Ottawan]

I think that Gatineau has been showing some real vision with regards to their downtown, and that their policies to promote its development will soon start to pay off. I think that this building will get built, and that purchasing a unit in it would be a great investment because you would truly be getting in on the ground floor for Hull's revitalization.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Gatineau could definitely do what Brooklyn has done; by being close to a major tourism/business destination, they could offer great things at a great price right next to the action so to speak.

[Acajack]

I think that Gatineau has been showing some real vision with regards to their downtown, and that their policies to promote its development will soon start to pay off. I think that this building will get built, and that purchasing a unit in it would be a great investment because you would truly be getting in on the ground floor for Hull's revitalization.

I hope you are right but although there are some things going on, I am not sure that they are part of any form of concerted plan.

But maybe I am wrong and my perspective is just that of an outsider who isn't aware of the efforts being made...

[harls]

There is a plan. How and when they pull it off is still yet to be seen.

http://gatineau.ca/page.asp?p=guichet_municipal/urbanisme_habitation/programmes_aide_financiere/programme_revitalisation_nouvelles_construction_nature_residentielle_ile_hull

[Davis137]

It all looks great to me...will be cool to follow the progress of some stuff over there too for a change...

[Acajack]

Interesting how I hear Gatineau getting some kudos lately from the Ottawa side (both here and elsewhere).

Maybe our city actually is doing some things right, or maybe people across the river are just depressed with the goings-on in theirs (especially their council)...

[Ottawan]

Interesting how I hear Gatineau getting some kudos lately from the Ottawa side (both here and elsewhere).

Maybe our city actually is doing some things right, or maybe people across the river are just depressed with the goings-on in theirs (especially their council)...

For me, it's a bit of column A, and a bit of column B. (although one thing I don't think Gatineau is getting right is BRT instead of LRT)

That said, I feel that everyone on both sides of the river needs to recognize that we are one city, and shouldn't let a provincial border hinder pride of and excitement for the improvement & development of both sides of the river.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Interesting how I hear Gatineau getting some kudos lately from the Ottawa side (both here and elsewhere).

Maybe our city actually is doing some things right, or maybe people across the river are just depressed with the goings-on in theirs (especially their council)...

I'd say it's a little of both. :haha:

[harls]

According to that city link I posted, all applications for new development must be in by the end of 2011 to take advantage of the tax breaks.. so I would expect a flurry of proposals between now and then.

of course, a proposal is just that.. a proposal, and doesn't guarantee a shovel in the ground. It does have a psychological effect, though, to see billboards popping up all over empty lots. Might have some effect on public servants that work in the area and commute from Ottawa suburbs (wow.. lots of things planned around here.. maybe I should find out more about that condo project...)

ok, maybe not..

[harls]

http://www.obj.ca/Opinion/The-Marketplace/2010-04-05/article-984515/Want-to-buy-the-most-expensive-apartment-in-western-Quebec%3F/1



Want to buy the most expensive apartment in western Quebec?

Published on April 5th, 2010
Michael Prentice

Property tax breaks could make downtown Gatineau real estate hotter than ever

Are you looking to buy a new condo apartment in the urban core, and want to save thousands of dollars a year in property taxes? Has the City of Gatineau got a deal for you!

It is part of an effort to spur construction in the heart of the old city of Hull. And it means buyers of new apartments in downtown Gatineau should save tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes over the next decade.

Here’s how it works: If you buy a brand-new apartment in a multi-storey building in the heart of Gatineau, your property taxes will be about one-fourth of their normal level for the first 10 years. At current rates, that is a saving of about $3,000 a year on an apartment costing $300,000.

The property tax break – which attracted little attention when Gatineau approved it in 2008 – is designed to trigger construction and bring more residents into the city centre. Downtown Gatineau is where thousands of federal public servants work, just across the river from Parliament. It’s known for its lively bars.

But it lacks quality housing, and too much of it is now under pavement and serving as parking lots.

The tax break applies to owners of apartments in new buildings in an area known as the island of Hull. The area is on the Ottawa River, from rue Montcalm in the west to Highway 5 in the east. It extends northwards almost to the Hilton Lac Leamy Hotel.

The tax break is a significant factor for anyone contemplating buying an apartment, and could influence some buyers to opt to live in Gatineau if they want to be downtown but can’t afford downtown Ottawa, analysts believe.

Indeed, developers of a planned $40-million luxury apartment building in the heart of Gatineau have heavily emphasized the tax savings in the project’s marketing materials. Construction of the building, known as Le Cartier-Wellington, is scheduled to begin this fall and the first owners should take residence in spring 2012.

