1967 Riverside Dr | up to 53m | 8+15f | U/C

[originalmuffins]

Looks like much needed LTC and retirement care. Looks like a fine plan.

[Ottawacurious]

notice of approval for the noted site plan control application subject to the Owner of the lands fulfilling the requirements has been issued.

[rocketphish]

Approved (August 4, 2023)

[J.OT13]

Quite hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. As far as I can tell, it won't even be linked to the medical building next door (and by extension the Riverside and Transitway station). Not only would that be important to anyone coming in by transit, but also for resident appointments next door.

And what they call "parkland dedication" seems to be nothing more than grass around the building. It's just set-backs they'd have anyway.

[Ottawacurious]

Trees and bushes removed. Yellow fence completely surrounding the site. Looks like it'll start soon too.

Edit: they took down way more trees than I thought they would. Will get a photo.

[Ottawacurious]

I'll try to find some time today to create a post on skyrise Ottawa (way easier to post photos!)

Anyway - I like trees...but recognize they do need to go from time to time to allow construction...but, they've just completely decimated the site. I'm shocked that they removed pretty much every single tree on the construction site. They had a pile of wood shavings over 20' tall that was expediently removed. They've dug up all the roots to (hide) just how many trees and how big of trees they took down.

I don't normally get upset about tree removal but this time, I'm shocked. Photos to follow on skyrise.


Photos now posted: https://skyrisecities.com/forum/thre...7/post-2064072

[rocketphish]

Deal between province, city clears path for private LTC development near Riverside Hospital
Get the latest from Elizabeth Payne straight to your inbox

Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 13, 2024 • Last updated 3 hours ago • 3 minute read

The half-billion-dollar deal announced last month between the City of Ottawa and the province has cleared the path for a privately operated seniors retirement community to be built on land near Riverside Hospital, even though it does not meet the city’s original intended of that land.

The project, by private, for-profit operator Schlegel Villages, will include a 256-bed long-term care home and an adjoining 15-storey retirement residence.

Last summer, city council approved a report recommending the city charge The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) $12.9 million to use the site for the Schlegel Villages development because it did not meet the intended use of the land which was for non-profit health care. The city sold the surplus land around the Riverside to TOH in 2005 for $1. That deal included an agreement that the city could claim back ownership of the land if it wasn’t used for non-profit health-care purposes.

But under the $543-million deal announced by Premier Doug Ford in Ottawa on March 28, the city has transferred the right to receive that $12.9 million financial compensation to the province.

The province has spent billions in recent years to expand for-profit long term care homes, including some with the worst records during the pandemic.

Joel Harden, NDP MPP for Ottawa Centre, says the deal is essentially a gift to the private long-term care operator and does not make sense for taxpayers.

“This is public infrastructure and we have a real need for non-market housing, non-profit long-term care, congregate living, why are we giving this gift to Schlegel Villages?”

Schlegel Villages is one of six of the largest private long-term care operators in Ontario that are facing class-action lawsuits alleging gross negligence during the height of the pandemic. The lawsuits were recently certified, which means they are allowed to proceed, but none of the claims has been proven in court.

A Schlegel spokesperson previously told CBC that the company followed the guidance of Ontario’s chief medical officer of health during the pandemic.

In a statement, The Ottawa Hospital said the development at Riverside, which is now a day hospital, will ensure more access to long-term care beds for those who need it. The hospital, the province and the city have now finalized planning approvals and are proceeding with the development plan for the project.

“TOH looks forward to working with the province, the City of Ottawa and Schlegel Villages to complete the planning of this new development over the next couple of years,” said hospital spokesperson Rebecca Ableson.

The reassignment of the Riverside lands to the province when it comes to financial considerations was a “non-negotiable” part of the $543-million deal between the province and the City of Ottawa.

City Manager Wendy Stephanson said there will be no “loss of property tax dollars” as a result of the agreement.

Schlegel Villages is also slated to build a seniors retirement community on the current site of the Civic hospital after the new campus opens in 2028. The long-term care home planned for the Civic site will include 320 new beds, according to the hospital.

The land the Civic is located on is the subject of a similar agreement with the city to continue its use as not-for-profit health care. The Riverside development is slated to open in the next few years, according to the hospital. The development on the old Civic site would be built after its new campus opens in 2028.

Harden said he was disappointed to learn for-profit long-term care was also part of the future plan for the Civic site.

“This is public infrastructure. I had hoped the Civic could be a hub for seniors that would be non-profit.”

