General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[AuxTown]

I think the redevelopment and possibly a Rideau Centre expansion into the land adjacent to the mall (including the old department store) are crucial to the success or failure of the neighbourhood. There's going to be close to 1000 people moving into new condos on Rideau Street within the next 2 years, probably the largest population influx that area has ever seen. That gap storefronts and anything remotely appealing to pedestrians really disconnects the condos from the parliamentary district. Should be interesting to see if/when the mall gets their act together for a proposal.

[Rathgrith]

^^ You could still sort of do it. Try the Garden above the mall. I think its open.

[Deez]

I swear you're stalking me harls

[harls]

I'm going to get you in a photo one day, I swear.

[waterloowarrior]

previously mentioned by Deez... Nate's Deli proposal - 6-14 stories.... Claridge
http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2008/02-12/ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0033.htm

[adam-machiavelli]

From that report I found the curmudgeon of the year...

Complaint # 5: "I don’t want this building to become a student ghetto with continuous loud partying."

[clynnog]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

From that report I found the curmudgeon of the year...

Complaint # 5: "I don’t want this building to become a student ghetto with continuous loud partying."

Well that quote managed to incorporate 2 of the main complaints of all NIMBY's...i.e rental units and noise. The others are decreased property values, increased taxes, increased traffic, loss of privacy, increased shadowing

[Ottawade]

I actually LOL'd when I read that part

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

From that report I found the curmudgeon of the year...

Complaint # 5: "I don’t want this building to become a student ghetto with continuous loud partying."

If you read in the "Amenity Area" section of the amendment, in mentions that there will be no balconies- so all the noise should be confined to the inside anyway!

[Deez]

accidently deleted this stuff...

[market3]

anyone know whats proposed for 310 rideau (steves music) and directly east of richcraft galleria?

[Cre47]

http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2008/02-12/ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0031.htm

More low/mid rises proposed for Central Park Drive - correct me but I think that it is near the Baseline/Merivale area.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by market3

anyone know whats proposed for 310 rideau (steves music) and directly east of richcraft galleria?

That's the same project as the the "Nate's deli proposal" mentioned above. ^^

[market3]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

That's the same project as the the "Nate's deli proposal" mentioned above. ^^

ok but there is also a poposal directly beside the galleria. for a 16 story building

[Deez]

I walked by the Galleria today and saw the zoning amendment sign. 16 storeys, 113 unit condo building. Shows how hot the market is right now.

I would imagine it's another Richcraft job and I'm pretty sure this one is going to be eaten alive by Action Sandy Hill...and I don't really blame them. The site has quite a number of attractive buildings (and no surface parking) and 16 storeys is way out of wack with King Edward's midrise apartment flavour.

JUST BUY THE DAMN PARKING LOT ACROSS THE STREET!!

[harls]

I tried another shot of the three downtown cranes from Lyon/Lisgar area. Not too impressed with this one.

[AuxTown]

That's a nice pic, the sky just wasn't cooperating. Next time we have a nice sunny day try to head out to that same spot and I bet it will look 10x better.

[Deez]

The sign from the proposal spotted by market3:


The continuing demo of the Rideau Centre parking garage:

[Deez]

I also found a little bit of background about the property requesting a permit to extend surface parking in the market.



From a December 1999 City of Ottawa report:

The original approval of surface public parking on this property for a temporary period was
granted on December 21, 1988, conditional on Site Plan Control. Prior to this , the site had been
utilized for public parking illegally for two years following a fire which destroyed the heritage
residential building on the property. A second application was submitted June 26, 1991 and
approved March 18, 1992 for a three year extension to the temporary zoning status. The most
recent application for a three year extension was submitted December 6, 1994. On the
recommendation of staff a one year extension was granted by City Council to provide time for
the owner to prepare for another use of the property. This decision was appealed to the Ontario
Municipal Board (OMB) and the appeal upheld to allow temporary surface parking for three
years until June 20, 1998. The subject application was submitted August 5, 1998 for another
three year temporary zoning period.
The reversal of City Council’s decision at the OMB on this matter caused concern that the
Official Plan policy direction was not adequate to effectively discourage temporary surface
parking. Since this OMB decision staff have been conducting a study of temporary surface
parking in the Central Area and inner city neighbourhoods with the intent to clarify City
Council’s position on this issue. The results of this study will be presented to Planning and
Economic Development Committee within the first quarter of 1999. As this information has not
been presented or any findings endorsed by City Council, it was considered premature to apply
it to this case. For this reason staff have recommended that an extension of the temporary
zoning permission for surface parking be granted for three years, following which the
conclusions of the study can be utilized to evaluate the appropriateness of temporary surface
parking at this or any other site in the Central Area and inner city neighbourhoods.

Seems pretty clear that they don't want to develop the lot...

[waterloowarrior]

from the Action Sandy Hill site

Planning and Development:
1. 594 Rideau (at Charlotte) - Richcraft
- OMB meeting planned for March 3, 2008.
- Neighbours may now all be united in their opposition to Richcraft's variance request
- Richcraft may now stand alone in appealing the Community Design Plan
- ASH position: We support the Community Design Plan as well as projects that comply with it (Richcraft proposal does not).


2. Claridge development on Rideau (former Nate's)
- plan a 14 storey building, 270 rental units, 70 parking spaces, 37 metres high at western edge and 19 metres at eastern edge along Rideau and 19 meters on Besserer
- CDP allowed for 37 meter height for 50% of property from western edge along Rideau, zoning by-law allowed for 80%, Claridge is using about 65%
- Claridge is asking for rezoning for reduced parking allowances, and reduced 'amenity' space
- no FSI, just a 'footprint', meaning they probably plan to increase density
- by purchasing Nate's, Claridges has inherited appellant status re OMB hearing in March on CDP, if rezoning permitted Claridge will drop the appeal
- Robert attended the neighbourhood meeting with developer, also attended by our Councillor who supports the project.
ASH position: Robert is bringing the display boards for this project to help explain it to the ASH Jan. 28 meeting. Also Robert has plans to do the same for the board of the Landsbourgh Condo on Besserer.


3. Besserer Street (next to Richcraft development at #200)
- Robert has received a heads up from City planner that a request has come through to erect a 16 storey, 113 unit building. Street is zoned for 12 storeys
- Richcraft is the developer and they are seeking a rezoning to increase the height allowed, reduce or eliminate the green space and reduce loading requirements
- This Richcraft development will share underground parking with the 200 Besserer Richcraft project
ASH position: Need to get further info from the city planner handling this project