Zibi Ottawa Ontario | U/C

[acottawa]

Short article on the Ottawa side of the development
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/windmill-proposes-15-storey-building-for-chaudiere-island

[waterloowarrior]

Devapps
OPA http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__96DQ45
Zoning http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__968ZDX
Site Plan http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__9682J0

[Boxster]

Nice renderings and site plan!

I hope I see this project in my life time.

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Devapps
OPA http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__96DQ45
Zoning http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__968ZDX
Site Plan http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__9682J0

[rocketphish]

The Concept Plan:
http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%...ence_D01-01-14-0008%20Concept%20Plan.PDF

The Planning Rationale:
http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%...01-01-14-0008%20Planning%20Rationale.PDF

There are some pretty awesome Renderings in here:
http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%...eference_D01-01-14-0008%20Renderings.PDF

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by acottawa

Short article on the Ottawa side of the development
http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/windmill-proposes-15-storey-building-for-chaudiere-island

Windmill proposes 15-storey building for Chaudière Island

Matthew Pearson More from Matthew Pearson
Published on: May 26, 2014Last Updated: May 27, 2014 8:50 AM EDT

Windmill Development Group’s plan for Albert and Chaudière islands is part of the company’s larger, billion-dollar development known as the Isles, which includes former Domtar lands on both sides of the Ottawa River. Of the seven development districts, Chaudière west, Chaudière east and Albert Island are under the City of Ottawa’s jurisdiction, which last week posted the company’s detailed applications to its development website.

From open space to mixed-used zoning

Windmill wants a mixed-use downtown designation for property currently zoned parks and open space to allow for a variety of uses, including residential, retail, office, hotel, cultural and open spaces. The company is also seeking a break on parking location and building separation; it doesn’t anticipate any parking on Albert Island and proposes a minimum building separation of 15 metres (the official plan generally requires 23 metres between buildings more than 10 storeys tall).

Sky’s not quite the limit

The tallest buildings Windmill is proposing on the Ottawa side would be 15 storeys; the tallest building in Gatineau would reach 24 storeys. Windmill says introducing tall buildings on the Gatineau side will help to reduce the wall effect created by the federal government’s Portage complex. On Albert Island, three- to six-storey buildings are proposed; on Chaudière west, various heights from two to 15 storeys are proposed, while heights ranging from three to 14 storeys are proposed for Chaudière east.

Islands in the sun

Albert Island is a small island on the far south of the site. Its size, coupled with the presence of some existing heritage buildings and structures, means parking opportunities are somewhat limited and, as a result, restricts new buildings of any height or density. Windmill is proposing a new pedestrian and bike crossing at the west end of the island to provide a crossing to the south shore of the river and to Chaudière Island in the north.

Speaking of which …

Chaudière west is envisioned as a lively, mixed-use area with several residential buildings and densities on the west end of the island, as well as an urban plaza, park and views of historic Chaudière Falls. It’s neighbour to the east will also be a mixed-use area featuring a hotel, condos, event space, and another public square and park. An existing underground bunker will be converted to function as a multi-level underground parking garage to serve all three Ontario districts.

What’s a woonerf?

As part of its plan to limit vehicle traffic, Windmill says it will employ woonerfs, an idea popularized in Europe that dictates that the street is shared by all users, with pedestrians and cyclists prioritized. Cars will still be able to use the street, but the layout will not encourage vehicles beyond what is necessary. An example of a woonerf in Ottawa is Cambridge Street North, between Somerset Street and Primrose Avenue.

Getting around

The Ottawa components of the Isles project are located just north of what will soon be Pimisi station, the renamed Lebreton Transitway station that will soon be served by light rail. Windmill’s master plan integrates existing transit connections across Chaudière Bridge and adds transit stops at two locations along the corridor. One drawing also suggests there will be a shuttle service on the redeveloped lands, not to mention numerous connections to bike paths.

What’s next?

