1509 Merivale Rd | 2 x 33m | 2 x 9f | Approved

rocketphish · #1 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 12:09 AM**

Katasa Developments is proposing to redevelop the property at 1509 Merivale Road to construct a nine (9) storey residential apartment building with 203 units and two storeys of underground parking. The redevelopment of the subject property will require the demolition of the existing commercial strip mall and the adjacent surface parking lot, and remediation of contaminated soils. This Site Plan Control application is for the first of two (2) phases planned for the subject property; Phase 2, which will be the subject of a future Site Plan Control application, is proposed to approximately mirror the Phase 1 building on the south end of the subject property.

The building footprint is u-shaped, framing one half of an internal courtyard. A single vehicular access off Merivale Road is proposed, providing access for servicing, move-ins, pick-ups/drop-offs, and the underground parking garage. A second vehicular entrance, from the existing City-owned laneway, is proposed to be constructed during Phase 1. All parking, except for eight short-term visitor parking spaces, will be located below-grade.

Architect: RLA Architecture

Development application:
https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D07-12-21-0233/details

Location:

Siteplan:

Renderings:

Dzingle Bells · #2 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 5:23 PM**

oh my god. this is awful.

roger1818 · #3 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 5:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dzingle Bells

oh my god. this is awful.

I beleive those are just conceptual drawings for zoning approval and will look nothing like the final product. Having said that, given what the site looks like today, even with those awful drawings it would still be an improvement. My hope is they have some street level retail.

Harley613 · #4 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 6:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger1818

I beleive those are just conceptual drawings for zoning approval and will look nothing like the final product. Having said that, given what the site looks like today, even with those awful drawings it would still be an improvement. My hope is they have some street level retail.

It's Roderick Lahey 'Architecture'...It'll probably look just like the drawings, if not worse...

Edit: I wouldn't mind if it didn't have retail at all. I think Merivale could use some de-retailing and residential close to the road to break up the endless mini-malls and parking lots.

roger1818 · #5 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 7:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

Edit: I wouldn't mind if it didn't have retail at all. I think Merivale could use some de-retailing and residential close to the road to break up the endless mini-malls and parking lots.

While I agree that the current look of endless mini-malls set back from the road to make room for vast parking lots is not very becoming, quality street level retail (minus the parking lots) would be a step towards making Merivale more walkable. Making the building purely residential would create a dead zone on the street and would ensure it will always remain car centric.

Multi-modal · #6 Posted **Feb 25, 2022, 7:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by roger1818

While I agree that the current look of endless mini-malls set back from the road to make room for vast parking lots is not very becoming, quality street level retail (minus the parking lots) would be a step towards making Merivale more walkable. Making the building purely residential would create a dead zone on the street and would ensure it will always remain car centric.

Speaking of car centric, the car access to/from Merivale Road should not be permitted. It is not allowable per the new Official Plan. All car access should be provided via Kerry Crescent or the lane to/from Capilano Drive.