View Full Version : Place de Ville III | 76.7m | 18 fl | Proposed
Place de Ville III
Developer: Brookfield
Location: 300 Queen Street
Size: 300000 sqft
Web: Brookfield Developments (http://www.brookfieldproperties.com/properties/development.cfm)
Aylmer
Jan 4, 2008, 1:10 PM
No!
That is precious office space! not to bee wasted on a 17 story building!
No!
That is precious office space! not to bee wasted on a 17 story building!
I know this is a skyscraper forum, but you really have to get over this obsession with getting taller buildings in Ottawa. Be happy when it happens, but until then, understand that a 500000sqft office development is nothing to complain about.
c_speed3108
Jan 4, 2008, 1:49 PM
I know this is a skyscraper forum, but you really have to get over this obsession with getting taller buildings in Ottawa. Be happy when it happens, but until then, understand that a 500000sqft office development is nothing to complain about.
I am going to have to go with AylmerOptimist on this one. That location is certainly a very good spot to go high. It is already a tall neighbourhood so there is no issues of towering over houses and things. Plus it is right on the Transitway as well as future LRT etc....
That is a site that should go to about 25 floors at a minimum. It might even be cool to build the same size building just taller. This way a bit of space can be left around it. Sort like over at phase I with the fountain and such. We allow buildings to be constructed way too close to the street downtown and it ends up costing the city a small fortune in snow removal costs. Back them up from the street and leave so room. It also makes cool urban areas for outdoor patios and things in the summertime.
Mille Sabords
Jan 4, 2008, 2:09 PM
I am going to have to go with AylmerOptimist on this one. That location is certainly a very good spot to go high. It is already a tall neighbourhood so there is no issues of towering over houses and things. Plus it is right on the Transitway as well as future LRT etc....
I agree with you here. This is a good spot to go high and it's sufficiently out of the way from the direct sight lines to Parliament Hill to avoid a major debate with the NCC.
That is a site that should go to about 25 floors at a minimum. It might even be cool to build the same size building just taller. This way a bit of space can be left around it. Sort like over at phase I with the fountain and such. We allow buildings to be constructed way too close to the street downtown and it ends up costing the city a small fortune in snow removal costs. Back them up from the street and leave so room. It also makes cool urban areas for outdoor patios and things in the summertime.
Here, I want to nuance something you're saying. Yes, it's great to have spaces for outdoor patios and yes, in all cases it's better to have wider sidewalks downtown. But to set back buildings for the sake of snow removal is a solution looking for a problem. In denser cities you can readily observe that the less "blacktop surface" there is, the less snow they need to remove. Wider streets, more snow. Narrower streets, less snow. It piles up higher but there is less of it, because more of it falls on rooftops.
In other words, if we plan setbacks for the sake of piling snowbanks, those setbacks will be covered in snow themselves and you'll end up with even taller snowbanks between the sidewalk and the building.
AuxTown
Jan 4, 2008, 3:46 PM
It's too bad that downtown Ottawa doesn't look spectacular from afar, but I really like the density we are building. As the surface lots and retarded downtown parks (tech school) slowly disappear I think downtown will develop into a really good downtown space. 17 stories is too small for that location, but in my mind, it just means 17 more stories worth of people who work downtown and may even want to move downtown to avoid a terrible 417 commute. At least it's getting built, hopefully they do something interesting or aesthetically pleasing.
Aylmer
Jan 4, 2008, 3:52 PM
I just don't want any medium-density development west of Bank st.
And they MUST get a better name.
Tor2Ott
Jan 4, 2008, 3:55 PM
Place de Ville III
Developer: Brookfield
Location: 300 Queen Street
Size: 500000 sqft
Web: Brookfield Developments (http://www.brookfieldproperties.com/properties/development.cfm)
Will this thing actually get built? It's been on their website for at least two years now. Have they found any major tenants?
