327 Richmond Rd | 30m | 9f | Approved

[Urbanarchit]

I was browsing through Main and Main's website to see what work they have, and noticed something for the northeastern corner of Churchill and Richmond. However, it's in the "Past Projects" section.

Ottawa
Assembled 30,150 square feet of land on the north east corner of Richmond Street + Churchill Avenue.
Proposal called for a 12 storey mixed-use building with 8,375 square feet of retail and a total projected density of 200,611 square feet.

[Hybrid247]

Ugh... All these new ugly condos on Richmond are slowly destroying Westboro's character. What a shame.

[Urbanarchit]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Ugh... All these new ugly condos on Richmond are slowly destroying Westboro's character. What a shame.

As someone from the area, I have no problem with them. In light of how expensive the city and these neighbourhoods have gotten, we need more apartments and condos. Unless people want to have them on their residential streets (people definitely don't want them there), and considering there is a moratorium on 3-storey apartment buildings in Westboro, we're rather limited where these sorts of buildings can be placed. It's better when they're built on empty lots and restore retail and street-frontage continuity to the street. I would love to see the garage beside the above proposal developed with something. There are several buildings along the stretch that I think are much better than what was there before, and is improving the street. But I do concede that Main & Main's proposal for the corner is not appealing whatsoever.

I think the two buildings that are there now should be kept and renovated (I believe the brick building on the corner has a crumbling foundation on Churchill last I checked). I do think that there are several buildings on Wellington and Richmond that should be kept (even if they're not heritage). Yet, as the proposal I posted was on their "past projects" section, I imagine it might not be legitimate. They did have a building for Preston Street a while ago that was never officially proposed and is now missing from their website; so, who knows what this is about. This building is incredibly terrible in appearance and massing, that even I wouldn't support it. I think I could tolerate 6-7 storeys at this corner with a setback from Churchill and Richmond, to be honest.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Urbanarchit

As someone from the area, I have no problem with them. In light of how expensive the city and these neighbourhoods have gotten, we need more apartments and condos. Unless people want to have them on their residential streets (people definitely don't want them there), and considering there is a moratorium on 3-storey apartment buildings in Westboro, we're rather limited where these sorts of buildings can be placed. It's better when they're built on empty lots and restore retail and street-frontage continuity to the street. I would love to see the garage beside the above proposal developed with something. There are several buildings along the stretch that I think are much better than what was there before, and is improving the street. But I do concede that Main & Main's proposal for the corner is not appealing whatsoever.

I think the two buildings that are there now should be kept and renovated (I believe the brick building on the corner has a crumbling foundation on Churchill last I checked). I do think that there are several buildings on Wellington and Richmond that should be kept (even if they're not heritage). Yet, as the proposal I posted was on their "past projects" section, I imagine it might not be legitimate. They did have a building for Preston Street a while ago that was never officially proposed and is now missing from their website; so, who knows what this is about. This building is incredibly terrible in appearance and massing, that even I wouldn't support it. I think I could tolerate 6-7 storeys at this corner with a setback from Churchill and Richmond, to be honest.

I do agree that the area could use some more dwelling units, I just don't think that it's appropriate to replace the existing 2 buildings there with that monstrosity, especially when the next door lot is a much better candidate for redevelopment. There are many other more appropriate locations nearby to place large residential towers, like on McRae avenue and near Westboro Station (the area immediately north of the station). There's also the corner lot at Churchill and Scott where the old weightwatchers building use to be.

It would just be a shame to see that red brick building at the corner get torn down for an ugly condo building. I bought my first bike in that building when it was a small sports shop, so I suppose there's some sentimental value there for me.

[CityTech]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

I do agree that the area could use some more dwelling units, I just don't think that it's appropriate to replace the existing 2 buildings there with that monstrosity, especially when the next door lot is a much better candidate for redevelopment. There are many other more appropriate locations nearby to place large residential towers, like on McRae avenue and near Westboro Station (the area immediately north of the station). There's also the corner lot at Churchill and Scott where the old weightwatchers building use to be.

It would just be a shame to see that red brick building at the corner get torn down for an ugly condo building. I bought my first bike in that building when it was a small sports shop, so I suppose there's some sentimental value there for me.

On further reflection, yeah I can agree. As long as the city ensures that adequate lands along Scott Street have generous zoning to allow large scale redevelopment, I'd be all in favour of a strict six story height limit on the traditional mainstreet portion of Richmond (from Tweedsmuir to Golden). It makes more sense to concentrate large scale development closer to the future LRT stations anyways.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by CityTech

On further reflection, yeah I can agree. As long as the city ensures that adequate lands along Scott Street have generous zoning to allow large scale redevelopment, I'd be all in favour of a strict six story height limit on the traditional mainstreet portion of Richmond (from Tweedsmuir to Golden). It makes more sense to concentrate large scale development closer to the future LRT stations anyways.

Yup, I think that would provide a nice balance of increasing the amount of transit-oriented housing units in the area and preserving the traditional look and feel of Richmond

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

Ugh... All these new ugly condos on Richmond are slowly destroying Westboro's character. What a shame.

