Confederation Heights Redevelopment | Master Plan

[waterloowarrior]

https://engage.clc-sic.ca/realize-the-potential

[SL123]

Confederation Heights: Realize the Potential

The Master Plan will establish a vision for the site, which is expected to transition over the next 25 years from an automobile-oriented employment hub into a mixed-use, sustainable community with a continued strong federal government employment presence.

[McDonald's Racoon]

This project has a ton of potential! I hope they utilize the waterfront properly and get rid of all that surface parking.

[SL123]

I have a feeling its going to end up like Tunneys. They take five years to build a masterplan that is gonna sit on shelves for 30 years

[HomeInMyShoes]

The building I worked in around 1990 that was having asbestos work done in is still there.

[Uhuniau]

Cue the Protectors of the Green Space.

[Dzingle Bells]

I'll be watching this one closely.

A rebuilt LRT stop at the centre of the study area, the existing transitway, likely 2-3 stops of a BRT line along Heron, a huge amount of waterfront access, a future pedestrian crossing to Carleton U, an existing high school nearby, an existing recreation complex - this site has a TON of potential.

Needs some residential density and a robust pedestrian/cycling network for sure though. Would also be great to rebuild the Airport Parkway access from Heron - it is so massive right now.

The link waterloowarrior posted has two public consultation sessions. I encourage people to attend!

• Evening Session: November 23, 2021 from 6 - 8pm.
• Afternoon Session: November 25, 2021 from 2 - 4pm.

[bartlebooth]

The amount of developable or under-utilized land within the greenbelt is bonkers. This is a great example. Hoping for good density and something not built purely around the car. Likely impossible in this city but one can hope.

[lrt's friend]

There is less here to work with than it appears.

We have a major highway, three interchanges, two active rail lines, a busway, two large public parks, a major sports facility and a deep ravine.

It certainly can be greatly improved, but we better not throw out major public facilities in the process to give us more condos.

[Williamoforange]

The Sir Charles Tupper building is also on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

The Edward Drake building (old CSEC building) is "classified federal heritage building"

The Sir Leonard Tilley Building is "classified federal heritage building"

Bus Shelter in Vincet massey park is "classified federal heritage building"

So there is that to deal with as well....and I know some here love to protect heritage buildings regardless of the context downtown.

That leaves:

1) The CRA building & its parking lots. Along with the parking lots of the RA building ~17 hectares

2) any space gained from re-aligning the interchanges and fixing there issues.

3) The canada post section (the area around the parking garage) of ~20 hectares

4) Random assortment of parking lots like that used for the Sir Charles tupper building.

Probably 30 to 50 hectares worth of space in the end without touching anything zoned EP, O1, or L1. Just keep the current Canada post office tower and rebuild the rest with no above ground parking .

Though hopefully this ends with Vincent massey and hogs back park being recognized as parkland by the city and included in there calcs. (AFAIK its currently not)

[OTownandDown]

Is the government ready to spend $500M each for these buildings to remove the asbestos and completely replace lead pipes, inefficient heat, Moldy HVAC, seismic upgrades, cladding replacement (to match heritage) and the list goes on? So you're up to $1.5B pre-cost-overruns.

I will say though, they're delightfully dated looking on the interior (well, the ones I've seen). Almost to the point where it would be a shame to completely renovate (again, I argue the heritage is on the inside of these buildings. Only really Sir Charles Tupper is a blast from the 60's on the exterior).

Seems to me everything bounded by Riverside/Heron/Data Center/Transitway is fair game. Build as dense as humanly possible, with pedestrian thoroughfares prioritized within the new neighbourhood.

Here's a similar project from our friend over at WestSideAction, but for decidedly more polluted lands...(that we know of...)https://www.westsideaction.ca/clichy-batignolles-paris-the-plan/

If we knew how to do it better, and perhaps were more motivated (read: desperate) we would bury Bronson and Heron into the hill they currently awkwardly bump over. No more motorcycle racing, but too bad. How many Hectares is the entire interchange experience?

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

The Sir Charles Tupper building is also on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

The Edward Drake building (old CSEC building) is "classified federal heritage building"

The Sir Leonard Tilley Building is "classified federal heritage building"

Bus Shelter in Vincet massey park is "classified federal heritage building"

So there is that to deal with as well....and I know some here love to protect heritage buildings regardless of the context downtown.

That leaves:

1) The CRA building & its parking lots. Along with the parking lots of the RA building ~17 hectares

2) any space gained from re-aligning the interchanges and fixing there issues.

3) The canada post section (the area around the parking garage) of ~20 hectares

4) Random assortment of parking lots like that used for the Sir Charles tupper building.

Probably 30 to 50 hectares worth of space in the end without touching anything zoned EP, O1, or L1. Just keep the current Canada post office tower and rebuild the rest with no above ground parking .

Though hopefully this ends with Vincent massey and hogs back park being recognized as parkland by the city and included in there calcs. (AFAIK its currently not)

[phil235]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

There is less here to work with than it appears.

We have a major highway, three interchanges, two active rail lines, a busway, two large public parks, a major sports facility and a deep ravine.

It certainly can be greatly improved, but we better not throw out major public facilities in the process to give us more condos.

What major public facilities are you referring to? If you mean the RA Centre, that is going to be redeveloped regardless, as the current model is unsustainable and they have already shut down parts of the complex like the arena. I believe that they have gone through a few iterations of plans to redevelop, and part of the concept is including offices for national sports organizations.