The 14-storey building will be at 150 Wellington St. – currently a parking lot – two blocks from the Ottawa River and steps from Promenade du Portage, with its restaurants and nightspots. The sales office is scheduled to open in May.

Developer Raymond Chauvet says he would likely have gone ahead with the project, even without the incentive offered by tax savings. “But the tax savings give us a very important competitive advantage,” he said, compared with new apartment buildings outside the Gatineau core and in Ottawa.

The property tax break is among reasons cited by many of those who have already expressed interest in buying an apartment in the building, says Mr. Chauvet. “Much of the interest has been from public servants working in the area,” he said. “Many are aged 35 to 40, and there are more single women than single men. There are also empty-nesters and investors.”

Living in Gatineau also has obvious appeal for francophones and French-speaking English Canadians, he adds.

So far, there has been no sign of a rush to convert other nearby open-air parking lots into new highrise apartment buildings, despite the property tax break. But Mr. Chauvet says that may be because parking lot owners have been waiting on the federal government to decide on the location for a new office block in the area.

The 140 apartments in the building will range in price from less than $200,000 up to $1 million. The developer says he already has a buyer for the $1-million penthouse, which will have 2,300 square feet of living space and spectacular views of the Ottawa skyline and the river.

He declined to name the buyer of what is likely to be the most expensive apartment ever purchased in western Quebec. Property tax savings on the penthouse are expected to be in the range of $10,000 a year.

The City of Gatineau says the purchaser of a new apartment assessed to be worth $250,000 will save almost $2,500 a year, at current property tax rates. In this example, property taxes payable in 2009 would have been $823. Taxes without the discount would have been $3,292.

The break amounts to 75 per cent of the assessed value of each apartment, but does not apply to the assessed value of the apartment owner’s share of the land. For most apartment owners in eligible buildings, the tax break will be a little more than 70 per cent of the combined assessment for apartment and land.

The tax break is transferable when an apartment owner sells, and it exists for 10 years, regardless of change of ownership.

But does the tax break make the cost of living cheaper in a new apartment in downtown Gatineau than in downtown Ottawa?

The answer depends on several things. For a start, income taxes are higher in Quebec than in Ontario, particularly for single people. In Quebec, the personal income tax rate is 20 per cent on taxable annual income between about $39,000 and $77,000. In Ontario, it’s 9.15 per cent on taxable income between about $37,000 and $74,000.

Without the tax break, property taxes are about the same on both sides of the river. So there’s a huge saving there for anyone who jumps at the City of Gatineau’s offer.

That leaves the actual purchase price of the apartment, which is the biggest factor in almost everyone’s cost of living. Construction costs are about the same on both sides of the river; land prices tend to be higher in Ottawa than Gatineau.

Value is hard to measure, but it starts with the price per square foot. You need to check that out for yourself in any comparison between the cost of living in one apartment and another.

[harls]

Rendering has changed a bit.. I liked the earlier version better... this one is too... monotone (like all of the fed buildings)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4623623303_c0f45f9cc1_o.jpg

from http://cartierwellington.ca/default.html

[RTWAP]

Rendering has changed a bit.. I liked the earlier version better... this one is too... monotone (like all of the fed buildings)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4623623303_c0f45f9cc1_o.jpg

from http://cartierwellington.ca/default.html

Me too.

For comparison, here's the earlier version from upthread.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4293771796_c33f471d2c_o.jpg

[harls]

Recent article in OBJ (June 28). They haven't released a price list yet (maybe they have now, not sure)

A new luxury high-rise condo is also planned for downtown Gatineau. It is to be named the Cartier-Wellington. As Ottawa Business Journal reported earlier this year, the builders of the Cartier-Wellington are stressing the fact buyers will get a 75-per-cent reduction in property taxes for the first 10 years.

The tax cut is an effort by the City of Gatineau to encourage development in the downtown core of the former city of Hull.

The Cartier-Wellington has not yet released a price list but Patrick Chauvet, speaking for the builders, said a two-bedroom, sixth-floor apartment with 1,000 square feet of living space will sell for about $325,000, plus parking and taxes. That would make the price per square foot more than $350.

More here. (http://www.obj.ca/Opinion/The-Marketplace/2010-06-28/article-1418793/Making-sense-of-the-Ottawa-condo-market/1)

[Luker]

$325k for hull... I was thinking of buying here for my first investment property and hoping for a big boom in the 'sister city' a la New jersey/ Brooklyn/ St pauls kinda way...

Well untill that floor rate is 300 a foot, count me out.. too pricey for stage one of hull development, lots going on, but the next 5-6 developments and the arena wont be done for roughly 4-5 more years...