Cre47
Jan 4, 2008, 5:47 PM
More mid-sized and not very inspiring boxes proposed, that's not a surprise. I certainly agree that this spot deserves much better then this - should be 2 25-30 story towers there instead.
For what it's worth, I read an article in the Ottawa Business Journal (http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/319512439714105.php) that was discussing green certification. It noted that both 300 Queen and 300 Sparks were supposed to be LEED-certified. Now, Phase 3 is just listed as 300 Queen, which is the 17 story tower, but 300 Sparks is listed in the article as an 18 story tower. I understand that it is presently the podium/arcade for Place de Ville? In any case, Brookfield didn't mention it on their site, so I figured it must be in the very early pre-development stages and would be a bit premature to discuss.
There seems to be an interesting dynamic in downtown Ottawa. The office market still seems to be moving away from downtown, which may make developers a little bit cautious despite the low vacancy rates. I don't expect that the fact that the federal government is the primary downtown tenant makes them any more bullish in their development plans.
harls
Jan 7, 2008, 5:35 PM
Will this thing actually get built? It's been on their website for at least two years now. Have they found any major tenants?
The city's put up new signs on the lot recently, so it looks like some progress is being made.
Now, Phase 3 is just listed as 300 Queen, which is the 17 story tower, but 300 Sparks is listed in the article as an 18 story tower. I understand that it is presently the podium/arcade for Place de Ville? In any case, Brookfield didn't mention it on their site, so I figured it must be in the very early pre-development stages and would be a bit premature to discuss.
That would be a nice addition to the current wind tunnel they've got going there.
Aylmer
Jan 7, 2008, 10:14 PM
They could place the towers in between place de ville III and the marriot hotel..
lots of space!!
:)
gatt
Jan 8, 2008, 12:37 AM
i agree.a bit more height please.
Aylmer
Jan 8, 2008, 12:39 AM
I really think that 300 qween should be a 35+ building (I have sketches for a 52).
And MIXED-USE!!!
gatt
Jan 8, 2008, 12:42 AM
35+?i think you ask for too much.this is Ottawa remember?
Aylmer
Jan 12, 2008, 7:11 PM
The Land (500,000 sq.ft) is almost as big as the WTC site (750,00sq.ft)!
Deez
Jan 12, 2008, 10:09 PM
500,000 sq ft is the estimated total rentable floor space of the development, not the size of the lot. Having just visited the WTC site I can attest that it's much, much, much larger (about 3 by 3 downtown Ottawa blocks or 18 times the size of this lot).
Aylmer
Jan 12, 2008, 11:28 PM
I thought the size was oddly large...
I know it's around 6?M X 5?M. Thats around 37,188 sq. ft..
harls
Feb 21, 2008, 8:09 PM
It says here that the first tower of Phase 3 would be 20 storeys and 300,000 sq ft. (15,000 sq.ft per floor)
http://www.space4lease.com/main/propertyDetails.asp?uid=&q=3856|1
harls
Mar 6, 2008, 7:16 PM
I wonder with the new downtown tunnel in the picture, will Brookfield be revising its plans for this site? Maybe some underground retail? Taller building (not likely, but maybe we can dream)?
Aylmer
Mar 8, 2008, 3:45 PM
Indeed we can!
:)
Davis137
Sep 27, 2008, 4:37 PM
35+ fl please!
Aylmer
Sep 28, 2008, 12:21 AM
I've been good Santa!
:)
waterloowarrior
Apr 9, 2010, 10:57 PM
Brookfield files Place de Ville redevelopment plans
http://www.obj.ca/Real-Estate/Non-residential/2010-04-09/article-997519/Brookfield-files-Place-de-Ville-redevelopment-plans/1
Published on April 9th, 2010
Peter Kovessy
Ottawa Business Journal
A lowrise Queen Street office building, located next to the Marriott Hotel, could be demolished and replaced with a 19-storey commercial tower under plans filed with the city.
