Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force

[rocketphish]

EDIT by J.OT13 - Full Report - https://yasirnaqvi.libparl.ca/2024/0...ibrant-future/

Task force to explore ways to 'revitalize' downtown Ottawa

Matthew Lapierre, Ottawa Citizen
Jul 29, 2022 • 1 hour ago • 3 minute read

Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi on Friday unveiled a new task force focusing on revitalizing the city’s downtown core.

The Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force will include affordable and social housing advocates, not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, Indigenous leaders, sustainability proponents and local BIA and tourism representatives.

Speaking at the corner of Laurier Avenue and Bank Street amid office buildings that appeared void of workers, Naqvi said the pandemic had changed the downtown core.

“Office employees working from home to prevent the unnecessary spread of illness no longer walk our downtown streets,” he said. “Local businesses and shops who once relied on the foot traffic related to tens of thousands of people who used to walk these streets … are struggling to find customers. Hotels which were once overflowing with business travellers who needed to be in Ottawa for meetings are now sidelined as virtual meetings and conferences have become more normal.

“Downtown Ottawa has fundamentally changed and frankly, there is no going back to our pre-pandemic norms. Hybrid work is here to stay. It is our job to adapt to this new reality.”

The task force would begin meeting in August, Naqvi said, and over the three subsequent months would continue meeting to discuss and brainstorm ways to “create new innovative and creative solutions for downtown Ottawa’s short and long term revitalization.”

“We know, for example, that our community needs more housing, more affordable and social housing,” Naqvi said. “There is a real opportunity here to look at some of the unused office space and convert them for housing purposes.”

Graeme Hussey, president of the not-for-profit housing developer Cahdco, will serve as co-chair of the task force alongside Claridge Homes vice-president Neil Malhotra.

Hussey said Friday that it was possible to convert unused office space into housing, which, he noted was in dire need in Ottawa and especially downtown. “The largest challenge in a real estate development is about land ownership, not about the engineering science,” he said. “I think the challenge would more be about how to take something owned by the federal government and turn it into something that might be a market, hotel or a condominium or a non-profit housing project.”

The task force’s goals include finding ways to get people and tourists back to the downtown core, to “bring life back into the area,” said Naqvi. They will present their recommendations to various levels of government.

“There is going to be a new council and a new mayor,” said Naqvi. “There’s a great opportunity to be able to advocate those ideas with our new city council.”

There is an urgency to take advantage of the disruption caused by the pandemic, he added, to push for changes downtown.

“My concern as a member of parliament for Ottawa Centre is that without finding ways to bring people back to the downtown core we may descend into a state of disrepair very similar to what we saw in Detroit in the 1990s,” Naqvi said.

Other members of the task force include Centretown Community Association president Mary Huang, Azure Urban Developments founder John Thomas, Ottawa Board of Trade president and CEO Sueling Ching, Ottawa Tourism vice-president Catharine Callary, EVOQ Strategies director Christopher Rivet, Bank Street BIA executive director Christine Leadman and Sparks Street BIA executive director Kevin McHale.

Somerset ward Coun. Catherine McKenney and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury will sit as observers on the board, along with a representative from the Ottawa mayor’s office. Fleury is not seeking re-election in this fall’s vote and McKenny is running instead for the mayor’s office. Incumbent Jim Watson is not running for re-election as mayor.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local...owntown-ottawa

[J.OT13]

Based on this, it sounds like it will be focused on converting office buildings into residential. That's a small part of what is needed to "revitalize" Downtown.

The STO Tram, the ByWard Market plan, the new Alexandra Bridge and everything in between would go a long way to revitalize, yet none of these have official support/funding from the Feds.

I'd argue that this Task Force should include the Island of Hull as well.

[acottawa]

They could make public servants o back to work.

[rocketphish]

Business leaders form part of new task force looking at ways to revitalize downtown core

By: OBJ staff
Jul 29, 2022 2:42pm EDT

A Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force has been struck to tackle the challenges facing the city’s core.