[salinas]

Photos and floor plans are now available on their website:

http://www.cartierwellington.ca

[condo_dreams]

Photos and floor plans are now available on their website:

http://www.cartierwellington.ca

Would anyone have a price-list by chance? I can't help but be interested by the location.

[salinas]

Keep in mind that with the increase in the rate of the Quebec sales tax from 7.5% to 8.5% on January 1st 2011, your condo will automatically be worth 1% more... if you hurry and buy before December 31 2010.

[salinas]

Would anyone have a price-list by chance? I can't help but be interested by the location.

On the 2nd floor (cheapest floor):

- cheapest studio: 168K + tax
- cheapest 1 bedroom: 193K + tax
- cheapest 1 bedroom + den: 211K + tax
- cheapest 2 bedroom: 295K + tax

One parking space is 25K + tax.

[harls]

There are new perspective views on their website:

North

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5385777850_e77166a251_z.jpg

South

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5385778348_5711d03bd7_z.jpg

East

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5385178029_362f1b730b_z.jpg

West

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5215/5385778074_9d7e4679e8_z.jpg

souce: cartierwellington.ca (http://cartierwellington.ca)

[salinas]

as of today, as reported on their website.

[Radster]

45 sold out of 140? That just goes to show that their price per sq ft is too high. I was on the priority list, but ended up opting out and waiting for other opportunities in the future. I think these guys are banking too much on those property tax savings, and raising the price as a result. For sure without the property tax break, their price per sq. ft. would have been lower. So in the end, one negates the other, and the property tax break is a moot point. Clever marketing, but doesn't fool me!

I do wish them good luck though.

Also, I remember during an initial meeting I had, they said that if they don't sell over 50% of the units by ground break, they will use a 2 phase process to construct the building.

[salinas]

45 sold out of 140? That just goes to show that their price per sq ft is too high. I was on the priority list, but ended up opting out and waiting for other opportunities in the future. I think these guys are banking too much on those property tax savings, and raising the price as a result. For sure without the property tax break, their price per sq. ft. would have been lower. So in the end, one negates the other, and the property tax break is a moot point. Clever marketing, but doesn't fool me!


I think the Cartier-Wellington prices are right. See the Place du Parc price list:

http://parkplaceduparc.com/pricelist_e.html

Assuming the condos at Cartier-Wellington are priced right... take an investor currently holding 400 000$ worth of condos elsewhere in downtown Hull... I think it would makes sense to "switch" these condos (with no tax rebate) for 400 000$ worth of condos at the Cartier Wellington (with 75% tax rebate).

[Kitchissippi]

Yeesh. This thing gets uglier with each new render.

[Radster]

Good point Salinas, but do you have sales stats for the Place du Parc? It seems like it is sitting mostly empty, with only a few tenants in there, as that building was also overpriced for Hull. Both Place du Parc and Cartier-Wellington are just milking their monopoly status as they don't have other competitors in downtown Hull building new condo towers. I won't be surprised if in 2011 and 2012 some other builders decide to erect some new condo towers in Hull, and offer lower prices per sq. ft. than the above 2 condo projects, and as a result they will sell faster, and will be built more quickly too.

Also, Place du Parc, is not only overpriced, but ugly and very plain design-wise, and Cartier-Wellington, I have to agree with the previous poster, is also deteriorating in style with each new render. Another proof of Cartier-Wellington being overpriced is the fact that its construction dates have been pushed back a couple times already.

[Radster]

I just clicked on the price list link for Place du Parc, and they are just below the 50% sold mark, which is quite bad for a new condo which is fully built.

Anyone have an average of price per square ft. in downtown Ottawa?

Place du Parc ranges from $270 to $360 per sq. ft., which is very pricy considering this building doesn't qualify for property tax breaks like the Cartier Wellington.

I think the Cartier Wellington price per sq. ft is also from $250 - $350, but you get property tax breaks. No doubt the Cartier Wellington ended up hurting the sales of Place du Parc, as it is definitely the better option for many reasons.

But to only have 45 out of 140 units sold, over 6 months into sales, leads you to believe that it is slightly overpriced nevertheless.

I just can't wait for more projects to pop up in Hull!

[harls]

I just clicked on the price list link for Place du Parc, and they are just below the 50% sold mark, which is quite bad for a new condo which is fully built.


Have you seen the tv commercial for that place.. with the elderly couple saying what a great choice they made, how they love the view.. there must be no noisy neighbours, either.

[salinas]

Have you seen the tv commercial for that place.. with the elderly couple saying what a great choice they made, how they love the view.. there must be no noisy neighbours, either.

