General Update/Rumour thread [Urban Ottawa]

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by ac888yow

More than presumably, they have a "future expansion site" sign in front of the property.

Local luxury car dealership on road to expansion

By: OBJ staff
Published: May 20, 2020 3:51pm EDT



A prominent local luxury car dealership is gearing up to expand its footprint in the south end of the city.

Star Motors of Ottawa, a family-owned business that has been selling Mercedes-Benz vehicles since the late 1950s, says it’s purchased a one-acre property next door to the existing dealership at 400 West Hunt Club Rd. and plans to use the additional land to showcase its inventory on an outdoor lot. A Tim Hortons restaurant that currently occupies the site at 430 West Hunt Club Rd. will be demolished.

In an email to OBJ on Wednesday, Star Motors vice-president and general manager Yves Laberge said a planned expansion of the dealership building will be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the additional property will give the business the “much-needed space to allow our guests a pleasant and safe shopping experience.”

Laberge said that despite the widespread economic downturn sparked by measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the dealership has been encouraged by an uptick in sales over the past few weeks.

Although April saw a “significant decrease” in business over the first three months of the year, Laberge said vehicle sales in May have returned to last year’s levels.

“We have been pleasantly surprised with the continued support from our loyal customers,” he said.

https://www.obj.ca/article/local-luxury-car-dealership-road-expansion

[J.OT13]

LRT ‘totally changing’ Ottawa's east-end office landscape, broker says

OBJ,
May 22, 2020



The Canadian branch of a global real estate investment company has purchased a government-occupied office tower at the Ottawa Train Yards in a deal worth $97.5 million.

BentallGreekOak’s Prime Canadian Property Fund bought the 240,000-square-foot office building at 395 Terminal Ave. from 2237800 Ontario Ltd., a local company, earlier this spring. The Canada Revenue Agency occupies the entire building, which opened about seven years ago. The federal agency has eight years remaining on its lease as well as an additional five-year option.

Cushman & Wakefield Ottawa managing director Nathan Smith, who helped broker the deal, said the previous owner had received several offers for the property, which is located near the Train Yard shopping complex and a couple of hundred metres from the Tremblay LRT station.

Smith said the building was at the top of BentallGreenOak’s list of properties it was targeting in Ottawa’s suburbs due to its proximity to light rail, the Via Rail terminal and other transit-oriented development projects.

The east-end neighbourhood has recently become a hotbed of proposed new developments.

Last month, Colonnade BridgePort said it’s partnering with investment firm Fiera Real Estate to acquire five acres of land at nearby 25 Pickering Pl., just east of the Via Rail terminal, with the aim of turning the current industrial site into a “mixed-use, high-density community hub” that will include rental apartment highrises, retail space, parkland and possibly a hotel.

Meanwhile, the federal government said last month it’s seeking a private-sector partner to develop part of its 26-acre property farther east at 599 Tremblay Rd., across from the St. Laurent Shopping Centre. Current plans call for a 1.6-million-square-foot office complex and a mixed-use development with residential units, parks and shops.

“All of the stuff that’s happening in that area you could argue is a direct link to the LRT,” Smith said. “That totally changed the landscape in the east end from an office standpoint.”

https://obj.ca/article/lrt-totally-changing-ottawas-east-end-office-landscape-broker-says

[J.OT13]

"A couple of hundred metres from the Tremblay LRT station." "Due to its proximity to light rail, the Via Rail terminal and other transit-oriented development projects. "

Yeah, as the crow flies. Otherwise it's a two kilometre trek among some of the most hostile pedestrian environments.

No problem dropping nearly $100 million on an office block but unwilling to invest a cent building a crossing to reach VIA and Tremblay stations.

[MountainView]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Local luxury car dealership on road to expansion

By: OBJ staff
Published: May 20, 2020 3:51pm EDT



A prominent local luxury car dealership is gearing up to expand its footprint in the south end of the city.

Star Motors of Ottawa, a family-owned business that has been selling Mercedes-Benz vehicles since the late 1950s, says it’s purchased a one-acre property next door to the existing dealership at 400 West Hunt Club Rd. and plans to use the additional land to showcase its inventory on an outdoor lot. A Tim Hortons restaurant that currently occupies the site at 430 West Hunt Club Rd. will be demolished.