How so?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How so?

If you can't see it for yourself, there's nothing we can do for you.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

How so?

It's developments like this I'm referring to. There's more and more of them popping up along Richmond.

Personally, I would like to see more development like this.

[Urbanarchit]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

It's developments like this I'm referring to. There's more and more of them popping up along Richmond.

Personally, I would like to see more development like this.

While I'm not a huge fan of the current Q West development (it's not that bad but the design and material colours could be better), it's a lot better than what was there before. I don't miss what it used to be (small Canadian Tire with half the site as a parking lot, an empty lot of a former Canadian Tire gas station, and a 10 foot concrete wall across the street.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Urbanarchit

While I'm not a huge fan of the current Q West development (it's not that bad but the design and material colours could be better), it's a lot better than what was there before. I don't miss what it used to be (small Canadian Tire with half the site as a parking lot, an empty lot of a former Canadian Tire gas station, and a 10 foot concrete wall across the street.

That is certainly true. It is an improvement in that regard. In this case, though, the proposed development at Richmond and Churchill would not be an improvement IMO.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Hybrid247

It's developments like this I'm referring to. There's more and more of them popping up along Richmond.

Personally, I would like to see more development like this.

The difference being... ?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The difference being... ?

The amount of set-backs on the upper floors. Q West is just a 6-10 storey canyon along the street, blocking out the sun. It doesn't have that human scale. Not particularly inviting.

The second example continues the line of low-scale main-street shops. It allows light to reach street-level. It doesn't have that over-barring presence. It maintains the character of the area while still allowing for a slight increase in density.

Granted, their wasn't as much "character" wroth saving where Q-West stands today, at least from the street. Ashcroft could have put in more effort to try and bridge the gap between Westboro and Wellington West with a development that better replicates the traditional main-street feel we enjoy at both ends today instead on trying to maximize profits.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

The difference being... ?

J.OT13, explained the difference very well - probably better than I ever could - so I won't bother repeating it. I just want to ask: how can you not see the difference? Q West is overly imposing and makes no effort to incorporate the traditional style and scale of buildings you see further down the street along Richmond and Wellington. On the other hand, the building at the corner of Eden and Richmond clearly makes an effort to mimic the storefront character that you typically see along the rest of the street, and the upper floors are set back from the street and clad in material that makes them less conspicuous.

[waterloowarrior]

Trinity and Timbercreek purchased the property last year
https://obj.ca/article/trinity-timbe...folio-purchase

[J.OT13]

Main+Main's proposal was an absolute atrocity. IMO, they are the worst developer in town. Worse than Claridge. Thankfully, it seems M+M have pulled out of Ottawa maybe?

This intersection is a signature area in Westboro, with character buildings from different eras at all four corners.

The City should do everything in its power to preserve the character of urban main streets line Bank, Wellington West and Richmond. In Westboro, heights along the street should be 2 to 4 floors tops. Exceptions at neighborhood gateways (as we've seen at Broadview and Island Park for Westboro).

On this particular site, I would want to see the red brick building and attached mid-century beige building preserved. The mechanic next door should be developed at 2 floors along Richmond and Winona, stepping up towards the north to no more than 4-5 floors.

[Hybrid247]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Main+Main's proposal was an absolute atrocity. IMO, they are the worst developer in town. Worse than Claridge. Thankfully, it seems M+M have pulled out of Ottawa maybe?

This intersection is a signature area in Westboro, with character buildings from different eras at all four corners.

The City should do everything in its power to preserve the character of urban main streets line Bank, Wellington West and Richmond. In Westboro, heights along the street should be 2 to 4 floors tops. Exceptions at neighborhood gateways (as we've seen at Broadview and Island Park for Westboro).

On this particular site, I would want to see the red brick building and attached mid-century beige building preserved. The mechanic next door should be developed at 2 floors along Richmond and Winona, stepping up towards the north to no more than 4-5 floors.

Spot on. That intersection is the heart of Westboro. Replacing any of the existing buildings there with a bland condo building would completely alter the character of the area. Indeed, it's the old mechanic's lot next door that could use some redevelopment if anything.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by Urbanarchit

I was browsing through Main and Main's website to see what work they have, and noticed something for the northeastern corner of Churchill and Richmond. However, it's in the "Past Projects" section.

I hate when developers have great projects in Toronto but bring crap to Ottawa.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I hate when developers have great projects in Toronto but bring crap to Ottawa.

So far, we've at least been lucky with Mizrahi, Urban Capital and Lamb. We'll have to reserve judgement on Mizrahi's project until it's complete, but so far he's set the bar high when it comes to engaging the public, and architectural design. And I know some people who have bought in to Urban Capital and Lamb projects have had issues, which could be an issue in TO too, we don't know, but their projects are good architecturally compared to other Ottawa developments.

[CityTech]

That project would be replacing a vacant lot. I fail to see how vacant lots and garages and such are better for the "character" than desperately needed new housing.