[waterloowarrior]

Very exciting news for Kanata

News Story Hotel tower pitched for Kanata
By Ottawa Business Journal Staff (info_obj@transcontinental.ca)
Mon, Sep 10, 2007 12:00 PM EST


The third tallest structure in the capital may soon be in Kanata.

The Richcraft Group of Companies is hoping for a 30-storey hotel in Kanata, the Kanata Kourier-Standard is reporting, which at 104 metres would rival Ottawa's two tallest buildings, the Place de Ville II Tower (112 metres) and Minto Metropole (109 metres), located downtown and in Westboro, respectively.

Richcraft is asking the city to alter zoning regulations to allow for the 30-storey hotel, a 24-storey condominium building and a big box store for its site at 30 Golbourn Forced Rd., at the intersection of Highway 417 and Terry Fox Drive, across the street from the Kanata Centrum, the western "gateway" to Ottawa.

Richcraft's plans include constructing a tunnel underneath the big box store, suitable for light rail or the bus Transitway. The tunnel was a detail omitted from a previous rejected plan for the site by Richcraft to build a big box store and 22-storey hotel.

The 4,600-square-metre (49,514 square feet) big box store is proposed to sit north of a 179-unit condo tower and a 264-unit hotel. The hotel would include a five-storey above-ground parking garage.


Currently, zoning rules for the site allow for a maximum 13.5 metre-tall structure, and do not allow for residential development.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I remember that we had a member come on saying that he saw concepts for this project in the Kanata Kourier. Do you know if there are any artistic concepts available?

[sgera]

yes...there were renderings in the local kanata paper...looked very nice. I have the clipping...but not sure how to post the pics...

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

do you have a scanner?

[cityguy]

I went out to Kanata a few weeks ago to find a copy of that paper,but had no sucess.

[harls]

The Kanata Kourier is online.. I grabbed these screen caps from the Sept 28 issue:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/1801634321_64cc64da95_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2171/1802477808_0001fc2232_o.jpg

You need to sign up to see the online issues, but it's free.

http://www.runge.net/?Main=Backissues/backissues.asp#Kanata%20Kourier

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Looks pretty sweet! Thanks for that, harls! :tup:

[harls]

The taller tower reminds me of 1250 Rene-Levesque in Montreal, anyone else see it?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2202/1533121973_dd66e64f09.jpg

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Hey yeah, it does! Freaky.

If Kanata does get a tower that looks like 1250 Rene-Levesque, I'll be jealous. ;)

[cityguy]

If it gets build it will look very impressive driving into Ottawa from the west.

[FFX-ME]

I know what i want for christmas, but not in a suburb, you need to build that downtown

[Cre47]

In the Kanata Kourier of today, they are plans for four apartment condos alongside the 417 near Terry Fox and Kanata Ave right near the hotel/condo proposal site and the Centrum. Heights though will be limited however between 9 and 11 floors. The developer is Group Lepine. Looking at the Page 9 photo, seems they will have the Future Kanata Transitway right south of them.

http://www.runge.net/TempDownload/DownloadFiles/1197630458/kk-071214.pdf

[c_speed3108]

With all this and all the stuff proposed and under construction in Orleans the 'burbs are going to be gaining some serious height!

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Just wait for it; the burbs will have taller towers than downtown! :rolleyes:

[Rysdad]

Just wait for it; the burbs will have taller towers than downtown! :rolleyes:

They already do if you consider Gatineau a Suburb:)

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

They already do if you consider Gatineau a Suburb:)

I actually consider Gatineau to be a part of the city, but maybe that's because at least once a week I'm Quebec-Side... :haha:

And Terrasses de la Chaudiere is in one of the few urban areas of Gatineau. :P

[Aylmer]

If they build this, I swear I will go postal. So will the city.

[Capital]

If they build this, I swear I will go postal. So will the city.

What is wrong with this proposal? Are you at all familiar with the former city of Kanata's downtown concept plan that has since been adopted by the City of Ottawa and has had public consultations as recently as 2 months ago.

I will personally purchase a unit in this building if it is built.

