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

[J.OT13]

Mégaprojet immobilier de Brigil au centre-ville d’Ottawa
Par Charles-Antoine Gagnon, Le Droit
3 juillet 2024 à 15h12

Un comité de la Ville d’Ottawa a approuvé des modifications de zonage en prévision d’un imposant projet de tours d’habitation du promoteur immobilier Brigil au centre-ville d’Ottawa.

Le comité de la planification et du logement a d’ailleurs recommandé mercredi que le conseil de ville approuve les modifications en question qui permettront au constructeur gatinois de bâtir trois tours d’une hauteur maximum de 32, 34 et 36 étages sur l’ancien site de la gare d’autobus sur la rue Catherine, à un jet de pierre de l’autoroute 417. Brigil a acquis le site en 2021.

Le zonage prévoyait que les immeubles dans ce secteur ne devaient pas dépasser 25 étages, et que seulement deux tours pouvaient être érigées.

Le concept de Brigil prévoit la construction d’un total de 1134 unités de logement avec des espaces pour des commerces.

Il y aura un parc public, des toilettes publiques, et la hauteur des propriétés du côté de la rue Arlington sera réduite comparativement au projet initial. Il s’agit-là de modifications apportées à la suite de consultation avec la communauté.

Les travaux pourraient commencer dès cet automne et s’échelonner sur cinq à sept ans. L’on s’attend à ce que le complexe accueille plus de 2000 résidents.

L’Association communautaire du centre-ville s’était montrée préoccupée face au projet initial en raison de la hauteur des tours proposées, dont l’une devait atteindre 40 étages. L’organisation accueille le projet, mais elle émet encore quelques réserves.

«Il y aura 49 appartements de trois chambres à coucher pour les familles. Je crois que c’est très peu», a entre autres indiqué Mary Huang, présidente de l’Association, rappelant que le projet est situé à côté d’une école.

Néanmoins, Brigil a reçu de bons mots de la part d’élus municipaux pour son écoute de la communauté concernant les craintes de citoyens, et pour sa capacité à modifier et à raffiner sa proposition initiale pour répondre aux préoccupations exprimées.

«Mon expérience avec Brigil a toujours été positive, a souligné l’échevin Riley Brockington (quartier Rivière). Ce que j’observe, et qui a été répliqué dans ce dossier, est qu’ils prennent le temps d’écouter, de travailler avec les partenaires, et des modifications sont apportées, et je crois que c’est comme ça que ça devrait toujours être».

Le conseil de ville devrait donner le feu vert au projet à sa réunion du 10 juillet.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/a...JBQEOCI4VEWD4/

[rocketphish]

Highrise project at former Greyhound terminal short on car parking, by design
With just 360 parking spots for 1,100 units, councillor worries cycling infrastructure not enough

Arthur White-Crummey · CBC News
Posted: Jul 04, 2024 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours ago



Three highrise towers planned for the site of Ottawa's demolished Greyhound bus terminal got the green light from a city committee on Wednesday, despite worries that the area's roads are too dangerous for an expected onrush of cyclists.

Brigil is planning to build towers of 32, 34 and 36 storeys with 1,134 units on a city block fronting Catherine Street, between Kent and Lyon streets.

It would offer just 360 parking spaces for residents — less than half what was required under the zoning bylaw — but 1,164 bicycle parking spots.

The development team told councillors that they're building towers for a 15-minute neighbourhood based around walking and cycling.

"This isn't an automobile-driven project," said John Moser of consultant GBA Group.

But Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster, who represents the area, said the area's cycling infrastructure needs major work to keep all those peddling commuters safe as they head downtown on Kent Street.

"This is a massive neighbourhood-changing development bringing 2,000 people to a specific corner, with a 0.2 per person parking ratio, with the intention that people will use active transportation, and the north-south roads that are surrounding the site are extremely dangerous for cyclists," she said.

"We cannot have bike and transit-oriented development without bike and transit-oriented infrastructure."

She called Kent Street "like a four-lane highway through Centretown." In her view, it needs a "road diet with dedicated cycling facilities."

Coun. Jeff Leiper, who chairs the planning and housing committee, said building the towers will help create the pressure to make those changes a reality.

"One of the solutions to downtown revitalization is people, and a development like this has got the potential to create a very critical mass of people who are going to want services," he said. "They are going to demand the safe infrastructure for getting around."

Andrew McCreight, the city's manager of development review (central), said city staff are hoping a renewal of Catherine Street will bring east-west cycling infrastructure to the site within a few years.

He noted that Lyon Street already has a southbound bike lane, and said staff are also looking at cycling infrastructure for Kent Street, though it's not clear when or even whether that will happen.

"It's too early to tell. We just know that Kent Street has been flagged as something to look at," McCreight said. "I don't believe there's any work plans on the books at this part ... [but] a development of this nature can at least trigger that conversation."

In his view, the site already has good access to retail, parks, cycling lanes and transit.

Troster thanked Brigil for making substantial changes to the project in light of resident concerns, including adding public washrooms, which she called "transformative."

Brigil also reduced building heights from an earlier proposal that included a 40-storey tower. One hundred units are intended to be affordable, with a maximum rent of about $1,550 per month.

In all, Troster called the new proposal "much, much better."

But the Centretown Community Association still has concerns about the project. Its president, Mary Huang, said there could be more green space. In her view, the number of accessible and family-size units remains low, especially for a development so close to a school.

As for the prospect of so many residents living car free, she said that the area is "not yet a 15-minute neighbourhood."

Brigil's vice president of acquisitions and development, Jean-Luc Rivard, said the company is ready to begin work on the project this fall. He said it should take about five to seven years to finish.

