1980 Ogilvie Rd [Gloucester Centre] | 94m | 30f | Approved

[Soi-Fon]

I wouldn't mind larger sidewalks and more pedestrians friendly place

[OTSkyline]

Originally Posted by Dundas

It be nice if it was a condo. I like the fact that there's a direct link to the mall. My wife who doesn't drive could easily walk to Walmart and Loblaws to do groceries.

I wonder if it was a condo how much a 2 bedroom would go for. 450,000$?

Depends on the amenities and size/interior finishes. But based on the current Ottawa market and the location, I'd say a bare-bones 2bdr new-build at Gloucester Centre would most likely be around $400K today, $450K if it was a big roomier or included parking.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Dundas

It be nice if it was a condo. I like the fact that there's a direct link to the mall. My wife who doesn't drive could easily walk to Walmart and Loblaws to do groceries.

I wonder if it was a condo how much a 2 bedroom would go for. 450,000$?

My guess is that these would be rental apartments. Condos are usually built on titled land which gets transferred to the condo corporation. I doubt the owners of the Gloucester Centre would relinquish control over such a key piece of the property.

[osirisboy]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

My guess is that these would be rental apartments. Condos are usually built on titled land which gets transferred to the condo corporation. I doubt the owners of the Gloucester Centre would relinquish control over such a key piece of the property.

It happens all the time.

This plan seems underwhelming. It doesn't connect well to ogilivie or Blair. There is a huge amount of surface parking and most of the the retail is in the form of a strip mall. And Tim Hortons drive thru still? Ugh.

[Harley613]

I took the O-Train to Gloucester Centre to see a movie with my family on Christmas. What a hellish walk it is to get from the station to the movie theatre! Uneven pavement, unmaintained walkways covered in ice and dirt, no direct sidewalk connection. My mom almost bailed a couple of times. They really need to improve the walkability of the entire area as they continue building it out. Hopefully developments like this will create a demand.

[eltodesukane]

Originally Posted by Harley613

I took the O-Train to Gloucester Centre to see a movie with my family on Christmas. What a hellish walk it is to get from the station to the movie theatre! Uneven pavement, unmaintained walkways covered in ice and dirt, no direct sidewalk connection. My mom almost bailed a couple of times. They really need to improve the walkability of the entire area as they continue building it out. Hopefully developments like this will create a demand.

I used to work at the Walmart there, and it was the same hellish walk going around the whole mall (without sidewalks) to reach the main Walmart entrance, as the indoor Walmart entrance remain closed until opening hours, and of course employees must be there earlier. Yes, a hellish walk it was.

[canadianinmichigan]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Beyond this building and the linked remaining half of the mall, I don't really see anything in the plan that facilitates walking to and from the LRT station from the outside. I would have expected a stronger pedestrian-priority axis out to Ogilvie towards CSIS/CSEC.

I was out biking there to check out the new MUP along Ogilvie from Montreal Road to Blair and the plan does seem to continue it but falls short of creating better links other than the long route around the side via Blair. So while this is being touted as an example of "TOD" it remains a very car-centric plan where pedestrians are still dodging cars and wading through a sea of parking lots and blank facades even just to get to the adjacent apartment towers being built.

That's exactly what I noticed right away. It does feel like this district is being choked by parking lots and 60 km/hr boulevards, and an expressway to boot. It seems that the majority of the land is devoted to cars. Also, why is a park facing a parking lot? Finally I dont see anything facilitating walking from the interior of the site to other neighborhoods at all. Although most of Gloucester is very suburban there is a missed opportunity to better connect with Blair Towers.

[kwoldtimer]

Is the assumption that the Gloucester Centre will never be redeveloped? Other than the transit station and the new apartment towers, I would have expected everything currently on the site to be gone/redeveloped within the next 20 years.

[acottawa]

Originally Posted by kwoldtimer

Is the assumption that the Gloucester Centre will never be redeveloped? Other than the transit station and the new apartment towers, I would have expected everything currently on the site to be gone/redeveloped within the next 20 years.

I think it will be eventually, but I would think they are waiting to see how the area develops so they know what to redevelop it to. It also doesn't help that the movie theatre (and related box stores) are owned by a different developer.

[alamgirkhan]

They don't have the correct document attached to the Planning Committee meeting agenda, however, here is the summary from the agenda.

1. That Planning Committee recommend Council approve an amendment to Zoning By-law2008-250 for 1980 Ogilvie Road to be considered one lot for zoning purposes and that part of 1980 Ogilvie be permitted for the development of a 30-storeyhigh-rise apartment, as detailed in Document 2.

2. That Planning Committee approve the Consultation Details Section of this report be included as part of the ‘brief explanation’ in the Summary of Written and Oral Public Submissions, to be prepared by the Office of the City Clerk and submitted to Council in the report titled, “Summary of Oral and Written Public Submissions for Items Subject to the Planning Act ‘Explanation Requirements’ at the City Council Meeting of September 9, 2020”, subject to submissions received between the publication of this report and the time of Council’s decision.

[kevinbottawa]

I was at the Walmart there yesterday and was thinking how it could be like the area around Scarborough Town Centre. There's already the TD campus, the former Telesat complex, and other office buildings. Lots of potential.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by kevinbottawa

I was at the Walmart there yesterday and was thinking how it could be like the area around Scarborough Town Centre. There's already the TD campus, the former Telesat complex, and other office buildings. Lots of potential.

That area for sure had some of the best TOD success back in the Transitway era, and it will only get better. It won't be an exciting new destination, but hold its own and generally be self-sufficient.

[J.OT13]

Approved by planning committee. Hope to see this one go up soon.

Kate Porter
@KatePorterCBC

Approved at committee level: another tower near Blair LRT, this one 30 storeys at First Capital's Gloucester Centre with a link to the train. #ottcity



10:18 AM · Aug 27, 2020·Twitter Web App

https://twitter.com/KatePorterCBC/status/1298988170059472896

[alamgirkhan]

It may take awhile. I haven’t seen a site plan application as of yet. As well, I believe there is some work to do on the pedestrian realm of the project. The UDRP recommended the applicant look into having the building as more of a point tower than a slab.

[Catenary]

It does make me wonder about the connection to Blair Station. OC has indicated that they are looking at replacing the North elevator, which would be replaced by this proposal. They also show outdoor stairs, which isn't going to fly.

[rocketphish]

Application: Zoning By-law Amendment
Review Status: Application Approved by Council
Status Date: September 9, 2020

[J.OT13]

Nice. Hope to see this one go up next year. I'm already tiered of seeing the two Rio twins.

[J.OT13]

I'm sure it has something to do with labour and material costs, but really disappointed this one hasn't started yet. Directly on a transit station, a much needed rebuild of the local access to that station and a mall that offers all the essentials. Even has a safety improvements for people arriving by bike.

City needs to incentivize construction at transit stations.