It is in the ideal location. Walking distance from many restaurants, stores and entertainment complexes. Adjacent to major highway and arterial roads. Has intergrated the transitway right into the building. It is one of few buildings in Ottawa that allow people to work and live in the same complex. It does not currently have any adjacent neighbours that will feel dwarfed by the height, unless you count the soon to be under construction, largest Loblaws in the country...and I bet they would be very agreeable to this proposal. The only place in the city of Ottawa where you have a larger concentration of employees to the Kanata North Business Park would be downtown Ottawa. So not all the residents would be adding to the commute to the core. This project is located right on Terry Fox leading directly to this park (Both sections of Terry Fox are soon to be joined together).

The Four buildings that Lepine has proposed between Campeau and the Queensway at the current end to Knudson also makes a lot of sense. It meets the guidelines set-out in 1993. All of the buildings will be rental units with there own recreational complex building. Kanata has always had a large shortage of rental properties, especially one and two bedroom apartments. It is again adjacent to the transitway and the long-time planned transit station at the Pedestrian Overpass bridge over the 417. It is walking distance to the Kanata Centrum, schools, library, a large recreational complex (skating, seniors community association, 12 tennis courts, a track, football fields, softball diamonds, golf course, etc. The neighbouring building to these four is currently under construction on Campeau drive and will be a buffer between Kanata Lakes and this project.

If the height of this 30 storey building is such a horrible idea, why would you not want an architectural beauty to distract our eyes from Mount Trashmore; as it is the only tall feature on the horizon looking Westward from this site.

Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.

[Aylmer]

We don't need nor want the Bjur Dubai in Kanata, Orleans, Aylmer or any other low-density area.
We must concentrate on the DOWNTOWN desification instead of the suburb desifacation (I do not support sprawl) . We could build that in the market or even better in Lebreton!
I agree that Kanata is growing up but we can't let this " Architectual beauty"
Slip through our hands and be built in the suburbs.
It is embarassing enough that cities as small as Winnipeg and Halifax Trump our tallest buildings but having the tallest in the suburbs would be disgraceful!

I could accept a 20 to 25 story building in the suburbs but any taller is rather unacceptable.

As for Mount Trashmore, over time could become a great ski resort!

[adam-machiavelli]

If 200 people are going to move to Kanata, I'd rather they live in a high-rise condo than expansive former farmland.

[Aylmer]

They can move in downtown.

[Capital]

Why would you limit something to only 20 or 25 stories if the demand is there for 30. Should we limit the growth of one part of the city because the core keeps fighting off these types of proposals. Why would it be disgraceful to have a 30 storey building in a major suburb of a 1,000,000+ populated city? Wouldn't it be something to be proud of if we didn't all have to commute, on congested roadways, and had the opportunity to live closer to their work?
Kanata and the Stittsville area have a population of over 100,000 people and is growing at a ridiculous rate. Just ask the 30 plus home builders all working on projects in this area. It is very different from the current Barrhaven or Orleans as many people work and live in the same suburbing community. Orleans has several high-rise apartments proposed, as does Barhaven. Kanata is not a bedroom community like many North American Suburbs are. Why would you be against this. People live where they want, not where you prefer they would.

I agree with you entirely that this city needs some tall buildings within the core to make it stand out amongst mid-sized North American cities. The problems are:

What piece of land could you build this on downtown?
Does Richcraft own a piece of land downtown where they could do this?
Is the land large enough for such a multi-use project that could also be on the transit line?
Sorry this does not exist. Lebreton Flats would be great. The N.C.C does not share our vision though so this is not an option. The market has height restrictions in effect for the area North of York street and the land South is already being developed into high-rise buildings that are improving the skyline.
The height restrictions in Centretown goes up in height as you move further South from the peace tower, but as we saw again this December the city has a problem even getting up to 9 stories.

Where o where would you build this downtown?....many developers are awaiting this magical solution that you have.

As for the Kanata location; the area surrounding the Corel Centre is about to develop in a rapid manner. With Canada's largest home builder starting things off just up the road from the Corel Centre. If I am not mistaken Urbandale will be starting just up the road from them over the next 2 years, Minto will begin adjacent to this land next year. Just take a look at the plan that Fotenn has been working on for all of the Corel Centre lands (1,700 acres). Why should we continue to house everyone in a house or low-rise, if a condo in a high-rise is what they seek. How many high-tech workers from Kanata cannot find the type of housing they desire. This project has pent up demand for it.

