City seeks interest for development of former Bayview school site
‘I want this done right’: Coun. Brockington
By Erin McCracken
Ottawa South News, Feb 17, 2016
An invitation has been issued to gauge potential interest in a vacant parcel of land where the Bayview Public School once stood.
The city, which owns the property at 3071 Riverside Dr. in the Riverside Park community, is now – through its Ottawa Community Lands Development Corporation – seeking expressions of interest from developers and builders who may have ideas for the future development of the site.
“It’s just an opportunity to see what folks are thinking,” said River Coun. Riley Brockington.
“The corporation, which is at arms-length from the city, (is) charged with the responsibility of, at the end of the day, marketing this property for development (and) is in a very preliminary fashion announcing to the development community that the city is prepared to market, dispose (and) sell this property.”
The request for expressions of interest, issued on Feb. 10, is “a non-binding, non-mandatory initiative,” said Brockington, which is designed to determine what developers may have in mind for the parcel of land, but in keeping with guidelines established by the city with help from local residents.
“It’s still zoned institutional for a school, but (developers) were informed that there was a community concept plan that was developed, that’s been approved by council,” said Brockington.
Residents living in proximity to the vacant lot were invited to submit their wishlists for the site during former River Coun. Maria McRae’s tenure, and then by Brockington after he was elected.
He received 80 submissions from residents last fall.
“We are firm on it’s going to be low and medium density, residential,” he said, adding building heights would be capped at six storeys and the lot is serviceable.
According to the request for interest document, the city first purchased the land from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board in 2011 with the goal of preserving 0.8 hectares of green space at the site and to either “maintain or replace” the former Bayview school's sports field at the southwest corner of the lot.
The corporation, in its document, also states the site will have to be rezoned from institutional to accommodate future development.
Letting potential interested parties know in advance there is a concept plan in place is important so they are not misled about what can be built there.
“Put all the cards on the table – what are your ideas for this?” Brockington said.
The maximum area to be developed is 4.3 hectares.
The property’s entrance and egress points have also been flagged by the city, and “can or may be” situated off Riverside Drive and Springland Drive, Brockington said.
But that concept plan isn’t set in stone.
“There could be some minor tweaks based on lessening the impact on the neighbouring residents,” he added.
Though there is a limit on maximum building heights under the current zoning, there is a hill on the east side of the property closest to Holy Cross Catholic elementary school. For that reason, staff are looking into different configurations to lessen the impact of building heights and reduce a possible loss of privacy for residents living nearby.
The city’s planning, parks and recreation and real estate staff and Brockington are currently discussing where a park could go on the site.
In the lead-up to a March 10 deadline to submit expressions of interest, parties can request to have a confidential meeting with the development corporation to discuss development options and proposals.
The city plans to issue a request for offers on the property in May, before choosing the preferred offer and then completing a purchase-and-sale agreement by the end of this year, according to the request for interest document.
Construction at the site likely won’t happen before late 2017, Brockington said, adding that rezoning and other approvals from the city are needed first, as well as a public consultation meeting, among other steps.
“I want this done right,” he said. “This will not be rushed.”
To see a copy of the request for expressions of interest, go online to bit.ly/1Xs3dF7.
Erin McCracken is a reporter/photographer with Metroland Media’s Ottawa South News. She can be reached at
[email protected].
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-...velopment-of-former-bayview-school-site/