He agreed with Troster that better bike infrastructure in the area would be good for the project.

Planning and housing committee voted in favour of Brigil's requested zoning changes on Wednesday, including to allow a reduced number of parking spaces and increased building heights for the site.

Its recommendations still have to go to a full meeting of city council for final approval.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...inal-1.7253258

[DTcrawler]

Happy to read Leiper's comments which echo something I've felt for a long time. All too often councillors like to oppose projects on the basis that supporting amenities, such as transit and cycling facilities, don't yet exist to support the influx of residents. But in a city (and country) where nothing is done proactively, the best way to build the business case for such amenities is by creating the demand and forcing the issue.

It's similar to Menard arguing against the residential towers at Lansdowne 2.0, saying that Bank St. transit infrastructure can't support it. Well what better way to force the city to take action than by accelerating the issue instead of letting council and staff drag their feet.

[J.OT13]

Kent and Lyon are much wider than they need to be. It would be easy to re-configure them for wider sidewalks and cycling, while keeping two lanes for cars. Traffic on those streets is never that significant.

Bank is another story. It sees major congestion so removing car lanes is a much harder sell. But I digress.

Here's a CTV article from a few weeks ago that gives more info on the project.

Three apartment towers with 1,300 units proposed for former Greyhound bus terminal in Ottawa

Josh Pringle
CTV News Ottawa Producer and Digital Lead
Published June 21, 2024 2:30 p.m. EDT

More than 1,300 apartment units and townhouses, along with commercial spaces and a park will be built at the site of the former Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Ottawa.

A report for the planning and housing committee meeting on July 3 recommends councillors approved an application by Gatineau-based Brigil Construction to build on Catherine Street, between Kent and Lyon streets.

The plan includes three high-rise towers of 32, 34 and 36 storeys, with two six-storey podiums and three-storey townhouses along Arlington Avenue.

In the first phase of construction, Tower 1 would be built along Catherine Street with about 400 units and 144 underground parking spaces. The second phase includes building Towers 2 (fronting Catherine Street) and 3 (facing Lyon Street) with around 730 units, along with seven townhouse units and 216 underground parking spaces.

"Unit types include a mix of bachelor, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, with an intention for 100 of these to be affordable units," staff say.

A minimum of 15 per cent privately owned public space will be provided in the form of "woonerf-style lanes, patios, and gardens," staff say. There will be an approximately 1,000 square metre public park at the northeastern corner of the property.

The report says the city received approximately 40 comments on the proposed development, with concerns raised about the building height, increased density, insufficient parking spaces, housing affordability and increased traffic.

Staff say the location is "ideal for intensification and meets residential growth targets" within the downtown core.

"The proposed mixed-use development has a 15-minute neighbourhood score of nine out of nine, which indicates a high degree of access to services and amenities," staff say.

"It further supports the evolution of a 15-minute neighbourhood by providing a variety of housing options while complimenting the local amenities through the introduction of commercial spaces on the ground floor and the dedication of a new public park. This proposal will foster a vibrant community atmosphere and will support the creation of a complete community as envisioned in the Official Plan."

Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster is still concerned about the heights of the buildings.

"I continue to find the height of this project challenging. This level of height is unique to this part of the neighbourhood, and this level of density should be accompanied by a significant affordable housing component," Troster said.

The initial plan submitted to the city in June 2023 called for three towers ranging from 26 to 40 storeys.

In response to community letters raising concerns about the heights of the towers, staff said the plan has been modified to address concerns and align with city policies.

"The proposed heights are balanced by design elements such as slimmer towers, significant separations, and step-backs to minimize shadow impacts, with reduced heights (from as-of-right) along Arlington Avenue for better transition," staff said.

"The development includes various unit types, including family-sized and affordable units, and emphasizes sustainable transportation with ample bicycle parking, car-sharing options, and EV charging stations. Sustainability features include energy-efficient systems and renewable energy sources. The design respects the neighbourhood's character with appropriate materials and building forms, while integrating public and community spaces."

The plan requires an amendment to the Official Plan to permit the mixed-use development with the towers of 32, 34 and 36 storeys.

Brigil purchased the Greyhound station in 2021.

https://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/three-apar...tawa-1.6936259

[Lakeofthewood]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Kent and Lyon are much wider than they need to be. It would be easy to re-configure them for wider sidewalks and cycling, while keeping two lanes for cars. Traffic on those streets is never that significant.

Bank is another story. It sees major congestion so removing car lanes is a much harder sell. But I digress.

I really think we could go a long way towards improving the core if Kent and O'Connor were transformed into more usable streets, both for transportation and for commercial purposes. Kent St especially has absolutely no business being a three-lane street - it would be great to see cycling facilities and wider sidewalks. Two lanes with off-peak parking in one of the lanes should be more than enough. Would also help slow people down, since cars fly down Kent at off-peak hours.

[zzptichka]

I think no city-owned street should have more than 2 lanes in each direction. Kent, Lyon, and Catherine streets must be tightened now. So do Carling, Bronson, Woodroffe eventually.

[LRTeverywhere]

A portion of Kent is going to be up for renewal in a couple years (Somerset to Florence, hoping we can get one block further to Gladstone included).

Troster is pushing for better cycling infra on Kent so this is a good opportunity and should set the tone for the rest of the street if accomplished.

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster is still concerned about the heights of the buildings.

"I continue to find the height of this project challenging. This level of height is unique to this part of the neighbourhood, and this level of density should be accompanied by a significant affordable housing component," Troster said.

Someone called their councillor to complain about the tomato-murdering shade, it sounds like.