If I wanted to buy a Condo in a high-rise anywhere in Kanata, Stittsville or the surrounding area I would have to purchase from the 80's built Atrium apartments in Beaverbrook or drive through the greenbelt to the Britannia area.

What makes this unacceptable for the suburbs? As for the Ontario side we are trying to build a city that will have three outer cores. One in Orleans, one in Barrhaven/Riv. South and the other in Kanata. Again I ask you to look at the main concerns for Kanata residents had when they came up with guidelines for the Downtown Kanata area. This is located directly across the street from the Main Commercial Shopping district and can warrant the extra units.

I have said many times that the Carp Dump would make a great Snowboard Park when it closes, but since the owner's want it to grow to three times it's current size, I think we should stick with one of Ottawa's Premier home builders to create a better skyline within the next 20 years.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

We don't need nor want the Bjur Dubai in Kanata, Orleans, Aylmer or any other low-density area.

We're not building the Burj Dubai in Kanata for pete's sake. :rolleyes:

Yes, it will be Ottawa's soon to be third-tallest building after Place De Ville and Minto Metropole, both of which are in significant urban areas.

And actually, we would want something high-density like condo towers in the sprawling suburbs, because they help to limit sprawl rather significantly.

We must concentrate on the DOWNTOWN desification instead of the suburb desifacation (I do not support sprawl) .

We should focus on both. Otherwise, the suburbs keep on sprawling further and further away from the core.

If you do not support sprawl, then you should support this project because it limits sprawl significantly... :koko:

We could build that in the market or even better in Lebreton!

I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but many condo/office towers are slated for the Byward Market and LeBreton Flats. No need to worry about these areas at all.

I agree that Kanata is growing up but we can't let this " Architectual beauty"
Slip through our hands and be built in the suburbs.

I would hardly call it "architectural beauty". Besides, nice buildings are being built and will be built in Ottawa's core. The new Telus Building and Hudson Park come to mind...

It is embarassing enough that cities as small as Winnipeg and Halifax Trump our tallest buildings

Are you sure about that?

Winnipeg does beat our tallest, albeit by four metres. And Halifax doesn't even come close. If someone's skyline "trumps" ours, it's either going to be Calgary or Toronto.

but having the tallest in the suburbs would be disgraceful!

But it's not going to be the tallest. :rolleyes:

It's going to be the THIRD tallest. Considering how the top two are in urban areas and if you exclude Hull, then that ain't bad.

I could accept a 20 to 25 story building in the suburbs but any taller is rather unacceptable.

Umm, why? :koko:

As for Mount Trashmore, over time could become a great ski resort!

:haha: :haha: :haha:

[Aylmer]

I would just like a tall building for downtown since that hasn't happened since the 60's...

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I would just like a tall building for downtown since that hasn't happened since the 60's...

Actually, it has. Minto Metropole. It is Ottawa's second tallest and located just minutes from downtown in Westboro.

Also, we won't see anything tall in the immediate downtown area due to the height-restrictions in place because of the Peace Tower.

[Aylmer]

We must abolish the by-law!!!

[Cre47]

And even before the Metropole was completed, the tallest residential building, which was le Parc near Rockcliffe was also outside of downtown.

Hum! I may have missed something but this is the first time I've heard about proposed high-rises apartments for Barrhaven. I've red somewhere there could have some 5-6 story blocks but not 12+.

In Kanata, there were briefly some proposals of 20-25 story condos in the part that is called March South - it was also shown briefly here in the list of buildings proposed, although and unfortunately we may likely not see them. There was also other proposed 10-12 story buildings but those too were never done.

[cityguy]

Capital,I very much agree with you.you made some excellent points.While it's true that buildings in the downtown core can be taller as you more away from parliment,strick height bylaws exist south of gloucester st.

