General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[rocketphish]

Former Ottawa city councillor Mathieu Fleury named Cornwall CAO

Standard-Freeholder staff
Published Aug 28, 2023 • 3 minute read



Mathieu Fleury, a former long-time city councillor in Ottawa, has officially been introduced as Cornwall’s new chief administrative officer.

Cornwall Mayor Justin Towndale and city councillors approved the hiring of Fleury as new CAO, effective Monday.

“The City of Cornwall is excited to welcome (Fleury) to the role (of CAO),” Towndale said in a news release on Monday afternoon. “With his background as a city councillor and chair of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Mr. Fleury is a great fit to help move Cornwall forward.”

Fleury, 37, has been hired to a five-year term. He most recently served as interim executive director of J.W. MacIntosh Community Support Services, a Williamsburg-based organization that provides housing and community support services to seniors and other adults, where he led a comprehensive organizational review, solidified its financial accountability, spearheaded its Accreditation Canada certification process and positioned the organization for future growth.

Fleury’s long track record of public service also includes 12 years as an elected municipal official in Ottawa and, previously, as policy adviser in the federal government. He has not worked as a municipal employee at any level, and takes over management of a staff team in Cornwall that includes 640 full-time positions, along with hundreds of other part-time employees, and is responsible for direct oversight of five general managers, the paramedic services chief, the fire chief, a strategic planning co-ordinator, and the city’s communications co-ordinator.

He takes over the Cornwall position for Mark Boileau, whose last full-time role with the city during what has been a 37-year career with it was interim CAO, a position he was appointed to late in 2022, just after Maureen Adams announced she was leaving the position to become CAO for SDG.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mark Boileau for acting as interim CAO, well past his retirement date,” Towndale is quoted saying in the statement. “His efforts ensured that the city kept running while we completed our recruitment efforts.”

Fleury, who attended the University of Ottawa, graduating with a masters in health sciences, in the city news release said he’s looking forward to working with city employees to deliver on council priorities. Fleury said he will immediately get to work addressing Cornwall’s infrastructure deficit, preparing for climate-change impacts, addressing housing needs, revitalizing main streets, offering safe, attractive spaces for seniors and youth, and welcoming newcomers, among other priorities.

“When it comes to finding solutions to challenges, collaboration is key,” Fleury said. “Together we can accomplish so much and I look forward to working with the Cornwall team to deliver for residents.”

Fleury is married to his wife, Lai. The couple have a son, Jacob, and a daughter, Adele.

Biographical information the city put out on Fleury includes his experience in public policy, infrastructure renewal, affordable housing, governance, and government relations.

As chair of Ottawa Community Housing, Ottawa’s largest landlord with 32,000 residents, he oversaw several multi-year strategic plans, and pioneered a new path for the construction and renewal of 10,000 new affordable housing units in Ottawa. Fleury’s extensive service on local boards includes local Business Improvement Areas (ByWard Market, Rideau and Vanier), The Shaw Centre, and Ottawa Public Health.

He served as Ottawa’s Sport Commissioner, having founded the Ottawa Sport Council, the Rideau Winter Trail and the Ottawa Basketball Network, and was instrumental in the expansion of the Ottawa Art Gallery, the reconstruction of La Nouvelles Scène and the reinvestments in Arts Court.

He was first elected in the Rideau-Vanier ward in 2010 at the age of 25, and re-elected in 2014 and 2018. He announced in early 2022 that he would not seek re-election.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-new...wcm/2df8763c-91f7-4b32-8e37-c0c3d4a6bc30

[J.OT13]

he was a Policy Analyst at the Feds before becoming a City Councillor? Isn't that a fairly high ranking job for a guy in his mid-20s? I thought he was at the City (recreation department or something).

But anyway, wonder if he had applied for the top job in Ottawa, lost, and decided to move to Cornwall instead.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

he was a Policy Analyst at the Feds before becoming a City Councillor? Isn't that a fairly high ranking job for a guy in his mid-20s? I thought he was at the City (recreation department or something).

But anyway, wonder if he had applied for the top job in Ottawa, lost, and decided to move to Cornwall instead.

Could have been a junior policy analyst.

[shelltime]

Looks like the City of Ottawa has determined that none of the Transit Stations need to be upzoned as per Bill 23, where municipalities are required to upzone major transit station areas within one year of the OP being approved. I guess this is a sign for things to come with the New Zoning By-law. They will never properly zone properties and we will have spot zoning forever.

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0067/details

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by shelltime

Looks like the City of Ottawa has determined that none of the Transit Stations need to be upzoned as per Bill 23, where municipalities are required to upzone major transit station areas within one year of the OP being approved. I guess this is a sign for things to come with the New Zoning By-law. They will never properly zone properties and we will have spot zoning forever.

https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0067/details

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

I thought they had already pre-upzoned.

[shelltime]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

I thought they had already pre-upzoned.

Only St Laurent Station

[Williamoforange]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

No money to be made by the City in upzoning when spot rezonings can provide revenues. The City of Ottawa will be dragged into Bill 23 conformity dragging and screaming.

London Ontario is putting forth the idea of permitting 4 units as-of-right on every lot, and Ottawa planning management thinks the MTSA zoning is good to go, while the head of planning committee is fighting two separate 12 story devs within MTSA, where the ZBA they had to apply for is supported by staff... The very staff that's now stating that the zoning of these MTSA are good.....

Yet I'm told Ottawa planning is doing a good job so far

[shelltime]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

London Ontario is putting forth the idea of permitting 4 units as-of-right on every lot, and Ottawa planning management thinks the MTSA zoning is good to go, while the head of planning committee is fighting two separate 12 story devs within MTSA, where the ZBA they had to apply for is supported by staff... The very staff that's now stating that the zoning of these MTSA are good.....