In an email to OBJ on Wednesday, Star Motors vice-president and general manager Yves Laberge said a planned expansion of the dealership building will be delayed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the additional property will give the business the “much-needed space to allow our guests a pleasant and safe shopping experience.”

Laberge said that despite the widespread economic downturn sparked by measures to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the dealership has been encouraged by an uptick in sales over the past few weeks.

Although April saw a “significant decrease” in business over the first three months of the year, Laberge said vehicle sales in May have returned to last year’s levels.

“We have been pleasantly surprised with the continued support from our loyal customers,” he said.

https://www.obj.ca/article/local-luxury-car-dealership-road-expansion

The Tim Horton's and Wendy's building is completely demolished now.
Too bad it will just be a lot for cars... a building expansion would have looked better.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

"A couple of hundred metres from the Tremblay LRT station." "Due to its proximity to light rail, the Via Rail terminal and other transit-oriented development projects. "

Yeah, as the crow flies. Otherwise it's a two kilometre trek among some of the most hostile pedestrian environments.

No problem dropping nearly $100 million on an office block but unwilling to invest a cent building a crossing to reach VIA and Tremblay stations.

Agreed.

I heard that in the last couple of years there was lobbying for the city to build an overpass structure over the VIA tracks but that such a structure would be extremely expensive.

What I don't understand is why the pedestrian tunnel that had been proposed in the past is no longer viable? I though there already was a pedestrian tunnel under at least some of the tracks? Has VIA decided that they don't want anyone other than their passengers to use it?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Agreed.

I heard that in the last couple of years there was lobbying for the city to build an overpass structure over the VIA tracks but that such a structure would be extremely expensive.

What I don't understand is why the pedestrian tunnel that had been proposed in the past is no longer viable? I though there already was a pedestrian tunnel under at least some of the tracks? Has VIA decided that they don't want anyone other than their passengers to use it?

VIA does have a tunnel under the tracks linking the station with the platforms, and maybe the boiler plant. If they were to open that tunnel as an MUP, it would mix VIA passengers and the general public, which could result in overcrowding and security concerns.

That said, Winnipeg's Union Station has the same general layout and the tunnel IS open to the general public, linking the Forks with Broadway, though the space is larger and VIA passenger loads are smaller.

There's also a tunnel linking the Canada Post distribution centre with the VIA Station, though I'm not sure if that is still used or even wide enough to use as a MUP.

[OTSkyline]

I don't see how a simple pedestrian/cycling overpass over the tracks would be that expensive... It'd be pretty simply and short... If we can build the overpass over the 417 (Max Keeping bridge) I don't see why a short over over the tracks would be out of the question...

As it stands the current train LRT station serves very little people. By having that bride it would open it up to these 2 office buildings, Ottawa trainyards, future development across the street as well as the Canada Post offices.. Why build infrastructure with little use ?

[TransitZilla]

Councillor Cloutier claimed an overpass connection was his "top priority" during the last election, so we'll see.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-votes/councillor-candidates-in-alta-vista-1.4100916

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

Councillor Cloutier claimed an overpass connection was his "top priority" during the last election, so we'll see.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/ottawa-votes/councillor-candidates-in-alta-vista-1.4100916

His only priority is to suck up to the mayor. He's been a Councillor for 10 years and he's done nothing but the seldom used, half built, Alta Vista expressway.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

His only priority is to suck up to the mayor. He's been a Councillor for 10 years and he's done nothing but the seldom used, half built, Alta Vista expressway.

It is a good bus connection to the hospital with a nice MUP beside it.

[caveat.doctor]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

VIA does have a tunnel under the tracks linking the station with the platforms, and maybe the boiler plant. If they were to open that tunnel as an MUP, it would mix VIA passengers and the general public, which could result in overcrowding and security concerns.

That said, Winnipeg's Union Station has the same general layout and the tunnel IS open to the general public, linking the Forks with Broadway, though the space is larger and VIA passenger loads are smaller.

