Zibi Gatineau Quebec | U/C

[UrbOttawa]

Some renderings of Block 7 in Hull:













http://elema-ing.com/en/projets/zibi-block-7

Ground floor will be a grocery store. It'd be a shame if they swapped those timber looking fins in previous renderings for the metal ones here but it looks like it'll be an interesting building regardless.

That Laurier street level experience though...

[J.OT13]

I'm on the fence with this one. Looks like a nice, quality building, but is that enough for Zibi? I agree that the wood (or bronze) fins shown previously had a far nicer look.

The single storey portion I assume is the grocery store. Maybe part of the parking garage. I feel like that single floor is not the best use of space. I hope the roof is well utilized with urban farming, park space...

For context, the area plan was posted on RailFans Discord. Seems Donalda and Ezra will act as service roads for the buildings, hence why the 4 garage bays face Ezra.

Laurier, Jos Montferrand and Eddy are to be the pedestrian oriented streets.



For the grocery store, I hope to see the zero waste Nu Grocery. Ottawa based with two locations (Wellington West and Main), it would fit well with Zibi's sustainable goals. With Metro planned for the W/E II a few blocks away on Eddy and Wellington, it would also provide a different option. Any other Zero waste grocery store (I recently heard of Gatineau based Multiservice Vert) would also be good. I just don't want another chain if one's opening nearby already.

If the single storey portion is the grocery store, I would like to see a entrances on Laurier and Sauvignon to animate those streets. I'd also like a mural along the low concrete wall, possibly depicting local Voyageur/Industrial/Indigenous history.

[zzptichka]

Originally Posted by UrbOttawa

Ground floor will be a grocery store. It'd be a shame if they swapped those timber looking fins in previous renderings for the metal ones here but it looks like it'll be an interesting building regardless.

That Laurier street level experience though...

Previous version for reference (from 2 years ago)



I agree Laurier street level could've used some more animation.
Especially considering that Gatineau is planning to narrow it to 1 car lane in each direction, or maybe even close it to cars completely.

[Truenorth00]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Laurier, Jos Montferrand and Eddy are to be the pedestrian oriented streets.

To what extent?

These seem like the perfect candidates to Woonerf.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Truenorth00

To what extent?

These seem like the perfect candidates to Woonerf.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like it will go quite that far. Based on the current plans and what's been built so far, they'll be opting for regular roads with extra wide sidewalks/terraces and bike infrastructure. There will be quite a few open pedestrian spaces and plazas as well.

Still a major improvement from current standards we see in the region.




https://zibi.ca/

Up Jos-Montferrand.


https://www.livabl.com/2019/02/construct...atineau-first-residents-move-zibi-o.html

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Previous version for reference (from 2 years ago)

I agree Laurier street level could've used some more animation.
Especially considering that Gatineau is planning to narrow it to 1 car lane in each direction, or maybe even close it to cars completely.

OK, so grocery store will be at the base of the tower, corner of Jos-Montferrand and Laurier. So what's the odd single story portion?

[J.OT13]

https://twitter.com/mchkzn/status/1409218901624426498


https://twitter.com/mchkzn/status/1409191006579404801


https://twitter.com/mchkzn/status/1409191115048329217


https://twitter.com/mchkzn/status/1409188859771068421

[rocketphish]

Zibi's first rental building gets $60 million loan from federal government

Taylor Blewett, Ottawa Citizen
Publishing date: Jul 03, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 2 minute read

The first rental building in the waterfront Ottawa-Gatineau Zibi development will be ready for its earliest tenants in December and include at least 44 units of housing deemed affordable.

Federal politicians announced Friday a $60-million loan for the construction of the 15-storey building on the Quebec side of the development, celebrating the additional rental stock it would bring to the National Capital Region.

For 16 years at minimum, the rents for at least 44 of the building’s 162 units must remain at or below 30 per cent of the median household income in the area, according to a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation spokesperson, with 33 units at or below 70 per cent of that figure. The loan was provided through the CMHC Rental Construction Financing Initiative.

The building’s basement will also house the central hub for Zibi’s zero-carbon energy system, which will use post-industrial waste energy for heat and the Ottawa River for cooling.

“The completion of this building is a significant milestone for the entire Zibi community,” said Jamie Cooper, Director of Impact Investments with project developer Dream.

When finished, the Gatineau side of Zibi will have access to net-zero heating and cooling, Cooper said, and every future building will be plugged into the system.

Zibi Block 10 will start pre-leasing in September. Those interested in units, affordable and market can register at zibi.ca for updates.

Another federal loan, this one of $10 million, will ensure an additional 200 rental units across the development lease for less than median market rents for housing in the neighbourhood built after 2010.

