Odenak (Dream LeBreton) [665 Albert St] | 105+120m | 31+36f | U/C
 

This thread is specifically for the Library District site... main Building LeBreton thread is here.
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=238060


http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/lebret...-redevelopment

Building LeBreton

http://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.co...20190307094248

The NCC is moving forward with the timely development of a Concept Plan that will provide a renewed vision for the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats. Benefitting from early engagement with the public, the Algonquin Nation, stakeholders, the surrounding community and the City of Ottawa, the NCC intends to seek municipal approval of the concept plan and associated zoning, before moving to land transaction. The NCC will be open to a flexible real estate strategy to increase competition and leverage opportunities. In addition, in order to create synergies and ensure greater connectivity, the NCC will be launching a Request for Proposal to redevelop the Library District, a 2.9 acre mixed-use site adjacent to the future location of the new Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada

“Today, we reaffirmed our strong commitment to bringing back a vibrant community in the heart of the National Capital Region. We thank the public for their shared passion in wanting a well-thought-out vision for the Flats. As we launch this process, the NCC Board of Directors is committed to engaging the public and our various stakeholders in setting out a renewed vision for LeBreton Flats’’, said NCC Chair, Marc Seaman.

This development, anchored by the Canadian War Museum, the Ottawa River, the future public library and two LRT stations will include the revitalization of the aqueduct and Nepean inlet and allow for consideration of a potential anchor institution or major events centre.

This renewal process will build on lessons learned in realizing the creation of a lively fusion of residential, commercial, cultural, and social elements accented by world-class public-realm amenities. The NCC is committed to obtaining public input before going to market and will be open to flexible phasing to respond to market conditions and new ideas.

“A lot of work is already under way and soon we will invite the public to provide their input to help us design a refreshed vision for LeBreton Flats,” said NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum. “The redevelopment of LeBreton Flats remains one of the NCC’s top priorities. While we are starting a new process today, we are not starting from scratch.”

The way forward-Timeline

http://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.co...20190307083325

Quick Facts
• The site to be developed covers an area of 22.7 hectares (56 acres).
• It is served by the light rail train with the Bayview Station and Pimisi Station.

I hope they focus on commercial and/or institutional uses for the library district. Public buildings, basically. I don't know what the private sector office-space market looks right now, but if there's demand office towers would also be great. Hopefully that makes future parcels more attractive as Lebreton becomes a transit destination, not just a place for condos.

Not sure if a grocery store is viable with just the claridge condos around. Claridge wants to build their own at lyon station which is close enough to compete.

Yes, I fear that we will just create a condo zone, and we will lose most of the public amenities of either previous plan, then what?

A grocery store on Lyon Street is not going to be attractive to anybody on the flats. Few people will want to walk up and down that hill with bags of groceries in hand.

I’m confused. What is the difference between the “library district” and the site of the new library?

There are lands close to the new library site (including between the library and Pimisi station) that are owned by the NCC. I think it is referring to those lands.

I disagree with this. I'm certain a lot of people will pick up groceries on their way home from work to their homes in Lebreton, or walk both ways until there's a closer option on the Flats.
I lived a few blocks south of the flats for awhile, and there were tons of people walking home to there from the Independent on Bank St.

Agreed. It's really only about 4 blocks away. I would see lots of people using the store on Lyon.

Plus Trinity is planning a grocery store at Bayview. Between that and Lyon I doubt there's demand for one on Lebreton.

Exactly:

http://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.co...20190307083715

from: http://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/lebret...-redevelopment

Whatever they put there I hope they incorporate some way to get to the library from Pimisi! Indoor preferably. Maybe they could make it a stipulation for whomever builds at that site?

Didn't know about the Bayview grocery. Probably none here then.

I actually prefer the library where it's being proposed. The current site will alaways have uninterrupted vistas to the Ottawa River, and ditto from the Portage, we will always see (what I hope will be) our landmark library instead of a generic high-rise.