The site plan application submitted by Brookfield Properties would more than quadruple the amount of office space on the site, from almost 91,000 square feet to 372,000 square feet.
The proposed tower would connect to the existing 779-stall underground parking garage and include a two-storey link to the existing 29-storey Place de Ville Tower C to the west.
Calls to Brookfield’s Ottawa office and New York headquarters were not immediately returned.
Speculation in the local commercial real estate industry is that Brookfield is seeking the necessary municipal approvals so it will be ready to respond to future federal solicitations for office space, expected to be released later this year.
If so, it would be similar to the strategy taken by Morguard Real Estate Investment Trust and the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.
They are hoping to build an 18-storey downtown office tower for Public Works on the land they co-own on Bank Street, between Laurier Avenue and Slater Street.
In February, they successfully rezoned the 1.07-acre property, located next to the two Standard Life Centre towers.
Despite reports the federal public service could shrink by 10,000 employees in the coming years as the government reins in spending, real estate experts say they still expect Public Works to have a healthy demand for office space as it replaces aging inventory and expiring leases.
The four-storey “podium” portion of Place de Ville Phase II, located on the south side of the Sparks Street Mall in the centre of the block bounded by Kent, Lyon and Queen streets, is currently dwarfed by the office buildings and hotels to the south, east and west that extend as high as 29 storeys.
The top three floors are occupied by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, while a restaurant and printing services company fill the ground level, according to Brookfield’s website.
Built in 1971, the podium’s structural frame is cast-in-place reinforced concrete. The exterior cladding of the building consists of aggregate-finished panels with double-glazed windows, Brookfield says.
The office space in the podium actually encircles two former cinemas, says Alain Miguelez, an Ottawa resident, planner and author of A Theatre Near You.
Operated by Famous Players, the cinemas contained a total of almost 1,200 seats, which is “huge” by today’s standards, says Mr. Miguelez. He adds the theatres are stacked on top of each other and were Ottawa’s first “piggybacked cinemas.”
Mr. Miguelez says the cinemas counted former prime minister Pierre Trudeau among its many patrons.
jcollins
Apr 12, 2010, 12:44 PM
Why are they only going with 19 storeys when a president has been set for as high as 29? You'd think they'd try to go at least close to that.
c_speed3108
Apr 12, 2010, 12:59 PM
Best guess: economics. They are trying to have this thing good to go if the feds put out an RFP. Consequently they want something they can get approved and build pretty easily.
No one will object to 19 floors in that area so the approvals will be a rubber stamp and construction of 19 story buildings is also pretty routine these days.
jcollins
Apr 12, 2010, 5:50 PM
Ya, that makes sense. It's a shame though. Same can be said for Standard Life Centre III.
Ottawan
Apr 12, 2010, 8:28 PM
I also think it's economics, but in another way. To the engineers on this forum, please correct me if I'm wrong, but since they are constructing overtop the pre-existing parking garage, it is possible that the foundation will only support 19 stories. Therefore, to tear it out and make a new foundation for the additional 10 stories doesn't make economic sense.
blackjagger
Jun 14, 2010, 3:17 PM
Development Application is up.
http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7TBR2F
Cheers,
Josh
Luker
Jun 14, 2010, 8:45 PM
I also think it's economics, but in another way. To the engineers on this forum, please correct me if I'm wrong, but since they are constructing overtop the pre-existing parking garage, it is possible that the foundation will only support 19 stories. Therefore, to tear it out and make a new foundation for the additional 10 stories doesn't make economic sense.
It seems that the last page of the design brief is a demo plan for the parking tower, making it very unusual for them not to push the envelope whatsoever, especially considering the tallest building in ottawa (Ville C)... Well maybe there appeasing Dianne Holmes in a back room deal now, in order to throw down a 40+ storey monster across the street from Holt Renfrew on there other property!?