Lots. Windmill has always said the project, if approved, could take 15 years to complete. In the meantime, the public has until June 20 to comment on the rezoning application, which will make its way to the planning committee later this summer. Windmill has also filed applications to the City of Gatineau, including a zoning bylaw amendment.



http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/windmill-proposes-15-storey-building-for-chaudiere-island

[rocketphish]

Old Domtar lands a big brownfield

By Jon Willing, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 05:13 PM EDT | Updated: Tuesday, May 27, 2014 05:23 PM EDT

The company redeveloping the old Domtar lands on the Ottawa River could be eligible for a big tax break from the city to help pay for soil cleanup.

As part of its rezoning application filed at City Hall, Windmill Developments has submitted an environmental assessment of the ground conditions of the Booth St. islands behind the Canadian War Museum.

The study estimates there is 87,300 cubic metres of contaminated soil at the old industrial properties on Chaudiere and Albert Islands.

It will be no surprise to anyone with knowledge of the site's history, since the islands were used for pulp and paper production since the late 1800s. Production stopped in 2006.

Windmill's consultant, DST Consulting Engineers, also notes in its environmental report that it will be conducting groundwater tests.

An earlier assessment done for the National Capital Commission showed potential evidence of fuel tanks, a waste burner, coal storage and chemical leaks on the lands.

Windmill wants to transform the lands, which span the Ottawa River, into a mixed-use complex with condos, retail stores, office space, a hotel and parks.

Part of the proposed development is also on the Gatineau waterfront.

The city's brownfield policy helps pay up to 50% of the total cost of rehabilitating lands.

The priority is to remediate contaminated properties in the central area and those within 600 metres of rapid transit stations.

A soil remediation plan has not been filed with the planning application at Ottawa City Hall.

[email protected]
Twitter: @JonathanWilling

http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/05/27/old-domtar-lands-a-big-brownfield

[Temperance]

The master plan looks to have exceptionally thoughtful and livable neighbourhoods. The one thing which I thought could use a bit more attention in the plan is general public amenities (beyond parks). What will the visitor's centre in the Chaudhiere Falls be like? Will there be any more public facilities or cultural facilities? I would hope there would be for a project of this scale. Are there interpretive elements? What type of retail environment will there be? A public market would be a great addition as would some kind of performance venue or gallery. Some docks would be great or even a water taxi.

[Temperance]

Not to take things off topic here but what should happen with Victoria Island if this goes through? I would like to see some low-medium density live/work retail and apartments emphasizing heritage elements (possibly with adaptive reuse and brick infill) in the western half of the island, and the eastern half could be mostly parkland with the proposed aboriginal center as well. The waterfront on the western half should be lined with restaurants with a path, docks (for canoes and small boats), and pedestrian foot bridges to Chaudiere and the mainland.

[J.OT13]

Victoria Island is and will always be NCC land therefore, it will always be "Nationally Significant grass".

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by Temperance

Not to take things off topic here but what should happen with Victoria Island if this goes through? I would like to see some low-medium density live/work retail and apartments emphasizing heritage elements (possibly with adaptive reuse and brick infill) in the western half of the island, and the eastern half could be mostly parkland with the proposed aboriginal center as well. The waterfront on the western half should be lined with restaurants with a path, docks (for canoes and small boats), and pedestrian foot bridges to Chaudiere and the mainland.

I'm not trying to demean your question or anything, but Victoria Island isn't part of this development. As J.OT says, it's an NCC property, which means that it will likely never be developed, and if it ever was it almost certainly wouldn't resemble your good ideas. We could start another thread to discuss it though...

[m0nkyman]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Victoria Island is and will always be unceded native land controlled by the NCC therefore, it will always be "Nationally Significant grass".

Fixed that for you.

[JM1]

It is clear to me that the islands will not be car or even bus friendly:

1. Cars will have limited parking (especially for visitors to the islands).
2. Busses will cause congestion and pollution on the bridges as they stop in the middle of traffic.
3. Busses will delay passengers traveling interprovincially if they loop onto side roads.
4. While pedestrian and bicycle access will be ideal, many will not find it viable in the winter months.

But there is a great solution: the urban gondola!

Imagine a gondola that ascends from LeBreton LRT station, making two intermediate stops on the two main blocks of the Isles development, before continuing on to Place du Portage, or better yet, to the Rapidbus Line (up Montcalm over the creek).