With the development of the NCC's parcel, hopefully the City, the NCC and the chosen developer work together to ensure a highly accessible, indoor connection between the central library and Pimisi Station. I could see one über-long ramp from the library's ground floor, through the NCC development to Pimisi's east concourse level.

I'm also hoping they cover the rail line in order to introduce some connectivity with the aqueduct, similar to what RVL had proposed as part of their library plan. In that rendering, you can see where the ramp from the library (the library we'll be getting, not the RVL library) could be in order to connect to the east concourse.

https://i.cbc.ca/1.3420865.146159881...eton-group.jpg

However, if this building is somehow directly connected to Pimisi Station, residents will only be one station away from the Claridge grocery store.

One thing that really annoys me, something that could put a damper on the Library and District is the grey power station next to the tunnel portal at LeBreton Flats. Can't find a good picture(or the correct name for it), but I'm sure many of you have noticed. We have several of these down the line, mostly in spots that don't matter much, but this one could be very prominent from the library looking north. Hoping they can either re-clad it in stone or wood to make it look more presentable or re-locate it within the library, hidden from sight.

Are you talking about the sub-station for the train, or the heritage Fleet Street pump station?

Fleet street is already stone masonry and quite beautiful. The best we can hope for is that the site is opened up more to the public.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleet_...umping_Station

The sub-station for the train; quite an eye-sore.

Well this is going nowhere fast - the NCC has zero credibility - Lebreton has become the Phoenix of land development

This is a good point. The Sobeys at Claridge will be directly connected to Lyon station so it will be trivial for Lebreton residents to shop by transit if the hill sucks.

So having vistas to the Ottawa River is more important than having the library directly accessible by LRT? I'd think LRT access would be more useful.

With the NCC development next door, I'm hopeful we can get both.

if anyone is planning on being active on consultations, I'm going to be asking questions about how much of the escarpment area district plan will be reflected in the library district development.

https://ottawa.ca/en/escarpment-area-district-plan
(all the parkland/open space stuff is in section 5)

I'd imagine most of 'escarpment park' gets filled out with this, but my biggest question is whether the NCC intends to develop Bronson Park (Bronson and Queen, next to the Juliana) as part of this process. The district plan from 2006 proposed a pedestrian link between pooley's bridge and queen street, either stairs or an elevator. I'm not sure how much use that would get, but it would create a tangible link between uppertown and lebreton flats. The NCC has identified Bronson Park as a future monument site as well - something around the lumber industry would be nice and there seems to be multi-party support for the industry right now.

Another point that has been brought up many times before on other projects, most recently with the PoW; the NCCs best move is to develop this site in tandem with the library so that local residents and library patrons don't start seeing the empty space as a neighborhood "park", introducing an obstacle to development were it to be pushed back.

Of course the main reason to develop now is to provide better connectivity between the library and Pimisi Station.

https://www.ottawamatters.com/local-...o-says-1369105

Note from yesterday's meeting: there will be consultations in June and a new plan in the fall. Not sure if that means for the library district or the entire thing.

The article you attached says it's for the entire area.

RFQ for the library parcel is being launched in October 30th.

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.c...711&focal=none

The presenter acknowledged the possibility of building over the east side of Pimisi station, which would create an integrated entrance. I'm hoping this comes to fruition.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjqAIjEX...pg&name=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjqAIkLX...pg&name=medium

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjqAIfHX...pg&name=medium
https://twitter.com/NCC_CCN/status/1313503131586752513

NCC takes next step in LeBreton Flats development

Andrew Duffy, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Oct 06, 2020 • Last Updated 3 hours ago • 2 minute read


https://smartcdn.prod.postmedia.digi...trip=all&w=650

The National Capital Commission will take a major step later this month toward the redevelopment of one parcel of land on LeBreton Flats.

The NCC announced Tuesday that it will release a “request for qualifications” to develop the one-hectare site, just east of Pimisi LRT station, at the end of October. Such a request is designed to ensure there’s a qualified group of developers willing and able to submit proposals.