I can dream can't I? :P
Aylmer
Jun 14, 2010, 8:49 PM
Haha! Flash from the past! My posts on the first page prove that I had waaaay too much sugar in my cereal.
:D
Davis137
Jun 14, 2010, 11:46 PM
I agree that putting up a building that is shorter, but actually larger in scale than what's already there is a good idea. I also think it's a good idea to build something really large/tall on that empty lot across from the C.D. Howe building bewteen Queen and Albert...it would be set back by the other buildings around it. It wouldn't even have to be crazy tall...just 30 stories...
cityguy
Jun 15, 2010, 1:09 AM
Of all the places to build a tall building in Ottawa,this local would be my number one pick.
blackjagger
Jun 15, 2010, 1:13 AM
Based on the brief it looks like it will be Structural Steel construction with a poured elevator shaft. If this one pushes forward it will go up fast. At least it will be a little different from the normal.
drawarc
Jun 15, 2010, 7:31 AM
Somewhat disappointed that open space between tower C and old podium will be blocked off by link to new building.
Am curious as to why in the sun/shade study, site of crown plaza is replaced with footprint of a large box.
harls
Jun 15, 2010, 11:31 AM
According to the site plan (http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%20Referencing_Site%20Plan%20Application_Image%20Reference_Site%20Plan%20D07-12-09-0212.PDF), it'll be 76.7m... updated the thread title.
Aylmer
Jul 13, 2010, 5:56 PM
I noticed that Place De Ville C had gone zebra: There are some silver areas on it's face. Are they giving it a facelift? What's going on?
I'll post a picture when I get the chance.
:)
Requin
Jul 13, 2010, 6:09 PM
Yes, Tower C is being re-caulked and painted. The work is scheduled to be completed by the end of September.
AuxTown
Jul 14, 2010, 11:38 AM
This is great news! Anything to make our city's tallest look a little more presentable is a good thing. How about a colour change while they're at it?
Aylmer
Jul 14, 2010, 11:54 AM
They are! It's a much nicer and more modern silver.
:)
harls
Jul 14, 2010, 12:39 PM
About time, I remember waiting at the bus stop on Wellington and looking up at the west side.. the black paint was all peeling off. Looked especially bad with the sun hitting it.
Admiral Nelson
Jul 15, 2010, 1:04 AM
Any pictures? Sounds great :cheers:
waterloowarrior
Jul 19, 2010, 4:03 PM
pic from west side action
http://westsideaction.blogspot.com/2010/07/place-de-dominos.html
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qVgnHDIZ3_w/TEOsHfTIYnI/AAAAAAAACWU/lLn7tb7WuY0/s400/P7181875.JPG
harls
Jul 19, 2010, 4:08 PM
Sort of looks like Place ville Marie now. Except very stumpy.
Aylmer
Jul 19, 2010, 4:36 PM
Kinda looks like Tetris.
:)
harls
Jul 19, 2010, 4:50 PM
According to the blog post, that's just primer. it's going to be repainted bronze and black again. Oh well.
Aylmer
Jul 19, 2010, 5:02 PM
Urgh... really? I would have preferred silver...
:(
Jamaican-Phoenix
Jul 19, 2010, 5:36 PM
Urgh... really? I would have preferred silver...
:(
Yeah, can't we just leave the primer on? :(
I think the top-left corner is already done, so that should give an idea of what it will all look like: the same but a little darker and with less peeling
eemy
Jul 19, 2010, 10:43 PM
Hopefully they'll paint the stuff on the roof too.
Ottawan
Jul 19, 2010, 11:40 PM
I prefer it black - the silver looks like "we cheaped out-industrial". I am glad they're doing the required maintenance to keep it up, though.
waterloowarrior
Jul 19, 2010, 11:45 PM
It needs a proper modern top, similar to the TD Centre in Toronto. The large mechanical penthouse is unflattering. At the very least it should probably be painted.
