SOHO Italia [500 Preston St] | 96m | 30 fl | Completed

[cityguy]

Maybe the first few floors of the podium will be used for parking.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

The think that really bugs me with Diane Holmes is that she is never in favour of anything tall. It is fine and dandy to say this doesn't work here or that doesn't work there, but a city needs tall buildings to grow (unless you want sprawl). At some point you have to be supportive of building something tall downtown somewhere. You can't oppose everything. I have never seen her suggest an alternative site or anything...it is just no, no, no, no all the time.

I agree with you...she is forever bemoaning sprawl, the suburbs, car-centric lifestyles, road expansions etc, but if a proposal is brought forward in her ward, she fights tooth and nail against it if there is any semblance of density etc.

To me, she is the ultimate back seat driver...always complaining without any concrete ideas.

[BlueJay]

Originally Posted by cityguy

Maybe the first few floors of the podium will be used for parking.

Below is a quote taken from Joanne Chianello, of The Ottawa Citizen about the proposal.



"The plans for the building call for the first two levels to be a museum or pavilion of some kind that will “highlight the Italian community,” said Lahey. On top of that would also be about four levels of parking, disguised by digital billboards, like a mini-Times Square. (There’s also a provision for underground parking as well.) The condos themselves would start on the seventh floor".



Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Rising+controversy/4123074/story.html#ixzz1BOOodjhG

[c_speed3108]

Reading through various articles an opinions this morning I suspect a few things will happen.


-This will eventually end up in 25-30 story range
-The Italian History is unlikely to happen.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by c_speed3108

Reading through various articles an opinions this morning I suspect a few things will happen.


-This will eventually end up in 25-30 story range
-The Italian History is unlikely to happen.

Even at 25-30 feet it atleast i think be a nice fit i would like 35 but 25-30 would not be all that bad.

[jitterbug]

Anyone want to bet what the actual number of storeys this building will be (assuming it ever gets built)? OK, I'll start: After the usual backroom negotiations, the final count will be 24 floors.

With key councillors (Diane Holmes and planning committee chair Peter Hume) cool to this proposal, not to mention tepid community support, it'll be nearly impossible to get 35 storeys, no matter how much we like the design and height.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by jitterbug

Anyone want to bet what the actual number of storeys this building will be (assuming it ever gets built)? OK, I'll start: After the usual backroom negotiations, the final count will be 24 floors.

With key councillors (Diane Holmes and planning committee chair Peter Hume) cool to this proposal, not to mention tepid community support, it'll be nearly impossible to get 35 storeys, no matter how much we like the design and height.

Preston is not as bad as some other areas such as the glebe and westboro will it be 35 floors i doubt it 30 would not be out of the question.

[Davis137]

I think 25-27 Floors will likely be the maximum this gets approved for. Ottawa seems to have a real zest for buildings that are 27 floors and under...

Mind you, I agree that the developer is asking for such a large structure's approval, knowing in advance that it'll get shot down, but will likely get something approved that is still taller than the original 19 storey building. I'd likely use similar tactics if I was in their position. Makes sense to point out the additional tax revenues from more addresses on the same plot of land, and that they've already got 2-3 other projects being built, or soon to be built already. I think that they have a pretty decent position to work with right from the get-go.

Ideally, they'd be wise to purchase the neighbouring property and include that in the development, in the event the Setback Nazi's show up...

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Davis137

I think 25-27 Floors will likely be the maximum this gets approved for. Ottawa seems to have a real zest for buildings that are 27 floors and under...

The funny thing is people complain about urban sprawl so a project like this comes along that would address some urban sprawl and people complain about this its to tall etc.What some fail to grasp is to end urban sprawl you go this way taller buildings you can say no to taller buildings an d no to urban sprawl.

[Davis137]

Same thing is going on in Hamilton too...The suburbs being built out by Rymal road are massive, as are the newer ones going up in Stoney Creek (up on the mountain), and others in Dundas too. Hamilton has buildings that are in excess of 27 stories (I think the "Landmark", formerly the Century 21 building, is 45-48 floors tall), but they seem to want to limit anything new going up downtown to stay under 15 floors, if it even gets built at all. I don't get it.