[sgera]

i hope this gets built...what an enterance it will be arriving from the West Trans Canada into the nation's capital.......i say take what ever height you can get....wherever you can get it. I'm sick of waiting for a tall one to appear in the core....likely never going to see anything larger then 30 storeys ever again in the core. Most of the plots of land left in the core that are zoned for 30+ stories (i.e. around place de ville) are slated to be 17-20 storey buildings; perhaps Lebreton and westboro and Kanata stand a chance though..?

[waterloowarrior]

good posts capital.... I agree with what you're saying, and I'm looking forward to seeing this development.

[Aylmer]

If we build that building, I will want a 52 story tower on the corner of Qween and Kent aswell as twin 44 story towers at Bay and Albert (Glue Pot Inn) and a mess of other 35+ towers under construction by 2020.

I could easly accept a 30+ tower in the burbs!

:)

[cityguy]

WOW,you must think your quite the optimist,I just think your crazy.

[Aylmer]

Calgary can do it.

So can we.

:)

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Calgary can do it.

So can we.

No, we can't.

Calgary doesn't have the NCC looking over its shoulder at every decision. Calgary also doesn't have the height-restrictions that we have, which is because of Parliament Hill and the Peace Tower.

Calgary is also experiencing a boom while Ottawa is still plagued by a very loud minority of people who want nothing more than Ottawa to revert back to a sleepy "city that feels like a town".

[Aylmer]

But we could change with a good mayor like Jean Drapeau!

:)

[sgera]

any updates on this one?

[Aylmer]

It was blown to pices (I hope) !

:)

[Ciemny]

Why do you hope it gets blow to pieces? Its a good idea, better then some of the proposals that came into the suburbs before. What would you want? Endless suburban development, This building would develop the area around it, run the transitway under the development and give people something to see while entering Ottawa through its western side.

[clynnog]

Why do you hope it gets blow to pieces? Its a good idea, better then some of the proposals that came into the suburbs before. What would you want? Endless suburban development, This building would develop the area around it, run the transitway under the development and give people something to see while entering Ottawa through its western side.

Word of advice...the poster who made the comment tends to be rather dramatic at times.....

[adam-machiavelli]

I thought I was the dramatic poster!

[Cre47]

http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2008/10-14/ACS2008-PTE-PLA-0179.htm

There is rendering of the tower in this city document about zoning amendments in that area.

[waterloowarrior]

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/30gouburn.jpg

In September 2005, the applicant submitted a site plan application to permit a single-storey retail building in the southern portion of the site with a gross floor area of 4705 square metres. The retail building is to be used for one or more retail warehouse and/or retail store uses. In July 2006, the applicant filed Official Plan amendment and Zoning By-law amendment applications to add a retail store as a permitted use, to change the parking provisions, and to reduce the front yard setbacks. In January 2007, the applicant appealed all three applications to the Ontario Municipal Board on the basis that the applicable approval authorities did not make decisions on the applications within the prescribed timelines in the Planning Act.

In August 2007, the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications were amended to reflect a new development concept that relocates the proposed retail building to the northern portion of the site, and adds a 30-storey office/hotel building, a 24-storey apartment building, and a five-storey above-grade parking garage in the southern portion of the site. A conceptual site plan and bird’s eye view of the revised development proposal are shown in Documents 2 and 3, respectively.

The office and hotel uses are proposed in the southern 30-storey tower located closest to Highway 417. This tower will have a gross floor area of 28506 square metres including 10745 square metres of office space and an estimated 264 hotel rooms. The apartment building is proposed to be located in the northern 24-storey tower, and is planned to contain 179 dwelling units and a gross floor area of 19345 square metres. The roof of the parking garage is to be used as an outdoor amenity area. The revised development proposal also increases the gross floor area of the retail building slightly from 4705 square metres to 4999 square metres. Four driveways are proposed to provide vehicular access to Goulbourn Forced Road.

The site is bisected by the future east-west transitway, which is proposed to extend westerly from Terry Fox Station at Kanata Centrum to Scotiabank Place and south to Hazeldean Road. The portion of the proposed transitway extension between Terry Fox Drive and Goulbourn Forced Road is to be situated below grade. The applicant proposes to construct a tunnel for the rapid transit corridor through the site, and to construct the retail building above the tunnel.