It's a bit of a challenging site, given the change in elevation, but just by re-working the access roads, which are currently designed like highway ramps, they could re-gain a whole lot of space. I don't really see much of a challenge in keeping the heritage buildings and working around them.

[JHikka]

It shouldn't be too difficult to both keep the 'heritage' buildings whilst also densifying and 'gridding' the remainder of the space.

I don't think i've seen any plans for a redeveloped RA Centre but I hope they're more multi-use and a better use of the space while also retaining the NSO offices that use the facility. Some large-scale residential nearer to Billings Station should be the ideal, especially if there's a dedicated path leading from the station and over Data Centre rd. There can be so much done to better integrate the RA Centre lands with the Billings Bridge mall.

Massey and Hog's Back are the two areas I probably wouldn't touch all that much, but everything east and south of Riverside should be fair game for redevelopment. Giant surface parking lots in a location like this are unforgivable.

[phil235]

Originally Posted by JHikka

I don't think i've seen any plans for a redeveloped RA Centre but I hope they're more multi-use and a better use of the space while also retaining the NSO offices that use the facility. Some large-scale residential nearer to Billings Station should be the ideal, especially if there's a dedicated path leading from the station and over Data Centre rd. There can be so much done to better integrate the RA Centre lands with the Billings Bridge mall.

Not to mention the fact that Billings Bridge mall is very likely to be redeveloped in the medium term.

These are the 2015 plans for the RA Centre, though I think I saw something newer somewhere else:

https://www.racentre.com/building-for-our-future/

I'm hoping that there is room to partner with the City to keep the athletic facilities intact, as the core of the city is in real need of those.

[J.OT13]

I would prefer if the Feds focused on LeBreton, Tunney's and Booth (and maybe Hurdman). Their focus is scattered all over the city, which results in little progress.

That said, the area does need a complete re-design. Might be better to do so as part of the Trillium upgrade (like when we're looking to double track and electrify). Ridiculous road designs like having to drive past Riverside Drive from Baseline, to the Airport Parkway in order to take two ramps to Riverside is bonkers. The road network is the first thing that should be rebuilt.

As for the heritage buildings, I'm a fan of all of them. If they are structurally sound, it seems reasonable to gut them of asbestos and outdated mechanical, while keeping as much heritage elements inside and out. Cheaper than demo and new build, not to mention better from an environmental stand-point. That said, heritage designations mean nothing to the Feds. Look at the John Carling Building, or Daly, or countless other examples.

[rumple-stilts]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

. That said, heritage designations mean nothing to the Feds. Look at the John Carling Building, or Daly, or countless other examples.

A bit of a correction re the Feds not caring about heritage. Re the Sir John Carling building, a 2002 estimate for asbestos removal would be in the neighbourhood of $10M, which today would likely be closer to $40M. Julian Smith was engaged to confirm the Heritage qualities of the building and it was determined that outside of a few elements (e.g. cafeteria) this was not a designated heritage asset. The original glass curtain wall design by Massey was not realized because a DM complained he was going to roast in his office. As for the Daly building, well that's the NCC for you.

[huntclub]

Got a flyer in the mail for a presentation/discussion for concept plans for this site. Thurs Nov. 23, 2023 from 12pm to 3pm or from 6pm to 9pm at St. Elias Centre at 750 Ridgewood.

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by huntclub

Got a flyer in the mail for a presentation/discussion for concept plans for this site. Thurs Nov. 23, 2023 from 12pm to 3pm or from 6pm to 9pm at St. Elias Centre at 750 Ridgewood.

More Info:
https://engage.clc-sic.ca/realize-the-potential?tool=news_feed#tool_tab

[rocketphish]

• Video Link

[rocketphish]

Budget opens door to faster housing development in Ottawa, Canada Lands boss says

David Sali, OBJ
April 24, 2024 2:23 PM ET

The head of a Crown corporation that buys and develops federal properties says he’s hoping to speed up projects such as converting empty government office buildings into apartments in a bid to boost Ottawa’s housing stock.

Canada Lands Company president and CEO Stéphan Déry told a city-building summit organized by OBJ and the Ottawa Board of Trade this week his organization is working with developers on a number of projects that will eventually provide thousands of new housing units in the National Capital Region.

“We want to contribute,” Déry said during a panel discussion Tuesday at Lansdowne Park’s Horticulture Building. “We’re all about building mixed-use communities.”

He said the recent federal budget has given Canada Lands new tools to help speed the development process along.

They include $5 million in new funding targeted for measures such as providing low-cost leases to builders, putting housing on underused federal properties, and working with other Crown corporations to redevelop surplus buildings.

In addition, while the federal government previously sold properties to Canada Lands at market rates, it will now look to transfer land to the company for $1 whenever possible to help spur affordable housing projects.

Déry said his organization is working with Public Services and Procurement Canada, which manages much of the federal government’s real estate portfolio in the National Capital Region, to “go faster” on projects such as redeveloping Tunney’s Pasture and Confederation Heights, a 464-acre federal campus south of downtown that includes properties such as the former CBC headquarters at 1500 Bronson Ave. and the Sir Leonard Tilley Building at 719 Heron Rd.

<snip>

https://obj.ca/budget-opens-door-to-faster-housing-development-in-ottawa-canada-lands-boss-says/