The way the Place du Parc building is built, they could be screaming in their condo and nobody would ever hear them. Trust me.

[salinas]

I just can't wait for more projects to pop up in Hull!

Honestly, I thought we would have seen more new condo building projects in downtown Hull by now.

The city tax rebate is ending at the end of 2011 (unless the city renews it?). Someone interested in taking advantage of this for a new construction would have to hurry...

http://www.ville.gatineau.qc.ca/page.asp?a=culture&c=en-CA&p=guichet_municipal/urbanisme_habitation/programmes_aide_financiere/programme_revitalisation_nouvelles_construction_nature_residentielle_ile_hull

Looks like Cartier-Wellington is the only one so far taking advantage of the city tax rebate.

[salinas]

Do you see any similarities with the Cartier-Wellington building and this one in Montreal?

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41242975

[salinas]

66 sold... they are getting close to 50% sold.

[amanfromnowhere]

Start in March 2012 according to DCN:

CONDOMINIUM, COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDING Proj: 9111092-9
Gatineau, Communauté urbaine de l'Outaouais, comté QC NEGOTIATED/WORKING DRAWINGS
Le Cartier Wellington, 150 rue Wellington, J8X
$35,000,000 est
Start: March, 2012 Complete: March, 2013
Note: Working drawings are ongoing. Sub trades will be secured by invitation. Further update early, 2012.
Project: cast-in-place concrete structural frame, electric heating system, proposed construction of an environmentally friendly 133-unit 14-storey building. The scope of the project also includes commercial premises and office space on the ground floor, construction of underground parking for 175 cars, an indoor swimming pool and installation of three elevators. The project will aim for LEED certification.
Scope: 300,000 square feet; 14 storeys; 4 storeys below grade; 170 units; parking for 175 cars
Development: New
Category: Apartment bldgs; Retail, wholesale services; Commercial offices

source (http://www.dcnonl.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=53ffc307da6e2d50f2eab2139f6809c028c82325&projectid=9111092&region=qc)

[S-Man]

I assumed this project was dead.

[Acajack]

I assumed this project was dead.

Nope. It's never been dead. It's still been talked up on the Quebec side sporadically.

[harls]

http://www.tvagatineau.ca/articles/20130213191838/revitalisation_centreville_projet_cartierwellington_deviendra_bel_bien_realite.html

Construction supposed to start this June, estimated completion January 2015.

15,000 sq foot commercial space included. Rumors are it will include a much needed grocery store.

[J.OT13]

That took long enough.

[Boxster]

The internet site is still up but has not yet been updated to incorporate the much awaited planned grocery store at street level.

http://www.cartierwellington.ca/site/

I wonder what the delay is. Heaffy will be starting his condo projects around the corner soon.

[rocketphish]

This view hasn't been posted yet:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7405/12980829104_09af99c7c4_o.jpg

http://www.cartierwellington.ca

[Radster]

OOOOF, many available units still, I am guessing that quite a few people have backed out due to the delays. They have been selling condos for this building for like 3 years now, and it still hasn't broken ground. Whats the hold up, sales, or something else?

[Cre47]

The internet site is still up but has not yet been updated to incorporate the much awaited planned grocery store at street level.

http://www.cartierwellington.ca/site/

I wonder what the delay is. Heaffy will be starting his condo projects around the corner soon.

They have already started to excavate the NE lot of Wellington and Eddy for their first building. Unless I'm wrong here. Heaffy been much faster while this project has been dragging on for an eternity. The four new government buildings in Gatineau were not even approved when we were talking about this project at first. They are already at least 3 years behind schedule

[Acajack]

Groupe Heafey (and also the builders of Le Viu) have deeper pockets than the Cartier-Wellington, so they probably could and can afford to break ground with a lower amount of advance sales.

[Aprime]

The projects Accurso was involved in have all been stalling quite badly.

[harls]

Still bumping. Because, maybe..

[harls]

I'm wondering.. is there some sort of bylaw that prohibits peeling, sun-faded signs for projects 'opening soon'?

Sorry if you thought something was happening here, guys (and girl).

[J.OT13]

I'm wondering.. is there some sort of bylaw that prohibits peeling, sun-faded signs for projects 'opening soon'?

Sorry if you thought something was happening here, guys (and girl).

:(

[gtownskyline]

Groupe Mach who bought the land in 2018 wants to build a 16 floor (300 units) residential building with a potential 13000 sq. ft. commercial space according to actuhullite on IG.

https://instagram.com/p/C2_UtbPN9I9/?igsh=bzJyYnN2ZWZqZmEy

[J.OT13]

I think I like that better than the old proposal, which was bulky as heck. Just, add colour please.