Development and construction in your neighbourhood
Nine-storey building proposed for 339 Cumberland
The owner 339 Cumberland submitted a rezoning application to redevelop the vacant parcel of land located at the northeast corner of Cumberland and York. If approved, the rezoning would permit a nine storey mixed use building with 48 units, average size of 350 square feet. The applicant is asking to double the permitted height, triple the Maximum Floor Space Index, which is the ratio between the gross floor area of the building and the lot area, and eliminate setbacks the distance between the building and the street or property boundary.
The rezoning would also do away with the required parking spaces.
While redeveloping this small parcel of land is an excellent idea, a lower building height of four to five storeys would harmonize better with the historic character and scale of the adjacent buildings.
Keeping some setbacks would also protect existing trees, which help enhance this important entrance way to the ByWard Market. Comments on this proposal can be directed to city staff at Erin.O’Connell@ottawa.ca
New proposal for 26 and 28 storey towers at 151-152 Chapel
Trinity Development Group, who owns the land formerly occupied by the Jewish Community Centre at the corner of Rideau and Chapel resubmitted its application for an official plan amendment. If approved, the amendment would permit two mixed use towers of 26 and 28 storeys sitting on a nine storey podium. The proponent reduced only slightly the height of the towers, which still leaves them at five times the permitted height. The new proposal shows a decrease in the number of units from 785 to 550 and in the number of parking spaces from 721 to 532.
The revised proposal still requests the opening of the culdesac at Chapel and Beausoleil to give access to a garage that would be located on Beausoleil. The proposal is now accompanied by a traffic study that posits that the proposed development and the opening of the culdesac would have no major impact on the traffic circulation on Rideau, Chapel and Beausoleil. Comments on this proposal can be directed to city staff at Erin.O’Connell@ottawa.ca.
New proposal for 26 and 28 storey towers at 151-152 Chapel
Trinity Development Group, who owns the land formerly occupied by the Jewish Community Centre at the corner of Rideau and Chapel resubmitted its application for an official plan amendment. If approved, the amendment would permit two mixed use towers of 26 and 28 storeys sitting on a nine storey podium. The proponent reduced only slightly the height of the towers, which still leaves them at five times the permitted height. The new proposal shows a decrease in the number of units from 785 to 550 and in the number of parking spaces from 721 to 532.
The revised proposal still requests the opening of the culdesac at Chapel and Beausoleil to give access to a garage that would be located on Beausoleil. The proposal is now accompanied by a traffic study that posits that the proposed development and the opening of the culdesac would have no major impact on the traffic circulation on Rideau, Chapel and Beausoleil. Comments on this proposal can be directed to city staff at Erin.O’Connell@ottawa.ca.
Holiday Inn at the King Edward – Murray – St. Patrick triangle
The owner of 364 St. Patrick plans to submit a revised development proposal for the triangle of land east of King Edward, between Murray and StPatrick. The proposal is for a nine storey, 167room Holiday Inn with a restaurant on the ground floor and a two storey underground garage. Cars would access the hotel through St. Patrick and would exit through Murray. The revised plan will require minor zoning variances and the approval of a site plan. Work is planned to commence in December and be terminated in 2017
Construction at the Chinese Embassy
As a crane was raised at 515 St. Patrick Street, we learned that an application for site plan control, in two phases, has been submitted to the City by AECOM acting for the Embassy.
The first phase consists of the demolition of a 1,620 sqm rear addition and reconstruction of a 1,960 sqm new addition in the same location. This addition is located behind the main building and connected by a corridor. It will be set back 18 metres from the water’s edge. The addition will house a reception hall and a kitchen supporting the diplomatic mission use. The site works associated with Phase 1 will remove 21 existing parking spaces; however, temporary spaces will be provided on the site until a garage can be constructed in Phase 2. Phase 1 was approved by the City in January and building permits have been issued.
The second phase will consist of a new underground parking facility of 110 parking spaces. The facility will be used for longterm storage of diplomatic vehicles. Before it can proceed, additional works are required on site to adjust flood capacity.
Works are proposed in the eastern quadrant of the site to remove existing vegetation and fill material for an area measuring about 80 metres in length and from 9 to 30 metres in width. This area is known as the “cut”. The volume of excavated material to be removed is approximately 1,080 cubic metres. A 3metre high retaining wall is proposed and the area will be replanted with native species. According to city planner Allison Hamlin, the proposed development, including the balanced cut and fill, has been reviewed by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and found to be acceptable.