It’s the first phase of what’s expected to be a decades-long, multi-stage development process to remake the 29-hectare LeBreton Flats site.

“I’m very pleased that after a few months of Covid-related delays, we’re ready to move ahead with the redevelopment of LeBreton Flats,” CEO Tobi Nussbaum told the NCC’s board of directors meeting Tuesday.

Development of what’s known as the library parcel — the land is just west of the site for Ottawa’s super library — had been delayed by physical-distancing restrictions imposed by the pandemic. The parcel of land is north of Albert Street, east of Booth Street.

Katie Paris, the NCC’s director of major real estate development and the leader of its Building LeBreton project, said the commission will be seeking “the most innovative developers to partner in bringing the LeBreton vision to life.” The library parcel has updated zoning that allows for a wide range of commercial and residential uses, she said.

“This site could have multiple towers,” Paris said, “including the possibility of building over the east side of the Pimisi O-Train station, creating an unprecedented opportunity for a truly transit-oriented development integrated directly with the LRT.”

Paris said the NCC will launch a request for qualifications Oct. 30 so that it can “prequalify” development teams that share the commission’s vision for the site. Among other things, the NCC wants the site to feature a net-zero design for carbon emissions, and include affordable housing, pedestrian and cycling connections to existing pathways, and cultural components.

Development teams approved by the NCC will be invited to submit proposals in the first half of 2021. A development partner is expected to be chosen by the end of next year with construction beginning as early as 2022, she said.

Paris said the NCC wants a range of housing options on the library parcel. “It is essential to honouring LeBreton Flats as a working class community,” she said, adding: “The NCC itself is not an affordable housing provider. This strategy recognizes the NCC owns the land that can create opportunties for affordable housing, but we need to be aligned with our federal and municipal parnters, along with the developers, to actually implement affordable housing options.”

The NCC decided to redevelop LeBreton Flats in pieces after giving up on the ambitious Rendezvous LeBreton plan two years ago. That plan, which featured an NHL arena as its centrepiece, was the product of a partnership between Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Trinity Development chair John Ruddy and their companies that dissolved into a poisonous legal dispute.

Paris said an economic impact study has estimated that the Building LeBreton plan will generate 1,700 construction jobs per year, and add more than $1.2 million in annual development charges to city coffers. The city will also collect an additonal $13.7 million in annual property taxes once the development is completed.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...ts-development

Rfq
 

https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement...PW-20-00931980

https://ncc-website-2.s3.amazonaws.c...953&focal=none

A bit more info here:

https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/projects/libra...el-development

And the site's limits:

https://s3.ca-central-1.amazonaws.co...20201028131511

I thought the NCC agreed to encompass the City's parcel into this as well so that the entire site between Pimisi and the Library would be redeveloped in one shot.

Also interesting that Pimisi station is included within the boundaries, but not the tracks between the station and tunnel portal (which is disappointing).

NCC takes baby step toward developing small piece of LeBreton Flats

Jon Willing, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Oct 30, 2020 • Last Updated 1 hour ago • 2 minute read

The National Capital Commission on Friday took a tiny step toward redeveloping LeBreton Flats by releasing an invitation for development teams to file proposals for land beside the future super library.

The request for qualifications will lead to the NCC determining who will have the honour of getting in on the ground level of the decades-long transformation at LeBreton Flats.

The 1.1-hectare property known as the “library parcel” is at the southeastern corner of Albert and Booth streets, next to a Pimisi LRT station entrance. The land for sale includes a small piece to the immediate north of the LRT station, which means a developer could propose building overtop the station.

The super library, which is a partnership between the Ottawa Public Library and Library and Archives Canada, will be constructed to the east of the property.

The NCC intends to prequalify up to five development teams to participate in a request for proposals beginning next spring. The winning team could take ownership of the site as early as 2022.

The NCC’s director of the LeBreton redevelopment, Katie Paris, discussed the library parcel development with reporters on a teleconference.

