General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[umbria27]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

DESIGNATE HISTORIC NOW!!!

—! Move a few — buildings from Sussex, move a bland building at Lansdowne, save a shell of a former school at the back of the Market, save some horse racing track but knock down an architectural masterpiece of a historic department store and a church that was once the heart of the francophone population in Ottawa.

I vehemently agree with this. Ottawa's historic status designation completely reactive. It only kicks in when a property is threatened.
We need a proactive study to identify historic buildings.

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Of course, the best use for the building would be as a church.

Problem is overall church attendance in most religions has been slowly declining for the past few decades. If that trend continues expect more churches to shutdown as they consolidate. And if another religion won't take over the building then there's no point keeping it as an actual church.

[OTSkyline]

I disagree... This is a plaie old small community church (kinda ugly) and isn't much special than any other churches. The building might be in okay condition but who wants it? The churche doesn't want it, the City probably doesn't want it and the developpers definitely don't want it, so why keep it?
If it had a real special meaning (like the first and original Church in Ottawa region or the church where Celine Dion was baptised then I am all for it) , otherwise, sell it to the highest bidder and let's move on, the city has (or should have) higher priorities.

I would agree to incomporating it in the development if it was really nice or a beauty (like the First Baptist Church downtown next to Elgin/Laurier) but this one is ugly anyways.

Anyways, that's my opinion...

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by OTSkyline

I disagree... This is a plaie old small community church (kinda ugly) and isn't much special than any other churches. The building might be in okay condition but who wants it? The churche doesn't want it, the City probably doesn't want it and the developpers definitely don't want it, so why keep it?
If it had a real special meaning (like the first and original Church in Ottawa region or the church where Celine Dion was baptised then I am all for it) , otherwise, sell it to the highest bidder and let's move on, the city has (or should have) higher priorities.

I would agree to incomporating it in the development if it was really nice or a beauty (like the First Baptist Church downtown next to Elgin/Laurier) but this one is ugly anyways.

Anyways, that's my opinion...

I don't find this church (St-Charles) to be ugly at all.

One thing though it that it is shocking how many churches/parishes have disappeared in this part of Ottawa (Vanier-Overbrook). There used to be so many. Also shocking is the number of francophone schools there used to be: at least six by count in Vanier-Overbrook. Now I believe there is only one - granted it is a lot bigger but still... quite the change.

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

Windmill Developments could probably do something interesting with this building and the surrounding lands They're working on a former church in Toronto and the plan looks amazing.

I have to agree with you on this. First I'd like to see it receive some sort of Heritage status though. I really do like the building, especially the bell tower.

There's a church conversion in the Annex in Toronto that looks pretty awesome, and has similar elements to Saint-Charles': The Sanctuary Lofts (requires Flash). Something like this would be pretty nice for the area, I think.

If not a condo, I can also see this as a modern library (see Library/Church conversion in Holland) - Not sure if the area needs or has one... On a side note, I'd love to see some of the libraries in this city incorporate a 3D-Printing/fabrication studio (maybe this one could be the first ).

[S-Man]

DESIGNATE HISTORIC NOW!!!

—! Move a few — buildings from Sussex, move a bland building at Lansdowne, save a shell of a former school at the back of the Market, save some horse racing track but knock down an architectural masterpiece of a historic department store and a church that was once the heart of the francophone population in Ottawa.

These idiots royally piss me off! Oh! two more "historic" things protected for no apparent reason; the monarch and the senate. How much can we save by knocking down those obsolete institutions?

You forgot the church heritage preservation saga's connection to the Rob Ford fiasco, too.

But seriously - I find history alluring and cool, and condos a reality of life that can go anywhere, really. If this is the birthplace of Vanier Francophonism (?), designate it and find a way to keep the structure intact.

I'm thinking maybe that too many people have tried to designate anything 'old' as 'heritage' in past battles, causing the meaning and significance of heritage to become watered down and confused.

Heritage views, heritage grass, heritage this and that....

[waterloowarrior]

News from earlier this year... not sure if the offer went through

Beth Shalom synagogue has conditionally sold its land at Rideau and Chapel streets to a subsidiary of Trinity Development Group (previously sale to Claridge fell through)
http://jewishottawa.com/page.aspx?id=262070

Congregation Beth Shalom has entered into a new agreement to sell its building at 151-153 Chapel Street in downtown Ottawa to Trinity Properties Investments Inc. The potential sale comes about two months after it was revealed that Claridge Homes had walked away from its offer to buy the property, which was announced with great fanfare in November 2011.