The task force, announced today by Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi, brings together community and business representatives to propose creative ideas for Ottawa’s downtown core, post-pandemic.

“We need to take a deep look at the future of downtown Ottawa with all relevant and interested voices around the table,” said Naqvi in a news release. “With the continuation of hybrid working arrangements and the need for more affordable housing in the area, it is important to create a space for people with diverse backgrounds and expertise to come together to develop new ideas and strategies to reimagine the downtown of Canada’s capital city.”

As a result of the pandemic, downtown Ottawa has changed significantly over the past two years, in large part because downtown office workers from communities across the region have changed their commuting habits. Statistics Canada estimates that 46 per cent of Ottawa’s workforce is still working from home. Elsewhere in the country, that rate is roughly 28 per cent. This has had a significant impact on businesses in the core that rely on daily foot traffic.

In addition, demand for office space has remained between half and two-thirds of the pre-pandemic rate, according to the VTS Office Demand Index.

The task force includes social housing advocates, not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, Indigenous leaders, sustainability advocates, local business improvement area representatives, and tourism stakeholders.

“The creation of this task force comes at the perfect time,” said Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes and co-chair of the task force. “We need to build consensus on a way to move forward to bring activity back to Canada’s national capital and we’re all excited to see what we can come up with as a group representing many different voices within our community.”

The task force will study challenges to affordable, accessible housing in the area, reinvigorate local businesses by catalyzing the return of residents and tourists, provide ideas for a more sustainable environment and more inclusive community spaces that promote Indigenous reconciliation.

“Downtown Ottawa needs more affordable and social housing,” says Graeme Hussey, president of the not-for-profit housing developer Cahdco and co-chair of the task force. “With federal government employees and other office workers remaining at home, the time is right to evaluate what else can be done with all of this empty office space.”

The task force will begin meeting in August and continue over the next several months. Its recommendations will be shared with federal and municipal governments.

The task force members are:

• Graeme Hussey, President of Cahdco (Co-Chair)
• Neil Malhotra, Vice-President, Claridge Homes (Co-Chair)
• A representative from the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition
• Mary Huang, President, Centretown Community Association
• Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
• Christine Leadman, Executive Director, Bank Street BIA
• Kevin McHale, Executive Director, Sparks Street BIA
• Catherine Callary, Vice-President of Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
• John Thomas, Founder, Azure Urban Developments
• Christophe Rivet, Director - Strategies, EVOQ Strategies
• Catherine McKenney, Councillor, Somerset Ward (Observer)
• Mathieu Fleury, Councillor, Rideau-Vanier Ward (Observer)
• A representative from the City of Ottawa Mayor's Office (Observer)

https://www.obj.ca/article/local/bus...-downtown-core

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Business leaders form part of new task force looking at ways to revitalize downtown core

By: OBJ staff
Jul 29, 2022 2:42pm EDT

A Downtown Ottawa Revitalization Task Force has been struck to tackle the challenges facing the city’s core.

The task force, announced today by Ottawa Centre MP Yasir Naqvi, brings together community and business representatives to propose creative ideas for Ottawa’s downtown core, post-pandemic.

“We need to take a deep look at the future of downtown Ottawa with all relevant and interested voices around the table,” said Naqvi in a news release. “With the continuation of hybrid working arrangements and the need for more affordable housing in the area, it is important to create a space for people with diverse backgrounds and expertise to come together to develop new ideas and strategies to reimagine the downtown of Canada’s capital city.”

As a result of the pandemic, downtown Ottawa has changed significantly over the past two years, in large part because downtown office workers from communities across the region have changed their commuting habits. Statistics Canada estimates that 46 per cent of Ottawa’s workforce is still working from home. Elsewhere in the country, that rate is roughly 28 per cent. This has had a significant impact on businesses in the core that rely on daily foot traffic.