The deal between the province and the city included, among other things, uploading responsibility for Highway 174 to the province and identifying two city sites for modular housing. There will be a new police operations centre in downtown Ottawa.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...rside-hospital

[Ottawacurious]

Follow the money. https://www.rankandfile.ca/schlegel-...ong-term-care/

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

Follow the money. https://www.rankandfile.ca/schlegel-...ong-term-care/

Not surprising. All of Ford's decisions are based on if it can benefit his buddies in the private sector, SUV drivers or alcoholics.

[J.OT13]

This parking lot would be 250 meters from the front door of the Riverside. Alternativly, employees can take the bus, which drops them off directly under the hospital. Seems to me it would be cheaper for the hospital to promote transit use by buying their employees transit passes instead of building and maintaining more asphalt. Not everyone can take the bus, but I'm sure many could.

Alternativly, maybe Doug wants to build a parking garage to serve the Riverside and his freinds who are building the private care faciltiy.

Riverside hospital's neighbours 'blindsided' by potential pitch to turn green space into parking

The land in question, on Sarah Billings Place across the bus transitway from Riverside Hospital, is owned by The Ottawa Hospital.

Elizabeth Payne, Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 26, 2024

People who live near Riverside Hospital say they were blindsided to learn the hospital is considering turning green space in their neighbourhood into a staff parking lot.

Word of the proposed parking lot — a plan for which has not been finalized, according to the hospital — was discovered after a nearby resident asked a surveyor what they were doing on the land.

“How would you like to learn from a surveyor that the green park across from your house was to be developed as a parking lot?” wrote neighbour John Martins in a letter to this newspaper.

The land in question, on Sarah Billings Place across the bus transitway from Riverside Hospital, is owned by The Ottawa Hospital. It is part of the property that was sold to the hospital by the city for $1 on the condition that it continue to be used for non-profit healthcare. Under the deal, the city could claim the surplus land back if it was not to be used for its intended purpose.

Some of that land is green space that has long been used by residents for picnics and play, among other activities, say neighbours. It also serves as a buffer between a quiet residential neighbourhood and Riverside Hospital, they say.

Riverside is now the site of a soon-to-be-built long-term care and retirement home development. The development is aimed at increasing access to long-term care, helping to reduce wait times and improving access to care throughout the health system, said the hospital in a statement.

Construction of the development by the privately owned Schlegel Villages does not meet the original intended use of the land, for non-profit health care. Last year, the city asked TOH to pay nearly $13 million in compensation for the land because of that.

But under a half-billion dollar deal between the province and the City of Ottawa, the city no longer has the right to claim compensation based on land use. That right transferred to the province under the deal, which has essentially cleared the way for the development — which will include a 256-bed long-term care home and an adjoining 15-storey retirement residence — to begin.

In a statement, hospital spokesperson Michaela Schreiter said some existing staff parking is no longer available due to the construction of that long-term care facility.

“To provide more parking for our staff, we are exploring ways to increase parking options at the Riverside campus.”

In recent months, the City of Ottawa has been working on the lot to upgrade the watermain as part of a development project down the road at Bank and Riverside, say neighbours. That involved digging and disturbing the green space, but neighbours said they were assured by the city that the property would be restored to greenspace after the work.

Earlier this year, a resident noticed surveyors on the property and asked what they were doing, to then be told that it was being considered for a 140-vehicle parking lot.

“We are saddened,” said neighbour Anna Chiappa. “It was a beautiful park used by the community.”

It is also the last untouched remnant of what was once land belonging to the historic Billings Estate, said neighbour Patricia Prud’homme, who lives nearby.

Alta Vista Councillor Marty Carr said she was unaware of any plans to consider building a parking lot there until she was contacted by residents.

She said she is meeting with hospital officials, “who were extremely apologetic that they had not informed me.” Carr said she is working to help the hospital look for other solutions.

“My strong preference is we find another location for additional parking,” said Carr. She noted that the Riverside Hospital has a transit stop at its front door.

The hospital has been doing preliminary work, including taking soil samples from the site, but has not made a decision. Doing so would require a site plan application.

“Aside from soil sampling, the hospital has not done any work on the lot at this point,” said Schreiter in a statement, “but we are working with the city to explore the best use of this lot.”

Carr said a potentially complicating factor is Ontario’s Bill 185, The Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, which appears to exempt hospitals and long-term care institutions from some planning obligations. She said the implications of the bill — which has not passed into law – are not entirely clear at this point.