The urban gondola would provide year-round access. It would also provide continuous service (no waiting). And it would connect to Ottawa's LRT and could connect to Gatineau's Rapidbus without introducing any new street traffic.

Oh, and it would provide a scenic ride!

If there is no good transportation, we will have great riverside dining and shopping opportunities, but nobody will be able to get there (meaning the businesses will eventually die).

[WannabeLandscapeArch]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Victoria Island is and will always be NCC land therefore, it will always be "Nationally Significant grass".

Now that's funny!

WRT the renderings and planning rationale, I believe there are some sound principles and some that may not be feasible in the proposed location. For example, I do not believe urban agriculture should ever be planned as they have it in the rendering in between two pathways with water draining down ect. With the Ottawa River being the most important migratory bird corridor in the Ottawa area, I feel that ecological restoration is ideally suited to this site, as most of the areas within the City adjacent to the Ottawa River on the Ontario sides are manicured lawns. When you have a forested area in conjunction with rapids it creates a special spot- anyone who's ever been to the Mud Lake/ Britannia Conservation area adjacent to the Deschenes Rapids can attest to this. I know it was touched on in the planning rationale, but I feel they could do more with this concept integrated with green infrastructure. Rather than Urban Agriculture I believe edible shrubs/ other edible native plants and trees would make for a stronger concept. I love this project- looking forward to seeing how it progresses

[Temperance]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

I'm not trying to demean your question or anything, but Victoria Island isn't part of this development. As J.OT says, it's an NCC property, which means that it will likely never be developed, and if it ever was it almost certainly wouldn't resemble your good ideas. We could start another thread to discuss it though...

I know it isn't part of this. I would hope that the Chaudiere/Gatineau development could get the ball rolling on something on Victoria. But the NCC has not done a great job of Lebreton flats as we all know. Given the density coming on the other islands I think it could be good to do something a bit different with Victoria as a counterbalance. I guess a thread on Victoria would be premature at this point though!

I like the gondola idea but there will also be pedestrian access on bridges so I'm not sure how much we gain from that (other than a great attraction).

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Temperance

...the NCC has not done a great job...

strange, that!

[waterloowarrior]

Information session on former Domtar Lands set for June 24 in Ottawa
Gatineau session to take place in the fall

Ottawa, June 11, 2014 – The City of Ottawa and Windmill Development Group are inviting the public to attend a community information session on plans for the former Domtar Lands, Tuesday, June 24 from 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Canadian War Museum.

Given the location of the property, two municipal jurisdictions are responsible for the rezoning of the lands: the City of Ottawa and la Ville de Gatineau. Each jurisdiction has different development application processes and requirements for public consultation. The Ville de Gatineau public meeting will follow in the fall after the City’s technical review is completed and will be the third community information session to be held on the project.

“We are very eager to meet with residents and stakeholders and to hear their thoughts on the plans we presented in April,” said Jonathan Westeinde, co-founder of the Windmill Development Group. “We were blown away by the number of people who attended our first consultation in December. We hope to see a similar level of engagement this time around.”

Through historically and environmentally sensitive redevelopment, Windmill, one of Canada’s greenest developers, plans to build the world’s most sustainable community on the Chaudière and Albert Islands, and downtown Gatineau riverfront.

The event is open to media.

Key facts

Windmill Development Group signed an agreement to purchase the Ottawa and Gatineau lands from Domtar on December 4, 2013.

A first public consultation was held at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on December 11, 2013.

Windmill’s development applications were submitted to the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau on April 22nd, 2014.

Additional information can be found on the City of Ottawa’s website at ottawa.ca/devapps under 3 or 4 Booth Street.

Naming contest
The public has until midnight on June 30th to submit name suggestions for the new community. To submit a name, visit the contest page or attend the public consultation meeting.

The winner will enjoy a one-week stay at one of Windmill’s luxury Whitewater Village cottages.

[Boxster]

Why June 24th? It's St-Jean Baptiste day!!!