The development is to be constructed in three phases. Phase 1 will include the construction of the retail building, the rapid-transit corridor tunnel, and the ground level of the parking garage. Phases 2 and 3 would involve the construction of the 30-storey office/hotel tower and the 24‑storey apartment building, respectively, and the completion of the parking garage.

The applicant has not resolved the traffic issues associated with the full development proposal, and has now requested that staff proceed with a recommendation on the proposed Phase 1 development only. Therefore, the analysis and recommendations in this report are focused on the parts of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment applications that relate to the Phase 1 development only. A separate report and recommendations will be prepared at a later date to address the Phase 2 and 3 proposals.

[Davis137]

I think having the height restrictions because of the Peace Tower is stupid. You can't see ANY of Parliament hill from the south/queensway, and it's only easily visable from the Gat side of the river too.

I think it's cool of Kanata gets more Highrises, as well as the other suburbs...it will help create a better sense of the size of the NCR.

[Aylmer]

Wow. I was irrational wasn't I?

:happysad:

[Davis137]

No, I wouldn't say so. I think that perhaps letting taller buildings be built in the burbs, this might set a precidence for the downtown. I like the location and layout of this project, and it will certainly make the west end of Kanata more impressive as you approach it from Highway 7 or further west.

I'd like to see some more highrises in Gatineau and Aylmer visable above the treeline from the river parkway...that'd also add to the overall appearance of the two cities.

[drawarc]

Nice seeing this proposed, it'll really help densify the Centrum area in Kanata, though as others have said, wish more buildings of this height were permitted downtown.

[Davis137]

I can't understand that there aren't 35+ storey buildings allowed downtown, or at least going further out from the CBD. Toronto is going like gangbusters with 50+ floor buildings monthly, and often in areas where they completely dwarf their surrounding neighbourhoods...

[waterloowarrior]

staff report for zoning/OPA (phase 2 and 3, including the towers)
http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2009/12-08/2%20-%20ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0002%20-%20143%20Didsbury%20Road.htm

Applicant wants 30 storeys/104 metres, staff is recommending 15 storeys/45 metres

[citizen j]

^Because 10 minutes before the sun goes down, a 30-storey tower might cast a shadow across the corner of someone's backyard pool on the other side of the 417/Terry Fox interchange? Curious.

[Dado]

<wondering out loud>
If staff recommend against density in Kanata Centrum where there are no neighbours to be affected, then how do they expect there to be enough of the density they now seem to require to support extending light rail to Kanata? :shrug:

If one were conspiratorially-minded, one might easily conclude that it's as if they don't want light rail to go to Kanata, ever.
</wondering out loud>

[reidjr]

The city's planning committee opened the door on Tuesday to a proposed 30-storey office/hotel tower, immediately west of the Kanata Centrum shopping centre, after unanimously endorsing a rezoning application and official plan amendment.

The 4.7-acre property is located at 143 Didsbury Rd., at the northwest corner of Terry Fox Drive and Highway 417, and would also include a 24-storey apartment tower and a single-storey large-format retail store if the development proceeds according to plans.

The owner of the property is not explicitly identified in a staff report, but a conceptual site plan includes a Richcraft logo.

The homebuilder, which recently added condominiums to its portfolio and owns and manages several commercial properties, also sent a company representative to Tuesday's planning and environment committee meeting.

The first phase of development includes a large format retail building of up to 53,800 square feet constructed above a rapid transit tunnel in the northern part of the site, according to a report tabled at the committee meeting.

The 307,000-square-foot commercial tower is part of phase two and includes 264 hotel rooms as well as 115,700 square feet of office space.

The 179-unit apartment building would be part of phase three. The development would also include a five-storey above-grade parking garage.

A separate site plan application, accompanied by a rezoning application and official plan amendment for the same address, shows Dymon Self Storage is proposing a three-storey, 208,200-square-foot facility. City staff were not immediately available to explain how it fits in with the committee report.

At Tuesday's meeting, Kanata South Coun. Peggy Feltmate inquired whether the development could be allowed to proceed before Terry Fox Drive is widened from four to six lanes or the Terry Fox Drive/Earl Grey Drive underpass is constructed.