As of now, the city says, building a parking lot on the land requires an application to the city’s planning department.

“The City of Ottawa can confirm that, to date, no application has been received for the construction of a parking lot at this site. As per current regulations, the submission of a site plan would be required prior to the construction of such a facility,” said director of planning services Derrick Moodie.

Neighbours say they fear noise, light pollution and a significant increase in traffic if the proposal goes ahead.

John Martins noted residents were assured by the city that the for-profit development was to be near Smyth Road and there would be no development near Sarah Billings Place in Alta Vista.

“Our neighbourhood has always thought of the Riverside campus as a very valuable part of our community. We are dismayed and disheartened by the hospital’s and the city’s blindsiding us and only learning of this proposed parking lot by accident,” wrote Martins.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...e-into-parking

[stolenottawa]

It's a nice little park, but I've never seen a single person in it. It's really secluded. You have to jump a guardrail from the riverside if you're coming to it from that side.

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by stolenottawa

It's a nice little park, but I've never seen a single person in it. It's really secluded. You have to jump a guardrail from the riverside if you're coming to it from that side.

I'm a bit confused... going back and forth between the article, the plans and google maps. I can't tell where this parking is supposed to be.

also

"Construction of the development by the privately owned Schlegel Villages does not meet the original intended use of the land, for non-profit health care. Last year, the city asked TOH to pay nearly $13 million in compensation for the land because of that.

But under a half-billion dollar deal between the province and the City of Ottawa, the city no longer has the right to claim compensation based on land use. That right transferred to the province under the deal, which has essentially cleared the way for the development — which will include a 256-bed long-term care home and an adjoining 15-storey retirement residence — to begin."

I can't say I am a fan of where Doug Fraud is directing health care in this province, not that the second paragraph is directly related to that.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

I'm a bit confused... going back and forth between the article, the plans and google maps. I can't tell where this parking is supposed to be.

This land is not part of the Schlegel Villages development. "The land in question is on Sarah Billings Place across the bus transitway from Riverside Hospital". And of course the owners of the nice homes on that street, who now overlook a treed greenspace, are upset. But it's not a City park, it's part of hospital-owned land bank, waiting to be developed. Caveat emptor.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

I can't say I am a fan of where Doug Fraud is directing health care in this province, not that the second paragraph is directly related to that.

I agree. The heavy privatization of the health care system is makign the public system worse. There are many links between Doug and these companies. It's not what's best for the poeple of Ontario, but what's best for him and his close friends.

Originally Posted by rocketphish

This land is not part of the Schlegel Villages development. "The land in question is on Sarah Billings Place across the bus transitway from Riverside Hospital". And of course the owners of the nice homes on that street, who now overlook a treed greenspace, are upset. But it's not a City park, it's part of hospital-owned land bank, waiting to be developed. Caveat emptor.

Agreed, what happens with the land is up to the hospital, but we really need to stop with the surface parking lots. I think it would be better for the hospital to sell this land to a developer for housing, and use the money for a parking structure over one of the existing surface parking lots. Or better yet, as I mentionned earlier, buy your employees transit passes.

[ponyboycurtis]

I thought that might have been the parcel.

Please tell me they are keeping the line of trees on the edge of Sarah Billings?? For the love of god please.

Ideally keep all the trees on the edge of the lot.

I would be seeing red if I lived across the street and they clear cut everything.

[TransitZilla]

I was through here today on my bike.

The new MUP that goes around the north of the site is complete and now open. Car access from Smyth has closed and excavation is well underway.

The work for the improved cycling facilities along Smyth and at the ramp terminals seems to be getting underway.

[stolenottawa]

This might be a dumb questions, but why is this proceeding so fast in comparison to the towers at Bank and Riverside?

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by stolenottawa

This might be a dumb questions, but why is this proceeding so fast in comparison to the towers at Bank and Riverside?

Hospital funding. When they get money for a project things happen FAST! Otherwise, there is always the fear that the money could go away or be used for a million other things. It helps that they owned the land already, too.

[DarthVader_1961]

Originally Posted by TransitZilla

I was through here today on my bike.

The new MUP that goes around the north of the site is complete and now open. Car access from Smyth has closed and excavation is well underway.

The work for the improved cycling facilities along Smyth and at the ramp terminals seems to be getting underway.

Wonder what’s holding up the bank and riverside projects? Waiting fir bank street construction ti be completed first?