Originally Posted by waterloowarrior

Information session on former Domtar Lands set for June 24 in Ottawa
Gatineau session to take place in the fall

Ottawa, June 11, 2014 – The City of Ottawa and Windmill Development Group are inviting the public to attend a community information session on plans for the former Domtar Lands, Tuesday, June 24 from 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. at the Canadian War Museum.

Given the location of the property, two municipal jurisdictions are responsible for the rezoning of the lands: the City of Ottawa and la Ville de Gatineau. Each jurisdiction has different development application processes and requirements for public consultation. The Ville de Gatineau public meeting will follow in the fall after the City’s technical review is completed and will be the third community information session to be held on the project.

“We are very eager to meet with residents and stakeholders and to hear their thoughts on the plans we presented in April,” said Jonathan Westeinde, co-founder of the Windmill Development Group. “We were blown away by the number of people who attended our first consultation in December. We hope to see a similar level of engagement this time around.”

Through historically and environmentally sensitive redevelopment, Windmill, one of Canada’s greenest developers, plans to build the world’s most sustainable community on the Chaudière and Albert Islands, and downtown Gatineau riverfront.

The event is open to media.

Key facts

Windmill Development Group signed an agreement to purchase the Ottawa and Gatineau lands from Domtar on December 4, 2013.

A first public consultation was held at the Canadian Museum of Civilization on December 11, 2013.

Windmill’s development applications were submitted to the City of Ottawa and Ville de Gatineau on April 22nd, 2014.

Additional information can be found on the City of Ottawa’s website at ottawa.ca/devapps under 3 or 4 Booth Street.

Naming contest
The public has until midnight on June 30th to submit name suggestions for the new community. To submit a name, visit the contest page or attend the public consultation meeting.

The winner will enjoy a one-week stay at one of Windmill’s luxury Whitewater Village cottages.

[rocketphish]

Windmill eyes spring 2015 start date for Chaudiere project

OBJ Contributor
Published on June 12, 2014

Work could begin in less than a year on one of the most high-profile developments to emerge on the National Capital Region’s skyline in a generation.

By Jacob Serebrin

The rezoning application allowing Windmill Developments to turn the former Domtar lands on Albert and Chaudière islands into a mixed-use community still has to be approved, but the developer is already eager to get the project off and running.

“We’re hopeful we’ll break ground next spring,” said Windmill partner Rodney Wilts.

Phase one of the project is estimated to cost more than $1 billion and involves the retrofitting and repurposing of buildings on Albert Island. There are also plans to construct a new mid-rise mixed-use building on the site.

On the Gatineau side of the river, the developer is planning two new buildings, which will be primarily residential.

Mr. Wilts said he’s optimistic residents could start moving in as early as fall 2015 if everything goes smoothly.

“We’ve received all the right signals,” he said. “There’s no question we’ve seen an incredible level of support from the City of Ottawa, the City of Gatineau and the NCC.”

That includes a significant amount of co-operation between the three organizations, which have frequently been faulted for their collective lack of co-ordination.

“Windmill persuaded them to create a unique design review panel,” said Dennis Dornan, a San Francisco-based project manager with Perkins+Will, the prime planning and design contractor on the project.

That meant that instead of 12 review meetings – four with each zoning regulator – the developers and planners were able to hold a joint meeting just four times.

“We could have approached it as two projects,” Mr. Dornan said, but both the developers and the planners wanted to do it as one, as part of a vision to “unite and connect the two cities more than they have been in the past.”

For Mr. Dornan, there are a lot of things about the project that stand out.

“It’s an astonishing piece of property,” he said. “It’s been industrial land for 150 years – it’s been gated.”

Once work is done, though, it will be the opposite.

“People will feel like this is another part of the city,” Mr. Dornan said. “These are public streets and public squares.”

He said a lot of his work has been focused on figuring out the right height and location for the buildings. There has also been work to figure out which existing buildings can be repurposed and which need to be replaced.

While Mr. Dornan isn’t based in Ottawa, many of the sub-consultants – everyone from wind analysts to traffic experts – are.

But even with the initial plans solidified, there’s still a lot of work to be done. The project could take up to 15 years, though Mr. Wilts said he’d love it to be finished sooner.