Yet I'm told Ottawa planning is doing a good job so far

Policy Planners having a tantrum because the province is telling them what to do. Development Review planners know they'll lose at OLT... Council bending over to NIMBYs. Gotta love it

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by shelltime

Policy Planners having a tantrum because the province is telling them what to do. Development Review planners know they'll lose at OLT... Council bending over to NIMBYs. Gotta love it

Perfect summary. I attended a virtual meeting when Bill 23 came out and the City's response/reaction and it was all just 'woe is me' and pushback and the City knows best attitude. They will be brought into the new Bill 23 world kicking and screaming and trying to delay yet claiming that they want to work with the 'industry' to bring more housing to the market.

[RogueNacho]

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

I have been wondering about this lot for a very long time. It's within the view plane restriction, so I can't imagine you're seeing a clump breaker, but it would be nice to see a decent building fill the space.

[RogueNacho]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I have been wondering about this lot for a very long time. It's within the view plane restriction, so I can't imagine you're seeing a clump breaker, but it would be nice to see a decent building fill the space.

Correct, it will not be a clump breaker, but the colour and architecture will be something different compared to the usual Ottawa business.

[OTSkyline]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

Nice, excited to see! I've been wondering when that lot would be filled after the old dilapidated apartment building was torn down. I wonder if there will be pushback because it will mean the end of the temporary park that was put there. Yes, I know it was temporary, but do other people know that?

With the 2x Loop towers, the 2x Tribeca towers, the Met and this one, this little pocket of the CBD should be very active and have lots of density!

[Harley613]

I wonder if the style will tie into 150 Elgin, being that Morguard owns both this lot and that adjoining building.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by RogueNacho

Can't say too much at this time due to client confidentiality...but recently I've seen some preliminary plans for a proposed residential tower at 151 Metcalfe Street (the vacant parcel behind the shopify building). Having seen the early draft renders, let me be the first to say that I think you guys will like this one. Keep an eye on this site in next few months for when the proposal eventually goes public.

Good to hear. Looking forward to seeing it!

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

Nice, excited to see! I've been wondering when that lot would be filled after the old dilapidated apartment building was torn down. I wonder if there will be pushback because it will mean the end of the temporary park that was put there. Yes, I know it was temporary, but do other people know that?

With the 2x Loop towers, the 2x Tribeca towers, the Met and this one, this little pocket of the CBD should be very active and have lots of density!

I really liked the old apartment building that used to occupy the site. it was quite nice, but was in severe disrepair. The brick wall fell at one point and was poorly patched.

I really appreciate that they covered the site with grass and included a cut-through path instead of paving it over for a parking lot.

There shouldn't be any complaints about the loss of the park since it's mostly off limits thanks to a fence. There should be no confusion. Emphasis on shouldn't, but I'm sure some people will still play that card.

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.4197878,...dP11i4ftdag!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Marshsparrow]

Wasn't sure where to post this - but 1%ers really have their issues - just wait until intensification and 30+ storey apartment blocks land in their area of the city!

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/rockcliffe-par...spring-of-cascading-complaints-1.6578806

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Marshsparrow

Wasn't sure where to post this - but 1%ers really have their issues - just wait until intensification and 30+ storey apartment blocks land in their area of the city!

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/rockcliffe-par...spring-of-cascading-complaints-1.6578806

Call a whambulance

[J.OT13]

Groupe Mach from Montreal, who owns Place Bell, is considering replacing the parking garage with residential high-rise. They are also working on a 400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer.

Groupe Mach to replace former DND building on O’Connor Street with new residential tower

David Sali, OBJ
October 31, 2023

==SNIP==

The biggest buy of them all came last spring, when the Montreal firm partnered with family office investor Sarees Investments to purchase One60 Elgin from Toronto-based H&R REIT for $277 million.

At one million square feet, the 27-storey tower at 160 Elgin St. is the city’s fourth-largest office building. Opened in 1971, the building underwent an extensive renovation between 2015 and 2017 that included tens of millions of dollars in improvements, such as the addition of a 39-foot-by-115-foot curved glass wall that surrounds the main entrance.

With a tenant list that includes the federal government, Bell Canada, satellite equipment powerhouse Telesat and two of Ottawa’s largest law firms, Gowling WLG and Kelly Santini LLP, One60 Elgin instantly became the crown jewel in Groupe Mach’s collection of Ottawa assets.

Its vacancy rate of around 10 per cent is par for the course for a class-A asset in the downtown core as landlords and tenants grapple with the new reality of hybrid work.

“A lot of the institutional owners are shying away from office in general,” Chiara said. “They think this asset class has a bleak future, and therefore a lot of pressure is being put on them to dispose of these assets – whether it’s market pressure, whether it’s board pressure or long-term strategic pressures.”

But Chiara sees lots of life yet in the 52-year-old building, even if many experts believe the office sector faces an uncertain future. He notes that the weighted average lease term of One60 Elgin’s tenants is about eight years, long enough to allow the sector to recover.

“We’re starting to see signs of people coming back to the office,” he said. “I think some of the large employers are starting to put pressure on their employees to come back because they’re starting to lose some efficiency … by having their employees work at a distance.

“We definitely think that if and when (the office sector) comes back, One60 Elgin is definitely going to be at the top of your list if you’re setting up shop in downtown Ottawa because it is one of the premier properties as far as location and quality goes.”

https://obj.ca/groupe-mach-to-replace-former-dnd-building-with-residential-tower/

[SL123]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Groupe Mach from Montreal, who owns Place Bell, is considering replacing the parking garage with residential high-rise. They are also working on a 400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer.

https://obj.ca/groupe-mach-to-replace-former-dnd-building-with-residential-tower/

"400 unit project near Place du Portage in Hull, to break ground next summer."
Any idea where that could be?