The terms of the sale to Trinity are expected to be similar to the original Claridge deal, which had been announced as a base price of about $15 million with possibly up to an additional $9 million to be paid depending on possible zoning changes to the property.

“Trinity is currently in a 90-day conditional period to conduct its due diligence,” wrote Beth Shalom President Ian Sherman in a letter to congregation members, which he also made available to the Ottawa Jewish Bulletin. “When Trinity waives conditions, Congregation Beth Shalom will then have a period of 30 days to approve this new agreement of purchase and sale.”

Sherman said a special general meeting of Beth Shalom members will then be held sometime between May 9 and 25 for members to approve the purchase.

If the sale is approved, the closing date will be December 31, 2013, after which the Conservative congregation will have 60 days to remove religious, historical or sentimental items from the building, which was also home to the Jewish Community Centre before 1998.

here are the previous plans Claridge had for the site..
http://www.cbre.ca/o/torontonorth/AssetLibrary/151Chapel_brochure.pdf

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Beth Shalom synagogue has conditionally sold its land at Rideau and Chapel streets to a subsidiary of Trinity Development Group (previously sale to Claridge fell through)

here are the previous plans Claridge had for the site..
http://www.cbre.ca/o/torontonorth/AssetLibrary/151Chapel_brochure.pdf

You're kidding me! We keep getting slapped with banal junk and fat buildings like Claridge Plaza x4 and the condo next to the Union Canada Building, but this falls through?

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

News from earlier this year... not sure if the offer went through

Beth Shalom synagogue has conditionally sold its land at Rideau and Chapel streets to a subsidiary of Trinity Development Group (previously sale to Claridge fell through)
http://jewishottawa.com/page.aspx?id=262070

here are the previous plans Claridge had for the site..
http://www.cbre.ca/o/torontonorth/AssetLibrary/151Chapel_brochure.pdf

Nice! Maybe they could sell the plans to Trinity?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by S-Man

But seriously - I find history alluring and cool, and condos a reality of life that can go anywhere, really. If this is the birthplace of Vanier Francophonism (?), designate it and find a way to keep the structure intact.

I don't believe that it is the birthplace of the francophonie in Vanier - Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church on Montreal Rd near the cemetery and the Bélisle Chev Olds site is older. But it's still worth preserving the structure in some way I think.

The most significant historic event to take place at St-Charles was the foundation of the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, a secret society that grew to hundreds if not thousands of members across Canada. Also known in common parlance as La Patente.

[kevinbottawa]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

If not a condo, I can also see this as a modern library (see Library/Church conversion in Holland) - Not sure if the area needs or has one...

WOW!!! That library is beautiful!

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I don't believe that it is the birthplace of the francophonie in Vanier - Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes church on Montreal Rd near the cemetery and the Bélisle Chev Olds site is older. But it's still worth preserving the structure in some way I think.

The property is pretty old but not the building itself. The original church bruned down in 1973 and was then completely rebuilt.

The most significant historic event to take place at St-Charles was the foundation of the Ordre de Jacques-Cartier, a secret society that grew to hundreds if not thousands of members across Canada. Also known in common parlance as La Patente.

And you've given me something to read up on. I had forgotten about La Patente.

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

...I can also see this as a modern library (see Library/Church conversion in Holland)...

Now that's a nice looking library!

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by Capital Shaun

Now that's a nice looking library!

Can't go wrong with dutch design

I'd love to see a library like that one in this city, but the pessimist in me says it'll never happen. In the very least, I'd like to see a better central library put in place in the downtown core (like the central library in NYC - actually, I believe Foster and Partners is on schedule to revitalise/modernise that library now too). I thought there was talk of moving the one on Bank to the old Technical High School? They decided to make small adjustments to the existing library, though, did they not?

And speaking of dutch design, does anyone remember many years ago - I think in the 90s - Ottawa being honoured by Holland for our help in WWII? I thought they were going to gift us with a windmill as a token of appreciation, and the city/government turned down the gift? I vaguely recall some backlash from the public too saying the windmill would create too much noise or something (unless I'm imagining that part - or potentially the whole gifting scenario altogether)...I've searched for this story for a while, but have never been able to find any coverage of it. Provided that story was true, it's a shame it never happened...

