200-201 Beausoleil Dr [OCH] | 72m | 20f | U/C

[rocketphish]

Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) is proposing a new development on the site that comprises 200-201 Friel Street in Ottawa, which includes two existing high-rise buildings owned and operated by OCH. This new development proposes to add a 20-storey highrise residential building along the eastern portion of the site, at the corner of Beausoleil Drive and Chapel Street.

The development is to supply below-market rate rental units for a broad demographic, and will follow best practices for aging-in-place and accessible design to allow for long-term tenancies. It will include 159 residential units, with 20% meeting Ontario Building Code and CMHC Accessible compliance, with the remainder of the units qualifying as CMHC Visitable units.

The development is a 20-storey residential apartment building including a 6-storey podium, mechanical penthouse on top, and one level underground parking. A total of approximately 160 apartment units (including 32 accessible units) are proposed, which will consist of 150 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units. The ground level will have tenant-serving amenity spaces while the underground parking level will provide for 8 parking spaces and a bicycle parking area.

Architect: Diamond Schmitt Architects


Development application:
https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D02-02-23-0022/details

Location:






Siteplan:




Renderings:

[Harley613]

Proper building height is 72 metres.

This looks really great for community housing!!

[originalmuffins]

Love this. It's a beautiful development and if this is the trend they're going on, I can't wait to see what they bring to their Lebreton development beside the Dream towers.

[J.OT13]

Interesting to see Diamond and Schmitt getting into community housing. They may have done it before, but I think it's a first in Ottawa. They are making quite the mark on our City these days.

Overall, good project. As said, very happy it will partially obstruct the view of Trinity's Story of Bait and Switch.

[OTSkyline]

Not bad, and good utilization of small sliver of space, adding density & affordable housing.

A shame it will pretty much be hidden and invisible from Rideau Street though with 3-4 towers lined up in front, fronting Rideau today.

[ponyboycurtis]

Good use of a mostly empty parking lot. I'm not sure about the podium but the tower looks decent. Please include the colored strips.

[J.OT13]

At Planning Committee today. A local spoke in favour. Morguard speaking against because, they say, it would limit redevelopment on their site.

Apparently, the City of Ottawa wants to see a 23 meter separation between high rise towers. Don't think that's ever respected.

In any case, it's carried, with direction to staff to look into how this actually constrains Morguard in the future.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

At Planning Committee today. A local spoke in favour. Morguard speaking against because, they say, it would limit redevelopment on their site.

Apparently, the City of Ottawa wants to see a 23 meter separation between high rise towers. Don't think that's ever respected.

In any case, it's carried, with direction to staff to look into how this actually constrains Morguard in the future.

It's total BS and what constrains them is poor people living next to them in high density.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

It's total BS and what constrains them is poor people living next to them in high density.

Their land is plenty large enough to accommodate different configurations. No reason to oppose this. It's the nature of being a developer in the city.

[rocketphish]

Project resubmitted (September 2023)

Must have been too colourful before. Didn't look Soviet enough?


https://devapps.ottawa.ca/en/applications/D07-12-23-0034/details

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by rocketphish

Project resubmitted (September 2023)

Must have been too colourful before. Didn't look Soviet enough?

I think Bald would approve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De-8RgJWb84

[J.OT13]

Wasn't this approved a month ago? Why the heck are they re-submitting, and such a lower quality project to boot.

[J.OT13]

Prime Minister announces 8 housing projects in Ottawa through Build Canada Homes partnership​
Ted Raymond, CTV
April 23, 2026

==SNIP==

200-201 Beausoleil Drive: 159 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in fall 2026.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/pr...hem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

[rocketphish]

News release
Ottawa, Ontario, August 19, 2026

The Government of Canada is taking action to increase housing supply and accelerate the construction of affordable homes for Canadians.

Today, MP Mona Fortier joined Stéphane Giguère, Chief Executive Officer of Ottawa Community Housing (OCH), to mark the groundbreaking of 200 Beausoleil, an affordable housing development in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood and one of the first projects advancing under the Government of Canada's Build Canada Homes initiative.

The Government of Canada is supporting the development through up to $63 million in combined funding, including investments from Build Canada Homes and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Located at 200 Beausoleil Drive in Lowertown, the development will transform an existing parking structure into a new 20-storey affordable housing building. Featuring a six-storey podium, the building will provide 159 one- and two-bedroom rental homes, including 32 accessible homes. Residents will benefit from convenient access to public transit, community services, parks, and local amenities. Designed using Passive House principles and incorporating solar energy and barrier-free features, the development will promote sustainability, accessibility, and long-term affordability. Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion targeted for 2028.

This development was identified as one of the priority projects under the federal Build Canada Homes partnership with the City of Ottawa. Announced by the Prime Minister on April 23, 2026, the partnership aims to accelerate the delivery of new mixed-income and affordable housing across the city. Ottawa Community Housing is leading the development of the Beausoleil development in partnership with federal, municipal and industry partners. Laurin Construction is serving as construction partner, while Diamond Schmitt Architects and KWC Architects are leading the project's architectural design.

Through collaboration among governments, housing providers, and industry and community partners, this development will help increase housing supply and create affordable homes where they are needed most.

<more>

https://www.canada.ca/en/housing-infrast...-in-ottawas-lowertown-neighbourhood.html

[J.OT13]

Sounds like they've started construction on this one.

[Cecca]

Looking forward to this. Lived on Bruyere for a couple of years and can't tell you how much of an eyesore the existing towers are. Painful eyesore for anyone in the area.