General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[S-Man]

Four or five stories of well-designed brick or stone will not overwhelm a community, especially one with three-storey old homes and towering trees. It seems pretty appropriate.

I also leave meetings when the questions enter the realm of the insane.

[c_speed3108]

I will post this here until we figure out the name of it:

Meadowlands condo planned near transit hub

Published on June 10, 2011
OBJ Staff
Ottawa Business Journal

A local developer is proposing to replace four rental homes with a 51-unit condo building, near the Baseline Transitway station.

The four-storey condo by Clausi Developments Ltd. will be within feet of Woodroffe Avenue in the west end, where the Transitway runs.

It will also be close by the College Square shopping centre, said a planning document submitted to the city. A comment period is in progress for the application.

"The proposed use ... promotes an efficient, cost-effective pattern of development, is located within proximity to a range of community services and amenities, is well-oriented within the city’s roadway and transit system, and will stimulate economic growth in the city," stated Meloshe and Associates Ltd., the consultants who wrote the report.

Four rental houses currently sit on the 3,057-square-foot property at 145-151 Meadowlands Dr., which is just across the road from the almost-completed Central Archives and Library Materials Centre. The size of the proposed building was not disclosed.

The city is investing millions of dollars into expanding Baseline Station, about 600 metres from the development, with plans to prepare the facility for light rail sometime after 2016

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by Cntrtwnr

Turns out they dropped it to 4 floors with a small amenity room making up the "fifth" floor....and they are spending time on design / mansard roof, dormers etc.. to fit in the neighbourhood. All in all i think they are trying to work with the community...so kudos to them. In spite of this some of the questions / concerns were downright insane....i bailed after the comments stopped making sense....my favourite, "why does the sidewalk look smaller at one end than the other"????..and hey your missing some trees in your diagram...it was too much.

Those kind of questions are not just limited to the Glebe. It is amazing at these types of community meetings, the questions and comments that are asked of the owners.

If left to their own devices, most homeowners would prefer a park next to them (preferably never used but maintained) and any homes near them must be equal in height and density and never at a price less than their own.

[S-Man]

I'm waiting for the outcry over this four-storey "skyscraper" planned for Meadowlands......after all, it's near private homes....and a school!

And don't forget - "no one owns less than two cars! Where are all the cars going to go? There'll be bodies all over the street!"

Anyways........
The people who want vacant lots to remain vacant on both sides of their urban property or to have parks built as a green moat around their house needed to accept the reality of living in the city BEFORE they moved there. One of those realities is that zoning isn't set in stone, and things will eventually change, although on that side of Woodroffe nothing has changed in decades.

[Dado]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I'm waiting for the outcry over this four-storey "skyscraper" planned for Meadowlands......after all, it's near private homes....and a school!

It's about time Meadowlands got some higher density development. East of Woodroffe, it has the potential to become a traditional mainstreet... though I won't bet on it happening any time soon.

And don't forget - "no one owns less than two cars! Where are all the cars going to go? There'll be bodies all over the street!"

Anyways........
The people who want vacant lots to remain vacant on both sides of their urban property or to have parks built as a green moat around their house needed to accept the reality of living in the city BEFORE they moved there. One of those realities is that zoning isn't set in stone, and things will eventually change, although on that side of Woodroffe nothing has changed in decades.

Interesting though, isn't it? We've had BRT there for a couple of decades and not much action but now that the possibility of LRT is in the air, we start to see more intensive development.

[waterloowarrior]

"99 — 107 Parkdale Avenue was another major transaction in the vacant land segment. The property was purchased by 2274911 Ontario Inc. (Urbandale) from a Private Individual for $3,150,000 or $213/sf. It is to be redeveloped with a condominium apartment building."

http://www.juteaujohnsoncomba.com/ms_april2011.htm

[McC]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

"99 — 107 Parkdale Avenue was another major transaction in the vacant land segment. The property was purchased by 2274911 Ontario Inc. (Urbandale) from a Private Individual for $3,150,000 or $213/sf. It is to be redeveloped with a condominium apartment building."

http://www.juteaujohnsoncomba.com/ms_april2011.htm

I didn't think those four houses were vacant...? I'll have to look again next time I walk past. I wonder how ambitious Urbandale will be for a fight, it's a fine site for 12-15 story building, but if 36 storeys is the new normal for Parkdale proposals, who knows?

