265 Catherine St [Former Greyhound terminal] | 110/117/127m | 32/34/36f | Site Prep

[vtecyo]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Imagine what the area could be like if we 'Autoroute Ville Marie'ed the Queensway though the core.

I think the southern portion of the new stormwater/sewage overflow tunnel currently goes under the Queensway to at Kent Street... I don't know how deep it is.

Anyway - with enough money they could bury it starting just west of Nicholas Street interchange, go under the canal - and stay there until after the Trillium line.

If that's impractical - the portion east of Nicholas is already at grade, and lower than the surrounding streets. So they could transform the 1km long stretch from Riverside Dr to St Laurent by capping it over with a park - without ever having to close the highway for a long stretch of time.

[kwoldtimer]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

"this is a poor location for retail" = "incumbent commercial landlords on Bank Street don't appreciate the competion".

What would make it a good location for retail?

[zzptichka]

And build Sens arena on top while we are at it

[DTcrawler]

A snippet from the CBC article about this proposal:

"The shadow that's going to be cast by a 40 and 35 storey building, it's going to be huge," she said.

Huang lives near the property. Based on the shadow studies Brigil submitted to the city, she figures her home would be under the shadow of the towers at least part of the day. She grows peppers in her garden, as well as tomatoes that love the sun.

"I think it will be trouble for the tomatoes, because they need a lot of sunlight," she said, noting that some of her neighbours have gardens that are likely to see even less sun if the towers go forward as planned.

Please, won't someone think of the c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶r̶e̶n̶ tomatoes?!

[rocketphish]

Three high-rise towers planned for former Catherine Street Greyhound terminal
Community association has concerns about scale, wants affordable housing in return

CBC News
Posted: Jul 01, 2023 12:19 PM EDT | Last Updated: 36 minutes ago



After buying the old Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Ottawa, the developer Brigil is planning to build 1,000 rental units, retail stores and a public park.

There's one catch. The three towers it wants to build at the Catherine Street site are 26, 36 and 40 storeys, while the height limit for the property is currently 25 storeys. The company has applied to the city for a zoning bylaw amendment as a result.

"We've already had a lot of discussions with the city about how to optimize the project for the application," Jessy Desjardins, Brigil's vice president of development and design, said in a French-language interview with Radio-Canada.

Before making its application, Brigil organized consultations with residents. According to Desjardins, the project responds to what residents said they were looking for at the site, though the local community association told CBC that it has some concerns about the scale of the project.

Jeff Leiper, who chairs council's planning and housing committee, told Radio-Canada he's eager to examine the project in more detail.

It calls for three towers with rental units of one, two and three bedrooms, as well as townhouses. Retail stores are planned for the ground floor, while the design also foresees a public park on the site. One of the towers is slated to have a "sky lounge."

Just 400 parking spaces will be available for the 1,000 units in the buildings, as the design aims to reduce automobile dependence.

"We really want this to be a project where people can use public transportation, walk or bike to get where they're going," said Desjardins.

He added that the abundance of public space on the site will improve the pedestrian experience and the look of Arlington Street. A design brief foresees 25 per cent of the site devoted to publicly accessible open space.

"We really worked hard on designing podiums on a human scale that will create a precedent for Catherine Street, so the next developments along the street can be inspired by the project," Desjardins said.

Centretown Community Association president Mary Huang said she's been involved with consultations on the project. Her association isn't opposed to density in the neighbourhood, but has concerns about whether the scale of the development is appropriate for a neighbourhood that's now mostly made up of one, two and three-storey dwellings.

"The shadow that's going to be cast by a 40 and 35 storey building, it's going to be huge," she said.

Huang lives near the property. Based on the shadow studies Brigil submitted to the city, she figures her home would be under the shadow of the towers at least part of the day. She grows peppers in her garden, as well as tomatoes that love the sun.

"I think it will be trouble for the tomatoes, because they need a lot of sunlight," she said, noting that some of her neighbours have gardens that are likely to see even less sun if the towers go forward as planned.

Despite the risk to her vegetables, Huang isn't opposing the proposed heights outright. She just wants to make sure the community gets something back if the city bends the zoning bylaw in Brigil's favour.

She said the developer should ensure it provides more affordable housing units than what the city usually expects, and not at rents just a hair below market rates.

"If they want higher density, which means they make more profit and improved balance sheet, it would be nice for the community to share in that," she said.

"If they give us a decent amount of affordable housing, I'm willing to sacrifice the garden."

With reporting by Alexandra Angers, Julien David-Pelletier and Arthur White-Crummey

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...inal-1.6894562

[zzptichka]

"I think it will be trouble for the tomatoes, because they need a lot of sunlight," she said, noting that some of her neighbours have gardens that are likely to see even less sun if the towers go forward as planned.

You can't make this stuff up

[Ottawacurious]

She is willing to compromise?

"If they give us a decent amount of affordable housing, I'm willing to sacrifice the garden."

[Williamoforange]

"She just wants to make sure the community gets something back if the city bends the zoning bylaw in Brigil's favour."

Where have I heard that BS before......Ottawa current zoning isn't relevant and it won't be for another 2 years, until then if they can argue it meets the official plan then it meets zoning. Anything else pure self-feeding nimbyism.

As for the logic, this community is getting something a whole lot of housing the city needs, along with ~16 to 22.5 Million in dev fees + 3 Million for schools, a host of new commercial space with lower then avg rent, and lastly a new park (on top of the 943K for parkland in those dev fees).

but i'm sure certain councilors belonging to a certain group will be spouting the same thing.