He said that when it comes to construction, there will be pretty steady activity once things get rolling.

While he wouldn’t say exactly how Windmill intends to select contractors, Mr. Wilts said the company will use firms it has worked with before as well as some new ones.

“It’s a big project, so there’s going to be lots of opportunities,” he said.

http://www.obj.ca/Real-Estate/2014-06-12...-2015-start-date-for-Chaudiere-project/1

[rocketphish]

Proposed Domtar development named a 'model' for urban revitalization

Marie-Danielle Smith, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: June 24, 2014, Last Updated: June 24, 2014 10:17 PM EDT

At a public consultation for the Domtar lands and Chaudière Island development plan Tuesday, Windmill announced the proposed development has been named one of seven “EcoDistricts Target Cities” by Clinton Global Initiative America.

Developments in these cities are being spotlighted as “models for next-generation urban revitalization,” according to the organization. Other cities on the list included Atlanta, Boston, Cambridge, Denver, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

Sustainability is a major part of the plan, temporarily named “The Isles.”

“They have a green outlook. They’re looking out for the planet,” said David Wilson, who works in sustainable energy and attended the consultation. “People will be more interested in the river.”

Windmill’s proposed eco-heritage district, well-connected with bike paths and public transport, would include condos, shops, public areas, restaurants, a museum, a hotel and access to the Chaudière Falls.

“I think it looks really neat. There are a lot of good ideas for green space, opening up some of the coastline and having a destination to go to,” said Laura Rostas, who lives in the Glebe.

Historic streets and buildings will be protected, explained Sally Coutts, a city heritage planner. “There are layers on the island,” she said, with a history involving First Nations, hydroelectricity, timber, and pulp and paper. “The hope is every layer will be represented.”

Several First Nations activists took over the microphone after Windmill developers addressed a crowd of about 200 on Tuesday. They voiced concerns about the potential development of Victoria Island, though it is not part of Windmill’s plan.

“We’re fully supportive of William Commanda’s vision for Victoria Island,” Jeff Westeinde, a partner with Windmill, said, referring to the late Algonquin elder’s desire to see an “indigenous centre” on the island. Algonquins of Ontario and the Kitigan Zibi First Nation are being consulted on the Domtar-Chaudière development.

“I think we’re probably the only private sector developer in the region that’s ever willingly gone to consult the Algonquins,” Westeinde said.

Métis Jason Surkan, a second-year architecture student at Carleton University, said, “They can work together. They don’t have to fight.” Surkan said he thinks the developers are “good people” but that Chaudière Island will continue to be inaccessible for traditional First Nations activities such as sweat lodges.

Some concerns about the Windmill development are outlined in a paper by Romola Thumbadoo from Circle of All Nations, an organization founded by Commanda.

It expresses concerns about Windmill’s use of European terminology to describe the project, its proposed highrise condos and the site’s name. “It is very disturbing to see contests to name the historical Sacred Site,” writes Thumbadoo. Surkan said he plans to submit the name Commanda used for the site, “Asinabka,” in Windmill’s online naming contest.

Another consultation is planned for Gatineau this fall, before Ottawa and Gatineau city councils vote on re-zoning for the development. If approved, the plan could take up to 15 years to complete.

[email protected]
twitter.com/mariedanielles

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news...t-named-a-model-for-urban-revitalization

[WannabeLandscapeArch]

Although it was incredibly honourable of Mr. Westeinde to consult the Algonquins prior to development, I think it may have raised their expectations too much. I've been to all of the public consultations and what the Algonquins don't seem to understand is that it's his land. If the site was that sacred and important, why didn't they buy the land? This sounds worse that I mean it to, but I don't see how it's fair to see them derail every public consultation and take everyone's mind off of the big idea and proposal. He bought the land, and likely paid a fair amount of money to rent the War Musuem and Museum of Civilization for presentation and I think they have to be frustrated with how they have been dealing with things at the public consultations. I remember at the first Public Consultation after the Native Lady spoke (Forgot her name) the vast majority of the Native people left right before the fellows from Windmill spoke. What this showed me if that they have no interest in working together, I see lots of conflict down the road.