Zibi is already home to two condo buildings — both have three condos left for sale — and the 34-acre mixed-use development will ultimately include 2,100 housing units.

The site also hosts a new interprovincial zipline, a waterfront patio in collaboration with brewing company Beau’s and co-working offices. A new park on the Ottawa River will open later in July, and federal government workers will take up office space in a new building on Booth Street, Zibi marketing manager Jessica Schultz said.

Cooper said they see Zibi as a 15-year-development project, and, while their target for total completion is 2032, “that’s not something we’re holding ourselves to.”

The Zibi project, located on unceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory and in an area considered sacred, has been embraced by some Algonquin people and denounced by others.

Zibi’s developers say they’ve “made it a top priority to consult and engage with the Algonquin Anishinabe at every stage of the development process, creating a true partnership.”

They have friendship agreements with the Algonquins of Ontario and Pikwakanagan, Cooper said Friday. All signage is in English, French and Algonquin, he pointed out, and they have mentorship and training programs with both Indigenous groups.

‘We’re really happy with the progress that we’ve made to be as inclusive as we can for all people,” Cooper said.

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/zibis-first-rental-building-gets-60-million-from-the-feds

[J.OT13]

Many people on the news yesterday complained that this isn't really affordable housing. They seem to confuse social housing with affordable. We can't just build a bunch of nearly free housing for the poor and have everything else market price. Even today, with the high rents and costs of buying, individuals and families with average salaries can't afford a decent home. By leaving the two extremes, we end up with a Vancouver situation. We need housing like this that's affordable to the average resident.

[J.OT13]

https://twitter.com/zibiCanada/status/1411005907064999940

[zzptichka]

Is there even a grocery store nearby? I don't think there is one within 2km as crow flies.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Is there even a grocery store nearby? I don't think there is one within 2km as crow flies.

The closest would be Massine's Your Independent Groceries for Double the Price on Bank st.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

Is there even a grocery store nearby? I don't think there is one within 2km as crow flies.

Claridge Moon will be the closest when that opens. Another will open three blocks away on Eddy in W/E II. Zibi should also have one on the Gatineau side in the pripsed office block at Laurier and Laval within 5 years.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Claridge Moon will be the closest when that opens. Another will open three blocks away on Eddy in W/E II. Zibi should also have one on the Gatineau side in the pripsed office block at Laurier and Laval within 5 years.

Hard to say if any of these will be full grocery stores with paper products etc.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Hard to say if any of these will be full grocery stores with paper products etc.

Based on renderings, W/E II should be a Metro, but no official confirmation. No indication for Moon, but I have a feeling it will be a Farm Boy unfortunately (Farm Boys are great and all, but not full service and the area's already oversaturated by FB). Who knows for Zibi, but hoping for a zero waste option.

[HighwayStar]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Hard to say if any of these will be full grocery stores with paper products etc.

Isn’t there at least a Shoppers (or equivalent) going in there somewhere? That would at least take care of the paper part of the equation…

[OTownandDown]

So median income in the area surrounding the feds is what, $50k these days?

So rent is $15,000 to $35,000 per year?

So $1250 - $2900 per month? For a Gatineau 1-or 2 bedroom apartment?

Sounds like the real steal is by Zibi, and out of touch politicians. These rents sound about average, especially for Gatineau. Yet Zibi will receive $60M.

[J.OT13]

Those units will be far cheaper than average for Zibi. Yes, average rents in Gatineau are lower, but that's because the city is full of 70s and 80s plywood blocks. Mont-Bleu where the tornado destroyed many of those is showing where the market is going.

Of course market rates at Zibi will be far more expensive. Plenty of greenery and public space, high quality buildings and designs, sustainable practices and an expensive district energy system. People will be paying for the lifestyle and the environmental aspects. These aren't built on the cheap, lot-line to lot-line Claridge buildings (which also demand ridiculously expensive rents).

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Those units will be far cheaper than average for Zibi. Yes, average rents in Gatineau are lower, but that's because the city is full of 70s and 80s plywood blocks. Mont-Bleu where the tornado destroyed many of those is showing where the market is going.

This is true, but there is still a pretty decent "Gatineau discount" even when comparing apples to apples in terms of building quality, and also location relative to downtown.

This applies to both apartments for rent and homes for sale.

[Harley613]

Junic is instantly renting out every unit as fast as they can build (and they are building hundreds a year) in Agora/Nuvo/Central in the Plateau at Ottawa rates. A two bedroom + mezzanine is close to $4000/month and they are TINY. I don't think you can use 'Gatineau Discount' as a blanket term anymore. A lot of people like to live on this side. Rents are cheaper in the clapboard and tower block districts, but there are many parts of the Outaouais where people will pay as much as Ottawa to live because they genuinely want to live here for reasons beyond cost of rent.