In addition, demand for office space has remained between half and two-thirds of the pre-pandemic rate, according to the VTS Office Demand Index.

The task force includes social housing advocates, not-for-profit and for-profit housing developers, Indigenous leaders, sustainability advocates, local business improvement area representatives, and tourism stakeholders.

“The creation of this task force comes at the perfect time,” said Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge Homes and co-chair of the task force. “We need to build consensus on a way to move forward to bring activity back to Canada’s national capital and we’re all excited to see what we can come up with as a group representing many different voices within our community.”

The task force will study challenges to affordable, accessible housing in the area, reinvigorate local businesses by catalyzing the return of residents and tourists, provide ideas for a more sustainable environment and more inclusive community spaces that promote Indigenous reconciliation.

“Downtown Ottawa needs more affordable and social housing,” says Graeme Hussey, president of the not-for-profit housing developer Cahdco and co-chair of the task force. “With federal government employees and other office workers remaining at home, the time is right to evaluate what else can be done with all of this empty office space.”

The task force will begin meeting in August and continue over the next several months. Its recommendations will be shared with federal and municipal governments.

The task force members are:

• Graeme Hussey, President of Cahdco (Co-Chair)
• Neil Malhotra, Vice-President, Claridge Homes (Co-Chair)
• A representative from the Ottawa Aboriginal Coalition
• Mary Huang, President, Centretown Community Association
• Sueling Ching, President and CEO, Ottawa Board of Trade
• Christine Leadman, Executive Director, Bank Street BIA
• Kevin McHale, Executive Director, Sparks Street BIA
• Catherine Callary, Vice-President of Destination Development, Ottawa Tourism
• John Thomas, Founder, Azure Urban Developments
• Christophe Rivet, Director - Strategies, EVOQ Strategies
• Catherine McKenney, Councillor, Somerset Ward (Observer)
• Mathieu Fleury, Councillor, Rideau-Vanier Ward (Observer)
• A representative from the City of Ottawa Mayor's Office (Observer)

https://www.obj.ca/article/local/bus...-downtown-core

Nobody from the arts/performing arts communities?

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They could make public servants o back to work.

It is getting a bit weird, isn't it. Especially when they increasingly look like the wheels have fallen off.

[Admiral Nelson]

Originally Posted by acottawa

They could make public servants o back to work.

Return to the office is the better phrase unburdened with the insinuation that federal public servants haven't been working for the past 28 months.

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

46% of the workforce is still working from home?? Good grief! I don't know how proper business relationships are formed by zoom.

46% of the workforce probably performs work that doesn't involve client-facing service delivery.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Admiral Nelson

Return to the office is the better phrase unburdened with the insinuation that federal public servants haven't been working for the past 28 months.



46% of the workforce probably performs work that doesn't involve client-facing service delivery.

That was exactly what I was insinuating. I am sure some are working really hard from home. Significant numbers are not, not always out of personal choice (many don’t have the tools or space to work from home properly or have jobs that aren’t conducive to home work).

[acottawa]

Just to be slightly more specific

1. A lot of systems have not been set up for remote access (files are still on paper, secure computer systems only work at the office). A lot of this work has simply been neglected (I suspect a lot of the passport backlog is due to this).
2. “Bullshit time” is no longer semi work related. People used to read publications related to their work, chat with colleagues at the water cooler, go for coffee with colleagues, usually chatting about work, getting ideas for a project. Now bullshit time is spent with neighbours, pets.
3. A lot of people are putting their hours in, but it is spread out over 14 hours instead of a concentrated work day. That’s okay if you don’t require interactions with coworkers, but if you do then routine interactions and approvals take way longer than they should.

[lrt's friend]

46% of the workforce is still working from home?? Good grief! I don't know how proper business relationships are formed by zoom.

The last time I was downtown a week ago, the market and other parts of downtown were pretty dead in the middle of the day, and the trains were mostly empty at rush hour.