The value of the library parcel is set at $30 million, which reflects the strings the NCC has attached to the future development, including those related to affordable housing and energy efficiency. The winning development team will be rewarded with a 65 per cent discount on the land purchase price if it meets the NCC’s minimum requirements.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) has partnered with the NCC on the project.

The NCC, which will use the revenue from the land sale for the larger LeBreton Flats redevelopment, will still receive the $30 million since the CMHC-led Federal Lands Initiative for Affordable Housing will pay the difference.

At least 600 units will be required in the development, which would involve multiple high rises, but the NCC isn’t making any rules about the makeup between rentals and condo-type units.

The affordable housing units would be rentals and at least 180 units would have rent prices that are 80 per cent of the median market rent. The rent discounts would last for at least 25 years.

Paris called the affordable housing component “a big accomplishment.”

Proposals in response to the NCC’s request for qualifications are due on Jan. 15.

[email protected]
twitter.com/JonathanWilling

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...lebreton-flats

I can imagine Roderick Lahey shaking his jar of gray and white lego blocks for inspiration while waiting for phone calls from five developers.

I can see it now:

NCC chooses Claridge for the sole reason that they can sole source 8 million red brick pieces off of Aliexpress. Claridge chooses RLA for architectural services and you’ve reached peak Ottawa.

You forgot about the blank retaining wall at the perimeter of the track, and new residents complaining about rail noise.

Information Session
 

NCC to unveil shortlist of potential contractors for LeBreton library lands in April

By: OBJ staff
Published: Jan 21, 2021 5:46pm EST

The National Capital Commission says it will reveal this spring which applicants meet its criteria to move on to stage two in its search for a contractor to redevelop a prime parcel of land at LeBreton Flats.

The Crown corporation said after its board meeting Thursday it expects to announce in April which candidates will be asked to submit full proposals for the property at 665 Albert St., near the future home of the Ottawa Public Library’s main branch. The project will mark the first stage of the NCC’s long-term plan to rebuild the 55-acre LeBreton Flats site.

The upcoming announcement of the short-listed developers will follow a review of preliminary proposals from applicants, who have until Feb. 8 to submit their vision for the 2.5-acre plot of land. The process was delayed several months during the coronavirus pandemic.

Katie Paris, the NCC’s director of major real estate development, told members of the NCC’s board the tendering process is expected to run from May until November. If all goes according to schedule, construction could begin next year, Paris said.

The NCC’s master concept plan of its vision for the Flats is also scheduled to go before the board of directors for approval at the April meeting.
Millions in new tax revenue

The LeBreton project is expected to create more than 1,700 construction jobs and contribute $13.7 million a year in additional property taxes to the city.

The agency’s latest attempt to redevelop LeBreton Flats comes after the previous consortium that had been chosen to lead the project fell apart amid legal wrangling.

The RendezVous LeBreton Group, a partnership led by Trinity Development Group and Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk, collapsed in late 2018 after Melynk’s Capital Sports Management said it was suing Trinity and executive chairman John Ruddy for $700 million, citing conflicts of interest related to other Trinity projects near LeBreton Flats. Trinity later launched a $1-billion countersuit against Melnyk and Capital Sports Management.

Also Thursday, the NCC said it’s planning to build a new pedestrian and cycling path that will link the Capital Pathway that runs along the Ottawa River with the Pimisi LRT Station at the entrance to LeBreton Flats. A second link would extend west to Bayview Station and connect to the Trillium Pathway.

The agency will hold public consultations on the pathway design later this winter. Pending the board’s approval, construction of the pathway is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

https://www.obj.ca/article/real-esta...ry-lands-april

Dream LeBreton wins - presentation should be posted here shortly
https://ncc-ccn.gc.ca/events/virtual...g-january-2022

601 units, 30 and 35 storey towers, all rental, 41% affordable, 31% accessible... retail and community services... 2026 occupancy

The project isnt connected to the LRT but inculdes large public space area in the form of plazas. Very little renderings were provided.