Would be great, hopefully the new development will get a connection developed. Posted some images earlier for reference:

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Creating a link from Tremblay through the VIA station to Terminal Av and Trainyards doesn’t require platform access, just concourse access. It's much narrower in Ottawa





than in Toronto (between the main hall and access to Scotiabank Arena):





or Winnipeg (between the main hall and the Museum of Human Rights):



where passage is open to the public, so security or paid access doesn't seem to be the driving factor. That said, I think the VIA station closes outside of schedule train arrivals/departures so you’d lose access in the off hours.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

His only priority is to suck up to the mayor. He's been a Councillor for 10 years and he's done nothing but the seldom used, half built, Alta Vista expressway.

He seemed to be totally absent on the OP discussions..never saw him on screen once.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by caveat.doctor

Would be great, hopefully the new development will get a connection developed. Posted some images earlier for reference:

Thanks for that. That provides some great visuals for what you and I were trying to explain.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Proof Sheet

He seemed to be totally absent on the OP discussions..never saw him on screen once.

He came close to losing his seat in 2018 but it seems he has done nothing to try and prove he belongs since. Brockington, who lost the support of the previous Councillor (McRae, who supported him when he ran in 2014, but not 2018), came in well ahead of his closest opponent but seems to be trying harder this term.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

It is a good bus connection to the hospital with a nice MUP beside it.

It will be good if someone can somehow find the political will to get it connected to Conroy/Walkley, but as it is now (even with the nice Transit and MUP pieces) it was a terrible investment from a cost/benefit perspective.

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Multi-modal

It will be good if someone can somehow find the political will to get it connected to Conroy/Walkley, but as it is now (even with the nice Transit and MUP pieces) it was a terrible investment from a cost/benefit perspective.

I agree it was a terrible investment but I disagree that it should extend to Walkley any time in the near future. And that's from someone who lives not far from Hunt Club & Conroy.

[Multi-modal]

Originally Posted by bradnixon

I agree it was a terrible investment but I disagree that it should extend to Walkley any time in the near future. And that's from someone who lives not far from Hunt Club & Conroy.

O ya? Why not? I can see the 'ol induced demand argument-against. But, if I were in charge I would take a look at how traffic from Conroy distributes northwards (Heron, Bank, St. Laurent, others?), and simultaneously reduce traffic lanes on those roads while implementing the new Alta Vista route. This would open up road space for other modes on those more-urban corridors, keep vehicle capacity the same, and add a more efficient route through Alta Vista.

[OTSkyline]

Originally Posted by Multi-modal

O ya? Why not? I can see the 'ol induced demand argument-against. But, if I were in charge I would take a look at how traffic from Conroy distributes northwards (Heron, Bank, St. Laurent, others?), and simultaneously reduce traffic lanes on those roads while implementing the new Alta Vista route. This would open up road space for other modes on those more-urban corridors, keep vehicle capacity the same, and add a more efficient route through Alta Vista.

This would be useful to better spread the north-south traffic in that part of town. North of billings Bank St is always stop-and-go due to buses, short blocks and many street lights, so traffic always ends up on Riverside and St-Laurent (both of which are typically clogged during days). Would would make it even more useful is if this Alta Vista connector would connect through Hurdman to Nicholas... wasn't that the plan at one point?

[alamgirkhan]

https://renx.ca/ottawa-hintonburg-property-sold-redevelopment/

[TransitZilla]

Originally Posted by Multi-modal

O ya? Why not? I can see the 'ol induced demand argument-against. But, if I were in charge I would take a look at how traffic from Conroy distributes northwards (Heron, Bank, St. Laurent, others?), and simultaneously reduce traffic lanes on those roads while implementing the new Alta Vista route. This would open up road space for other modes on those more-urban corridors, keep vehicle capacity the same, and add a more efficient route through Alta Vista.

I'm very skeptical that any other road would be narrowed if the Alta Vista corridor was built. Building this road will cause a significant amount of disruption including forcing the relocation of the community gardens in Alta Vista.

I'd like to see investment to complete the cycling infrastructure along Heron, Bank and St-Laurent before adding more vehicle capacity.