70 Richmond Rd | 36m | 10f | U/C

[AndyZagg]

Upscale coffee house sounds great. I would go there. Drive thru makes it unacceptable.

[HighwayStar]

I drive through that intersection all the time... at best it's *very busy*, at worst it's congested gridlock. Adding turns into and out of that property, at the volume a drive-thru would produce, is, in my opinion, madness.

If someone thinks they can make a "walk-in high end coffee house" work in that location... more power to them.

[Kitchissippi]

I just thought of an appropriate use for that property: Turn it into Ottawa's first Tesla Supercharger station with a cafe. Plug your Tesla in, have a coffee and minutes later both you and your car are full

[MoreTrains]

Originally Posted by HighwayStar

Adding turns into and out of that property, at the volume a drive-thru would produce, is, in my opinion, madness.

Madness? No... THIS! IS! WESTBORO!

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

I just thought of an appropriate use for that property: Turn it into Ottawa's first Tesla Supercharger station with a cafe. Plug your Tesla in, have a coffee and minutes later both you and your car are full

Also, this is a pretty great idea.

[AndyZagg]

+1 charging station. How amazing would it be to have an electric charging station at an old gas station?

[jleiper]

Originally Posted by Norman Bates

Only issue for me is the drive through. Otherwise I'm okay with it.

I've yet to hear any serious opposition to a restaurant or coffee shop. There's a few folks who believe there are too many already, but ultimately that's for the market to decide. The ward's appetite for coffee shops is apparently bottomless.

[McC]

Originally Posted by jleiper

The ward's appetite for coffee shops is apparently bottomless.

If you'll hold office hours in it, someone will build it!

[Skipper]

How is this developer going to make $$$$ operating a coffee shop with 5 parking spots?????? The heritage designation is the most ridiculous thing that could happen to this site. The developer should sue the city. It appears that our elitist city councillor don't understand that a developer needs to make money to pay for the land, renovations, etc.
His is setting the stage for Westboro to become like the Glebe where it is nearly impossible to build nice infill homes. We should work to improve the community and not be stucked in the past.


I just hope that the outcome of this is not an abandoned building for years to come.

[Mille Sabords]

The proposal is a way of saying "we're not yet ready to really develop this corner but we still want income from the property." The inclusion of a drive-thru reflects an out-of-town, out-of-touch and rather tone-deaf approach that says "fast, cheap, lowest common denominator". The whole thing has to be rejected.

The real answer for that site is a proper redevelopment that takes the now-heritage structure, or the salient parts of it, out of their present location and brings them streetfront to integrate them into the podium of a mixed-use mid-rise building. The existing city-owned lane should be the only vehicular point of access into the block and for any parking provided on-site.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by Skipper

How is this developer going to make $$$$ operating a coffee shop with 5 parking spots?????? The heritage designation is the most ridiculous thing that could happen to this site. The developer should sue the city. It appears that our elitist city councillor don't understand that a developer needs to make money to pay for the land, renovations, etc.
His is setting the stage for Westboro to become like the Glebe where it is nearly impossible to build nice infill homes. We should work to improve the community and not be stucked in the past.


I just hope that the outcome of this is not an abandoned building for years to come.

Amazing.
How do other coffee shops survive with 2 parking spots in front?
Who even drives to a coffee shop?
Our elitist counicilor actually took time and recorded typical drive through experience on a tight busy street for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

• Video Link

[waterloowarrior]

Originally Posted by Mille Sabords

The real answer for that site is a proper redevelopment that takes the now-heritage structure, or the salient parts of it, out of their present location and brings them streetfront to integrate them into the podium of a mixed-use mid-rise building. The existing city-owned lane should be the only vehicular point of access into the block and for any parking provided on-site.

I didn't realize there was a mid-block lane here. It looks like hedges, sheds, and fences have blocked most of it. But you can see it was open in the 1965 aerials on GeoOttawa.

If the development kitty-corner to this project (1451 Wellington) was required to be a "landmark" building with a "wow factor", this corner deserves the same kind of treatment.

However technically the two projects are in different secondary plans, so different policies will apply ("gateway" vs "landmark")

[McKellarDweller]

Great video, zzptichka, thanks for the post.

I don't even bother using the driveway for that Petro Canada when I fill up -- I have to use the light at the intersection to make my way by the plebs getting their drive-through Timmies fill.

I used to have to commute past the Tim Hortons just west of Woodroffe on Richmond every day. As soon as I got within 200m, I'd have to preemptively get off the gas and slow down, in anticipation of the people who would turn in and out of the driveway without signalling, or any regard for other motorists or pedestrians. Ugh!

The idea of a drive through for this property is awful.

---
My undertanding is that the property didn't have the heritage designation when it last sold. I think in that case, the heritage designation should be wiped for this property, and Main & Main should be able to proceed with condos. If not, whoever supports the heritage designation should have to compensate Main and Main for the market value of the site before the designation change, plus an added fee for their holding costs and management.

[waterloowarrior]

RIP

@JLeiper
https://twitter.com/JLeiper/status/902325663721500672
Very pleased that the Island Park/Richmond drive-thru application has been closed. Thanks to the City and so many for the advocacy on that.

[waterloowarrior]

Purchased by Trinity for $2 million
http://www.juteaujohnsoncomba.com/ne...arch-Sales.pdf

[waterloowarrior]

Trinity now has a page for this project - opening date of 2022
http://www.trinity-group.com/propert...d-island-park/


Click to enlarge

[kevinbottawa]

Looks awkward but at least it's not a drive thru.

[J.OT13]

Very little you can do with that building. I usually oppose moving historically designated buildings but int this case, the designation was a bad call IMO (Esso across the street is a much better example of a classic gas station).

[monkeybongo]

I'm surprised they didn't design for more levels given the height of other condo buildings in the area.

[Jayday23]

Looks like trinity has made this one larger; new render shows up to 9 floors now.

[FutureWickedCity]

Condo Canyon is creeping eastward!