Honestly though, I'd be happy if they approved that original 19 floor building for that location, as it will allow for MORE towers to get built in that part of the city over time.

[McC]

Lots of new drawings (of dubious accuracy) from different perspectives:
http://westsideaction.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/soho-italia-the-developers-proposal/

[c_speed3108]

There doesn't seem to be much approved in Ottawa over about 27-28 unless it is situated on a large site with set-backs...a la the Metropole, or even Le Parc (a bit older)

No doubt the developer is leaving themselves some negotiation space.

[citizen j]

As much as I'd like to see this get built, the formula for approval is:
final height = proposed height - (proposed height x 0.16)
approved height rounded down to the nearest number divisible by itself and Diane Holmes' salary.
*subtract an extra 3 storeys for the following neighbourhoods: Westboro, Glebe, Centretown.
If result is a negative number, you may build a Shoppers Drug Mart and a Drive-Thru Tim Hortons.

[c_speed3108]

That is what will go on the ground floor when the musium inevitably gets nixed...A shopper's drug mart...and perhaps a Tim's if there is sufficient space.

[AuxTown]

Originally Posted by citizen j

As much as I'd like to see this get built, the formula for approval is:
final height = proposed height - (proposed height x 0.16)
approved height rounded down to the nearest number divisible by itself and Diane Holmes' salary.
*subtract an extra 3 storeys for the following neighbourhoods: Westboro, Glebe, Centretown.
If result is a negative number, you may build a Shoppers Drug Mart and a Drive-Thru Tim Hortons.

lol so true

[adam-machiavelli]

I'm hesitant to approve of this until I see a full shadow study. I don't think it would be right to plunge Preston Street pedestrians and cyclists into darkness, especially in winter. Also, given our already dark winters, I think they should use a brighter coat of paint on the base. Finally, if the museum plan falls through, there should be a guarantee that the space will remain for public use, such as low-cost rented space for non-profit organizations or an arts facility.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by jitterbug

With key councillors (Diane Holmes and planning committee chair Peter Hume) cool to this proposal, not to mention tepid community support, it'll be nearly impossible to get 35 storeys, no matter how much we like the design and height.

Is community support tepid?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Davis137

Ideally, they'd be wise to purchase the neighbouring property and include that in the development, in the event the Setback Nazi's show up...

I think I hear them marching already.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by adam-machiavelli

I'm hesitant to approve of this until I see a full shadow study. I don't think it would be right to plunge Preston Street pedestrians and cyclists into darkness, especially in winter. Also, given our already dark winters, I think they should use a brighter coat of paint on the base. Finally, if the museum plan falls through, there should be a guarantee that the space will remain for public use, such as low-cost rented space for non-profit organizations or an arts facility.

It's a building shadow, not a Balinese dragon eating the sun. Since the earth rotates about its axis, any given property, other than those immediately north of the building, will be in shade for a brief period in any given day.

Pedestrians and cyclists seem to manage downtown, with all of its 20+ storey buildings, quite fine. Maybe they can give some tips to Preston Street pedestrians and cyclists on how to deal with the everlasting night that this one building will cause.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by blackjagger

Lets hope that they only provide .5 parking spots per unit as the site is about two steps to rapid transit.

Cheers,
Josh

The would-be buyers are likely going to be buying for the view of Dow's Lake, not access to rapid transit, so they're going to want their parking spaces, which, it turns out, will mainly be above grade (4-5 storeys of above ground parking, 3-4 of below grade). For those lucky enough to get one of the above grade spaces, that means a shorter elevator ride to their cars and even less reason to consider taking transit.

Of course the fact that the would-be buyers will likely be buying for a view also means they'll be mighty annoyed when someone comes along to develop the un[der]developed properties either side of Preston at Carling with even taller, wider buildings. The SOHO Italia condo association will be first in line opposing any new development to the south and will have the finances to hire high-priced talent to make their case, something that the current community can't afford to do.