[NOWINYOW]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Can't go wrong with dutch design

And speaking of dutch design, does anyone remember many years ago - I think in the 90s - Ottawa being honoured by Holland for our help in WWII? I thought they were going to gift us with a windmill as a token of appreciation, and the city/government turned down the gift? I vaguely recall some backlash from the public too saying the windmill would create too much noise or something (unless I'm imagining that part - or potentially the whole gifting scenario altogether)...I've searched for this story for a while, but have never been able to find any coverage of it. Provided that story was true, it's a shame it never happened...

From what I remember, it was to be a rather large windmill, though more showcas than practical as far as energy generation.

One area touted was near Dows Lake. Personally, I think it would have made a great landmark. NIMBYs don't like change and have no vision, so we lost that one. Pity.

[Urbanarchit]

Originally Posted by NOWINYOW

From what I remember, it was to be a rather large windmill, though more showcas than practical as far as energy generation.

One area touted was near Dows Lake. Personally, I think it would have made a great landmark. NIMBYs don't like change and have no vision, so we lost that one. Pity.

What sort of windmill was this? A new one or the old, Dutch type? I could just imagine seeing the older one overlooking Dow's Lake, so majestic it would have been.

Curious, what ever happened the new library? Didn't they say they didn't get enough money so they're renovating the old Main library?

[Capital Shaun]

Originally Posted by NOWINYOW

From what I remember, it was to be a rather large windmill, though more showcas than practical as far as energy generation.

One area touted was near Dows Lake. Personally, I think it would have made a great landmark. NIMBYs don't like change and have no vision, so we lost that one. Pity.

Yep. NIMBYs helped kill the windmill.

[J.OT13]

The city wanted the Alterna Savings site for the new library, but the deal fell through. At that point, they turned in circles for a while trying to figure out a new alternative until they decided on renovating the old one as a mid-term solution.

That site has been bought out by Broccolini back in 2012 (http://www.obj.ca/Real-Estate/Non-reside...3037997/Broccolini-buying-Alterna-land/1). Aside from killing the dream of a new library on the site, it raises the question of when and where Alterna will move its head office once Broccolini decides to develop (possibly a tenant for PdV tower D).

As for Ottawa Tech, they recently reached a deal with the city to rezone for higher density In exchange for the playing field/park/community garden which the city will use as a park.

Deal would trade zoning change for parkland at old Ottawa Tech site

Increased building heights increases value of school board property

OTTAWA — The city is poised to approve a deal that will eventually increase residential density in a small northwest corner of Centretown, while dramatically adding new, urban park space to the downtown core.

City planners recommend raising maximum heights to 22 and 27 storeys for two buildings at the site of the former Ottawa Technical High School, according to a report going to the planning committee next week.

This deal makes the property much more attractive when the Ottawa Carleton District School Board declares the site surplus and sells it off for redevelopment. In return, city takes ownership of the school fields, which will add 0.85 hectares of much-needed park space in the area. The amendment also includes a multi-use pathway that will connect its existing east-west cycling network.

The city and the school board have long been working on this deal, but the official amendment secures the details.

“The new park will create one of the largest new public open spaces in the downtown,” according to the staff report.

The new allowable heights at the school, up from the current 18 and 23 storeys, also helps the city achieve its goals to increase density in an area that is hot for redevelopment. If approved, the new heights will be consistent with the recently approved Centretown community design plan and will match existing highrise buildings in the surrounding area.

The amendment to the city’s official plan focuses on an area identified as Upper Town, which has an irregular boundary that stretches between Bay Street and Bronson Avenue, and then Laurier Avenue at its most southern point and up to Le Breton flats.

Changes will also include the school board’s plans to build a multi-use pathway through the old technical school property to connect the city’s segregated bike lanes on Laurier to the existing multi-use pathways to the west.


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Deal+w...ch+site/8555114/story.html#ixzz2XuGmfPQI

[citydwlr]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

...it raises the question of when and where Alterna will move its head office ...

Alterna moved it's offices to the base of Place de Ville (at the corner of Queen and Kent) a few weeks ago I think. They had a huge shindig and were handing out freebies. I'm not sure if the old office is still populated...

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by citydwlr

Alterna moved it's offices to the base of Place de Ville (at the corner of Queen and Kent) a few weeks ago I think. They had a huge shindig and were handing out freebies. I'm not sure if the old office is still populated...

That wasn't an office they opened but a new flagship branch. The administrative offices are still in the 54,000 square foot building at the Bay/Albert/Lyon/Slater block.