As it said in the article, downtown Ottawa could quickly become Detroit.

Everything that is happening will quickly kill off business downtown and building conversion will not solve this because this will take way too long.

We need solutions fast. Repeated downtown street closures whether short-term or long-term are not helping. That just says, stay away.

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

46% of the workforce is still working from home?? Good grief! I don't know how proper business relationships are formed by zoom.

The last time I was downtown a week ago, the market and other parts of downtown were pretty dead in the middle of the day, and the trains were mostly empty at rush hour.

As it said in the article, downtown Ottawa could quickly become Detroit.

Everything that is happening will quickly kill off business downtown and building conversion will not solve this because this will take way too long.

We need solutions fast. Repeated downtown street closures whether short-term or long-term are not helping. That just says, stay away.

Maybe the weekends could be filled with lots more events and activities to attract people... but I doubt this task force can do much about that on short notice for this year.

Even if the remaining ~%50 of workers felt it was a good idea (or safe enough) to go back to their offices - it's not really in their own financial interest to do so. Although a lot of them may miss getting out of the house, socializing at work, eating out at lunch etc... - do they really want to spend the time and money they're already saving by not commuting?

I can only assume that office to residential conversion is real long term method of increasing the downtown weekday population, assuming WFH remains popular for a high % of workers and employers.

Anyone know what the average cost of building a new apartment/condo downtown is per square foot vs an office conversion? I assume it's faster to convert - and if it's cheaper as well... This could be a net positive to the cities vacancy rate - and make a dent in the affordability problem.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

46% of the workforce is still working from home?? Good grief! I don't know how proper business relationships are formed by zoom.

The last time I was downtown a week ago, the market and other parts of downtown were pretty dead in the middle of the day, and the trains were mostly empty at rush hour.

As it said in the article, downtown Ottawa could quickly become Detroit.

Everything that is happening will quickly kill off business downtown and building conversion will not solve this because this will take way too long.

We need solutions fast. Repeated downtown street closures whether short-term or long-term are not helping. That just says, stay away.

I think 46% is exclusively working from home. I know a few acquaintances who have posted on social media that they went into the office for the first time recently, or will be going 2 days a week starting in September etc.

I was in Portage yesterday and granted it was a Friday but I can't believe it is even 10% of capacity. a handful of cafes were open and I saw maybe 5 people in the public area.

The idea that it doesn't impact service is questionable when all the measurable parts of the public service are seeing service levels drop. But I don't think it is the public service's job to worry about downtown Ottawa.

Housing is pretty entrenched already and growing fast. Yes I know they would love the feds to donate a building to put some subsidized housing into the market but I really don't see how this rescues the area either.

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

My point here was that a new balance is coming. There's either going to be some component of WFH or simply many of these jobs shipped out of Ottawa. Might as well start planning for that.



There will still be plenty of employment downtown. It just may not be as much of the PS as there is now.

Where are these new downtown jobs coming from? Diversifying is the mantra of every 1 industry town (or nearly so in our case). WFH or moving out of Ottawa are both a serious threat to our urban vibrancy.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Where are these new downtown jobs coming from? Diversifying is the mantra of every 1 industry town (or nearly so in our case). WFH or moving out of Ottawa are both a serious threat to our urban vibrancy.

As long as there are jobs in an office, companies will seek to place them in the most central location they can. I have zero doubts that any space freed up by the feds in the core will go to other industries.

A worse outcome for the core would be PS at 50% WFH while still retaining all that real estate in the core.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

As long as there are jobs in an office, companies will seek to place them in the most central location they can. I have zero doubts that any space freed up by the feds in the core will go to other industries.

A worse outcome for the core would be PS at 50% WFH while still retaining all that real estate in the core.

I really doubt there is a huge demand for central Ottawa office space that would quickly be snapped up if Feds leave.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I really doubt there is a huge demand for central Ottawa office space that would quickly be snapped up if Feds leave.