[S-Man]

Hmmm...with those houses gone in addition to the Soho Parkway, there's not much single-detached presence on that stretch of Parkdale anymore. I could see this being a 16-20 storey proposal, but I'd be surprised if it was trying for the height crown.

[Ottawan]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Hmmm...with those houses gone in addition to the Soho Parkway, there's not much single-detached presence on that stretch of Parkdale anymore. I could see this being a 16-20 storey proposal, but I'd be surprised if it was trying for the height crown.

Although with all the competition for said crown right about now, this might not be such a bad location to make a pass at it.

[kevinbottawa]

I just saw this article from back in February. Not sure if anyone posted it.

The Ottawa Gatineau Film Development Corporation wants to build a film studio on 10 acres of land near the airport. The business plan will be done in September and there are three investors who are interested. CTV did a piece two weeks ago for the 12 o'clock news on Ottawa's film industry. It said the City is hoping to get the Province to eventually provide funding towards the building of a film studio in Ottawa. I imagine this is the project they had in mind.

I hope it goes forward. Along with the CE Centre it would add some nice economic activity to the airport lands.

Direct spending by local film industry hits $23M
Elizabeth Howell
OBJ, February 9, 2010

As business heats up, sector seeks permanent studio space

As he looked for a place to set up camp in Canada, Mr. Dobbin said he shied away from the usual film epicentres of Montreal and Toronto, opting instead to come back to his hometown.

“Ottawa is the perfect place to do (business); it has paid off because ... we’re able to make stories in a more European model, with a higher focus on story and performance and craft,” said Mr. Dobbin, who now runs Quiet Revolution Pictures Inc.

Taking a few minutes for an interview while shooting scenes for Eddie, a dark-comedy film about a painter finding inspiration from a sleepwalking cannibal, Mr. Dobbin said business has been steady for his firm since coming back.

“Ottawa is the perfect place to do it, and because we’re not in Toronto or Montreal, we’re not competing for the same spaces. It gives us an advantage over other colleagues in other cities.”

According to the Ottawa-Gatineau Film and Television Corp., things have never been better. And with business picking up, it is high time for the local industry to find some more studio space.

In Ottawa and surrounding areas, there were 598 shooting days in 2010 across 79 separate productions, up from 403 shooting days in 2009.

What interested OGFT director Roch Brunette more was how much direct spending took place in Ottawa in 2010: $23 million, more than double the $9 million in 2009.

“2009 was not a banner year for anyone; the economy was not doing that well, and that closed down (productions) everywhere, but that was just one factor. The second factor is, we’re doing our homework and it’s starting to show.”

Mr. Brunette and other industry insiders are working on a business plan for a multi-purpose creative industries facility – basically, a ready-built location to shoot movies in studio and do production work on-site.

First formally proposed in a 2008 feasibility study, the facility would include two large studios, a sound stage, a production office and a green screen.

The business plan would not be ready until at least September, but the idea already has traction among some local filmmakers, said Mr. Dobbin.

“Production office space is difficult to find; we rely on short-term leases to set up the infrastructure every time – phones and Internet and studio space,” he said.

Particularly for science-fiction films, which usually require prepared space, “it would be great to walk into a place and have it ready.”

Three investors have confirmed their interest in the facility, Mr. Brunette said, which would be located near the Ottawa International Airport on about 10 acres of land. It’s a location close to highway access but also with plenty of outdoor and indoor shooting space.

The aim is to present Ottawa as a “serious second-tier” film production market similar to locations like Halifax, he said.

But for the coming summer, Mr. Brunette said it would be a juggling act.

“We have no infrastructure in terms of sound stage; nowhere to go. I am scrambling for controlled environments to offer in terms of studio space.

“Regardless of what people say about Montreal and Toronto, their studio space is overbooked. A lot of people (in Ottawa) need those environments, too.”

Here's an excerpt from an OBJ article on June 2, 2011:

Film development head leaves OGFT

Roch Brunette's greatest disappointment is Ottawa's continuing lack of film production space, something he pushed for continuously during his four years heading the Ottawa Gatineau Film and Television Development Corp.