City staff responded that a public traffic impact study would have to be completed before a site plan is approved, which alleviated the councillor's concerns.

The staff report said the intersection of Terry Fox Drive and Didsbury Road cannot support the full development of the site, along with other proposed developments in the area, based on the existing road network.

The rezoning application and official plan amendment must now go before full council for approval.

[waterloowarrior]

I don't think the OBJ article above is correct about the height... according to the disposition and other media reports they approved the staff recommended 15 floor height
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Report+advises+cutting+Kanata+tower+down+more+manageable+size/2318350/story.html

[Dado]

This city is officially hopeless.

There's more opposition to this on Laurier Ave than there is in suburban Kanata. The locals didn't even complain about height. Here is the list of concerns presented by the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Association:

1. Fire Route for site is not indicated on drawing.
2. Handicapped parking for site is not indicated on drawing.
3. Bicycle Parking for site is not indicated on drawing.
4. Truck Route is not defined. Truck access, travel direction and truck departure route from site is required.
5. Right of way for future transit way must be maintained by city. Provisions as how to construct transit-way while maintaining store parking during and post construction must be considered.
6. Property must be structured to also minimize work and provide for the future extension of Earl Grey Drive to Goulbourn Forced Road (now Didsbury Road) under Terry Fox Drive.
7. Address or Street Name of Goulbourn Force Road (now Didsbury Road) should be changed to avoid confusion of emergency services with the other non contiguous portions of Goulbourn Forced Road.
8. Traffic Study must show traffic can be handled without affecting neighbouring commercial stores or residential community.
9. Site Plan must be submitted to address the above concerns which are not covered by the OPA and Zoning.

So there you go - even they didn't care about the building's height. A Transitway station is also proposed between 220 m and 650 m to the west. This rezoning ought to have been a slam-dunk. Frankly I hope they appeal it to the OMB.


P.S. Can someone change the title of this thread to replace "30 Goulbourn Force Road" with "143 Didsbury Road" to reflect the above-mentioned street name change?

[Proof Sheet]

This city is officially hopeless.

There's more opposition to this on Laurier Ave than there is in suburban Kanata. The locals didn't even complain about height. Here is the list of concerns presented by the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Association:

1. Fire Route for site is not indicated on drawing.
2. Handicapped parking for site is not indicated on drawing.
3. Bicycle Parking for site is not indicated on drawing.
4. Truck Route is not defined. Truck access, travel direction and truck departure route from site is required.
5. Right of way for future transit way must be maintained by city. Provisions as how to construct transit-way while maintaining store parking during and post construction must be considered.
6. Property must be structured to also minimize work and provide for the future extension of Earl Grey Drive to Goulbourn Forced Road (now Didsbury Road) under Terry Fox Drive.
7. Address or Street Name of Goulbourn Force Road (now Didsbury Road) should be changed to avoid confusion of emergency services with the other non contiguous portions of Goulbourn Forced Road.
8. Traffic Study must show traffic can be handled without affecting neighbouring commercial stores or residential community.
9. Site Plan must be submitted to address the above concerns which are not covered by the OPA and Zoning.

So there you go - even they didn't care about the building's height. A Transitway station is also proposed between 220 m and 650 m to the west. This rezoning ought to have been a slam-dunk. Frankly I hope they appeal it to the OMB.


P.S. Can someone change the title of this thread to replace "30 Goulbourn Force Road" with "143 Didsbury Road" to reflect the above-mentioned street name change?

That community association are notorious for nitpicky comments that most people shrug their shoulders about.

The scary thing about dealing with the City is that for the most point the actual look of a new building is often a minor consideration. The Development Approvals group (who are often the front line people at the City on site plan applications) are often not the main players in the process. The main players are the Infrastructure Approvals Branch (the guys who make sure that the City is designed so that a snow plow operator can get by) who have no interest in the look of the building. The big fights are over maximums slopes and inverts and obverts to sewers..not how the building will fit on the street.

I can see why that group of architects threw up their hands...the City development process is not run by designers or those for a interest in design...it is run by bureaucrats and civil engineers.