Quickly? No. Eventually? Yes.

This is a function of the feds having an outsized influence on downtown commercial real estate.

[lrt's friend]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

I think 46% is exclusively working from home. I know a few acquaintances who have posted on social media that they went into the office for the first time recently, or will be going 2 days a week starting in September etc.

I was in Portage yesterday and granted it was a Friday but I can't believe it is even 10% of capacity. a handful of cafes were open and I saw maybe 5 people in the public area.

The idea that it doesn't impact service is questionable when all the measurable parts of the public service are seeing service levels drop. But I don't think it is the public service's job to worry about downtown Ottawa.

Housing is pretty entrenched already and growing fast. Yes I know they would love the feds to donate a building to put some subsidized housing into the market but I really don't see how this rescues the area either.



Where are these new downtown jobs coming from? Diversifying is the mantra of every 1 industry town (or nearly so in our case). WFH or moving out of Ottawa are both a serious threat to our urban vibrancy.

Is this really wise to create large pockets of low income housing anywhere in the city? I thought that current best practices encourages housing for wide income levels to avoid the ghetto effect.

[YOWflier]

I think everyone knows what he meant. And I agree.

Work from home was supposed to be a temporary measure due to pandemic. Now, it’s become permanent.

“Hybrid” work is a cute buzzword but from what I’ve seen there’s little balance to it. I’ve heard of entire branches going into the office a token once-monthly and calling that “hybrid”. It’s a joke.

They should have returned to pre-pandemic rules allowing for telework 2-3x weekly.

[Truenorth00]

The PS may have issues, but the reality is that the world of work has changed and whatever balance is found isn't likely to be 100% in the office anymore. It's not just the PS, I don't know a single office worker where WFH is lower than 40%. And going forward, I know of several companies that are actually downsizing their real estate portfolio. I expect the PS will also get there eventually when they figure out Office 2.0.

Relying on the Public Service to keep downtown vibrant is dumb. The PS doesn't exist to make downtown Ottawa vibrant. And indeed, that fixation is partly why Ottawa has struggled with making downtown vibrant.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

The PS may have issues, but the reality is that the world of work has changed and whatever balance is found isn't likely to be 100% in the office anymore. It's not just the PS, I don't know a single office worker where WFH is lower than 40%. And going forward, I know of several companies that are actually downsizing their real estate portfolio. I expect the PS will also get there eventually when they figure out Office 2.0.

Significant numbers of private sector employers want their employees back in the office.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/retu...come-back.html

The recent earnings report of shopify (which zealously embraced WFH) may be a wake up call.

Governments will eventually catch up.

There are some jobs that can be done remotely effectively, but I think those are going to be under significant pressure for outsourcing and unions are shooting themselves in the foot.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Significant numbers of private sector employers want their employees back in the office.

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/08/retu...come-back.html

The recent earnings report of shopify (which zealously embraced WFH) may be a wake up call.

Governments will eventually catch up.

There are some jobs that can be done remotely effectively, but I think those are going to be under significant pressure for outsourcing and unions are shooting themselves in the foot.

Business execs can say a lot of things. But look at what is happening on the ground.

https://www.curbed.com/2022/06/hybri...mote-work.html

Also, I personally know a few engineering outfits that are absolutely scaling back their real estate footprint. Some tech companies had standardized remote work long before Covid, including hot bunking cubicles and flexible workspaces, etc. The rest of the world had to catch-up to where they were post Covid. And that will obviously be an adjustment. Some places will be ahead of the curve and some behind.

The idea that we're 100% going back is laughable. If you know anybody in HR, you can get them to explain why to you. Ask them how recruiting for 100% in office is going. Could be a good way to downsize the public service though. Just insist on zero WFH. Not sure how that would help downtown Ottawa though.

On topic, counting on the feds to generate foot traffic in the core is a policy failure. The city should know better.