...

In partnership with other industry insiders, Mr. Brunette has been working on a business plan to have a multi-purpose creative industries facility in Ottawa near the airport to shoot movies and do production work.

That project, first proposed in 2008, is still in the works, with the business plan not expected to be finished until this fall.

"The National Capital Region needs this. I can't understand it. Halifax and other small cities in Canada have their own sound stage, and Canada's capital does not," he said.

"I don’t believe we can grow if we don’t give ourselves the right tools. Look at the new Convention Centre already having an impact. It’s part of growing. That is unfortunately something I wanted to see while doing my mandate."

[reidjr]

A movie studio at uplands would be perfect and yes its kind of sad the size of ottawa we don't have one as of yet.

[McC]

Originally Posted by McC

I didn't think those four houses were vacant...? I'll have to look again next time I walk past. I wonder how ambitious Urbandale will be for a fight, it's a fine site for 12-15 story building, but if 36 storeys is the new normal for Parkdale proposals, who knows?

3 of the 4 houses are boarded up.

[S-Man]

About the film development corp.: One 'prominent' city councillor sits on the board of that organization, and is pretty gung-ho about bringing the industry to Ottawa. I agree that the city is very versatile in the number of different, unique locations for filming it has to offer.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by Cntrtwnr

Turns out they dropped it to 4 floors with a small amenity room making up the "fifth" floor....and they are spending time on design / mansard roof, dormers etc.. to fit in the neighbourhood. All in all i think they are trying to work with the community...so kudos to them. In spite of this some of the questions / concerns were downright insane....i bailed after the comments stopped making sense....my favourite, "why does the sidewalk look smaller at one end than the other"????..and hey your missing some trees in your diagram...it was too much.

What developer is behind this project?

[S-Man]

From the OBJ: "The four-storey condo by Clausi Developments Ltd. will be within feet of Woodroffe Avenue in the west end, where the Transitway runs."

I can't imagine that much backlash over this, as the renderings show a four-storey middle section, with three stories being the height near the property lines.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by S-Man

From the OBJ: "The four-storey condo by Clausi Developments Ltd. will be within feet of Woodroffe Avenue in the west end, where the Transitway runs."

I can't imagine that much backlash over this, as the renderings show a four-storey middle section, with three stories being the height near the property lines.

With the hospital expanding and algonquin college expanding i think this building will be a real good fit and i agree i doubt there will be much backlash.

[ThePlanner]

Originally Posted by reidjr

With the hospital expanding and algonquin college expanding i think this building will be a real good fit and i agree i doubt there will be much backlash.

That's not what I've heard. A friend of mine who lives around there told me that the City's development application sign has had to be repeatedly replaced due to several acts of vandalism with an anti-intensification message.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by ThePlanner

That's not what I've heard. A friend of mine who lives around there told me that the City's development application sign has had to be repeatedly replaced due to several acts of vandalism with an anti-intensification message.

Sure there maybe vandalism but is that beeing done by a alot of people or very few my point is i can't see alot of people beeing upset about this project.

[S-Man]

I heard rumours about some discontent regarding this building just today, and it surprised even me, considering its just three storeys at the property line. Only the middle part that sticks up a bit from the roof in the middle requires the upgraded zoning.

It all goes to show the only place intensification of any type would be accepted in Ottawa is in a yet-to-be-developed field outside the suburbs (preferably over the horizon somewhere). I understand people don't want looming towers shadowing their backyard, but three storeys? You'll find them in Barrhaven, Manotick, Lowertown, etc, etc. What 60s bungalow in Nepean doesn't already have two-storey trees and hedges surrounding the property line? Next to a college and a major transit station, theatre and retail, too.......

[Dado]

Well why exactly is it that we're not intensifying in new developments? It seems kind of asinine to intensify only existing areas and then allow new developments to go ahead unintensified, only for them to be intensified a few decades' hence.

It would also be a lot easier to convince people of the value of intensification if it were happening in new developments as well, but all that it looks like to residents now is that they are being asked to intensify for the sake of supporting new areas further out.