[originalmuffins]

Originally Posted by zzptichka

You can't make this stuff up

These people are legitimately insane. The stupidity is beyond reason.

[originalmuffins]

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

She is willing to compromise?

"If they give us a decent amount of affordable housing, I'm willing to sacrifice the garden."

It's a load of bullshit, because if it was all affordable housing, they'd react the same way. Look at how the community association near Hunt Club reacted to Larga Baffin, a medical centre for our first nations. Lol. No, what they really care about is their stupid little gardens and tomatoes.

Ridiculous lol.

[Ottawacurious]

Originally Posted by originalmuffins

It's a load of bullshit, because if it was all affordable housing, they'd react the same way. Look at how the community association near Hunt Club reacted to Larga Baffin, a medical centre for our first nations. Lol. No, what they really care about is their stupid little gardens and tomatoes.

Ridiculous lol.

I'm rolling my eyes too at the 'compromise'

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by DTcrawler

A snippet from the CBC article about this proposal:

Please, won't someone think of the c̶h̶i̶l̶d̶r̶e̶n̶ tomatoes?!

I'm sure two 27 storey slabs wouldn't cast any shadows whatsoever.

That said, I'm not getting the same extreme NIMBY vibe from this Mary Huang person as I've had from the community near Hunt Club and their opposition to the moderately sized Larga Baffin on a stroad (probably fueled by intolerance/racism) or Queenswood Heights with the Kennedy Lane towns.

The things she wants to see in return for that extra height seems to be mostly included in the project, including park land and 10% affordable housing.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm sure two 27 storey slabs wouldn't cast any shadows whatsoever.

That said, I'm not getting the same extreme NIMBY vibe from this Mary Huang person as I've had from the community near Hunt Club and their opposition to the moderately sized Larga Baffin on a stroad (probably fueled by intolerance/racism) or Queenswood Heights with the Kennedy Lane towns.

The things she wants to see in return for that extra height seems to be mostly included in the project, including park land and 10% affordable housing.

How dare you bring your facts and science into Ottawa Shadow Talk!

I actually thought her comments were pretty cool. She's resigned to losing her tomatoes, but tongue in cheek asks for affordable housing in return. It made for some funny quotes out of context.

[rocketphish]

At the risk of going OT, I hope that Brigil does not suffer an...

• Video Link

[Nepean]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

I'm sure two 27 storey slabs wouldn't cast any shadows whatsoever.

That said, I'm not getting the same extreme NIMBY vibe from this Mary Huang person as I've had from the community near Hunt Club and their opposition to the moderately sized Larga Baffin on a stroad (probably fueled by intolerance/racism) or Queenswood Heights with the Kennedy Lane towns.

The things she wants to see in return for that extra height seems to be mostly included in the project, including park land and 10% affordable housing.

I am not sure why some people are calling Mary Huang unreasonable. Any fair reading of this article makes clear that she would support this development, as long as the community got certain things in return. Seems like a pretty reasonable position to me.

[Williamoforange]

Originally Posted by Nepean

I am not sure why some people are calling Mary Huang unreasonable. Any fair reading of this article makes clear that she would support this development, as long as the community got certain things in return. Seems like a pretty reasonable position to me.

Well let's look at the context, head of CA (known for nimbyism), that has been involved in the local consultations that brigil had held and as such would/should know all of the things brigil is offering yet..

They are still requesting more above and beyond that and they are doing so from a position that the city is "giving" the dev the height (there not giving anything). The whole conversation screams extortion on the part of the CA, give us what we want regardless of the situation at hand or the ca will fight much needed housing.

[citizen j]

There seems to be a lot of concern in Centretown with regard to shadows. Perhaps the City can arrange for Taggart to cut down all of their trees? Problem solved.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

Well let's look at the context, head of CA (known for nimbyism), that has been involved in the local consultations that brigil had held and as such would/should know all of the things brigil is offering yet..

They are still requesting more above and beyond that and they are doing so from a position that the city is "giving" the dev the height (there not giving anything). The whole conversation screams extortion on the part of the CA, give us what we want regardless of the situation at hand or the ca will fight much needed housing.

I think you need to have another look at the definition of “extortion”.

The woman is asking for more untits of affordable housing. That’s it.

[Williamoforange]

Originally Posted by phil235

I think you need to have another look at the definition of “extortion”.

The woman is asking for more untits of affordable housing. That’s it.

Definition of extortion: "the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats."

The woman is demanding more "affordable units" at a definition of their own making, and unless they get them they are going to oppose the development. You may agree with the extortion but that's what it is.

I however would rather 1032 new units at any price point then zero, but hey I know some here take offense to a such tall structures in DT ottawa, for example a 9 story building on LISGAR st... but the city really shouldn't be proposing that as being the best path forward. The city should not in any sense try to protect the "view" or "feel" of low density detached SFH in the core.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

Definition of extortion: "the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats."

The woman is demanding more "affordable units" at a definition of their own making, and unless they get them they are going to oppose the development. You may agree with the extortion but that's what it is.

I however would rather 1032 new units at any price point then zero, but hey I know some here take offense to a such tall structures in DT ottawa, for example a 9 story building on LISGAR st... but the city really shouldn't be proposing that as being the best path forward. The city should not in any sense try to protect the "view" or "feel" of low density detached SFH in the core.

I’m not sure where you read a threat, because I didn’t see one. Also, she has no actual power to make a threat.

Ottawa is desperate for affordable housing, and that is a very reasonable thing to ask for here. Also, as we intensify, more greenspace is going to be needed in these areas. That’s not up to this developer, but it is certainly a reasonable ask of the city.