Building LeBreton Library Parcel Disposal - Federal Land Use and Transaction Approval
Presentation (PPT)
Submission (PDF)

Dream Lebreton (Library Parcel)

The massing of the 2 towers:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...3aa627f2_b.jpg
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c95a1c16_b.jpg
Public Realm:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...ee54c78e_b.jpg

Well that's a hugely disappointing proposal. It's just a couple of apartment buildings. No station connection, no building over the tracks, no concourse, no library connection.

Do the architects of these proposals ever go outside in the Ottawa winter? What is the reason our city doesn't build for the climate? The unenclosed unheated O-train stations, lack of underground and/or +15 connections downtown, listening to a proposal like this that doesn't offer a climate controlled connection to the new library from the new light rail...it baffles me to no end.

I feel like this parcel deserves a bigger investment.

A few more illustrations:

https://i.imgur.com/wA4860uh.png


https://i.imgur.com/RGXZx4hh.png


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

I'm getting some major Carleton University vibes here (and not in a good way), but it seems like these are fairly early drawings of the design. KPMB has done some interesting work (including the office building at zibi) so I imagine the architecture should be high quality.

Some interesting features on the sustainability side - they're using the sewage tunnel below to provide heating and they're planning on integrating solar panels into the facade of the towers.

Also very disappointed that theres no indoor connection from the station towards the library, it's puzzling that the NCC didn't include this in the RFQ requirements. It seems like the only time transit users get continuous shelter in this city is if they're crossing a highway..

I don't mind the effort to maximize greenspace, despite its name the parcel isn't even adjacent to the library. The new mup if it has a wall on one side and a landscaped escarpment on the other can do the job of minimizing the wind which is the real killer.

A direct connection to the station would be challenging. The current entrances are onto Booth Street, and the elevator shaft pretty much prevents them from providing a direct connection to station entrance. They could build a new entrance at the back of the concourse, but that would mean more fare gates and most likely more ticket machines, which my not be worth the expense.

While that would be nice, given that the aqueduct is on the other side of the tracks (and they probably don't want to cover that), I am not sure how much is to be gained by doing that, especially when you consider that the land on the other side of the aqueduct (or even this section of the aqueduct itself) is not part of the any of the LeBreton development package.

I guess I dream too big for Ottawa :haha:

I want to see something built over the station completely, which has been discussed by all parties involved as a possibility. If you build over the station you might as well build over the tracks. The aquaduct has no bearing on that possibility. Here's the parcel on offer:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...7d3a76b8_h.jpgCapture by harley613, on Flickr

Just an FYI this wasn't actually the boundaries of this parcel. It was the piece on Albert and air rights were only an option RIGHT over the station. Over the guideway, as it heads to the tunnel wasn't included.

It wasn't feasible to build over the station for many reasons, not to mention, Pimisi has been open for what? 2 years? Would be a pretty big waste to scrap all of that.

Umm, according to pg. 3 of the presentation, this is the "Library Parcel:"

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

I'm mostly disappointed that this proposal doesn't provide a continuous built edge along Booth and Albert. The site plan shows two buildings that sort of swim in middle the parcel (for the most part). I personally don't mind that there's a short, outdoor walk from Pimisi to the library but I was hoping that walk would be enhanced with an active string of retail spaces, etc.... I need to wait to see how the design develops, there are some positive aspects to what I saw in the presentation but I'm really hoping for better street level interaction.

I was going by this image for the parcel when I drew it on the aerial.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EjqAIfHX...pg&name=medium

Apparently my expectations were totally out of touch for what was actually being planned for this parcel. Those walks to the library on winter days like today are going to be brutal...

Curious about the dashed white lines crossing the tracks just north of the gathering circle... is that a future underpass/overpass of the LRT tracks?


I thought there was ground floor retail/services... and the building design allows you to cut the corner from Pimisi by cutting through the site between the buildings.

These diagrams from Appendix C of the submission to the board explains how the massing was generated.

https://i.imgur.com/r0smT9T.png