Uhuniau
Jul 20, 2010, 3:52 AM
Kinda looks like Tetris.
:)
O. M. G.
They should TOTALLY program the lights in the building so that you can play Tetris on them in the wee morning hours.
Jamaican-Phoenix
Jul 20, 2010, 4:01 AM
O. M. G.
They should TOTALLY program the lights in the building so that you can play Tetris on them in the wee morning hours.
You know what? That might just make this city cool.
It needs a proper modern top, similar to the TD Centre in Toronto. The large mechanical penthouse is unflattering. At the very least it should probably be painted.
The mechanical sheds on the tops of Towers A and B are painted black and have lower profiles, so they're much more discrete (if visible at all) from ground level.
TransitZilla
Jul 20, 2010, 4:21 PM
The mechanical sheds on the tops of Towers A and B are painted black and have lower profiles, so they're much more discrete (if visible at all) from ground level.
This building would look vastly better with a screen around that horrible looking rooftop mechanical room. As a bonus, it could even give the effect of a defined top.
AuxTown
Jul 21, 2010, 2:31 AM
This building would look vastly better with a screen around that horrible looking rooftop mechanical room. As a bonus, it could even give the effect of a defined top.
And if they put 'fins' like on RBC Centre in Toronto it would add a bit of height to the building as well.
walked past a newly-primed section just above ground-level this morning, and the all-white I-beams and panels look pretty sharp with the darker glass, kinda like 1/4 of Place Ville Marie (IMHO the best high-modernist building in Canada). Oh well, at least the new bronze and black sections look way better than the old bronze and black sections.
reidjr
Sep 5, 2010, 1:02 PM
Does anyone know does this project have the green light or not from the city.
About the refreshed Tower C: work's finally done, and the building looks much better. The newly-painted bronze panels do neat things in different lights. This morning on my way into work (very grey day) the building looked like a Black Box from down in Lebreton Flats, turning to bronze as I got closer; whereas in the sunset the bronze goes to a rich red-gold. In any event the biggest improvement might have also been the smallest: they painted the mechanical shed at the top of the building black!
AuxTown
Oct 22, 2010, 12:57 AM
About the refreshed Tower C: work's finally done, and the building looks much better. The newly-painted bronze panels do neat things in different lights. This morning on my way into work (very grey day) the building looked like a Black Box from down in Lebreton Flats, turnign to bronze as I got closer; whereas in the sunset the bronze goes to a rich red-gold. In any event the biggest improvement might have also been the smallest: they painted the mechanical shed at the top of the building black!
I have also been quite impressed with the huge positive impact that a few (hundred) buckets of paint have made. Now we just need a couple of 35+'s to make this building look like a nice filler rather than our city's tallest!
I have also been quite impressed with the huge positive impact that a few (hundred) buckets of paint have made. Now we just need a couple of 35+'s to make this building look like a nice filler rather than our city's tallest!
you can dare to dream, but I doubt we'll ever see a building taller than Tower C downtown, or anywhere in Ottawa for that matter.
Davis137
Oct 23, 2010, 12:21 AM
Yes we will...but it'll likely NOT be in the downtown...
waterloowarrior
Mar 13, 2013, 11:04 PM
http://www.dcnonl.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=4d05353281c8d49f80da5e18283a203fe095f21e&projectid=9116995®ion=ontario
OFFICE TOWER ADDN Proj: 9116995-5
Ottawa, Ottawa-Carleton Reg ON PREPARING PLANS
Place de Ville, 300 Sparks St, K1R
$35,000,000 est
Note: The owner is seeking tenants. Schedules for design, tender and construction is undetermined at this time. Further update fall, 2013.
Project: structural steel frame, addition of a 19-storey office building on the existing roundation with a two-storey link to existing 29-storey office tower.
Scope: 281,000 square feet; 18 storeys; 4 storeys below grade; 1 acres
J.OT13
Mar 14, 2013, 1:08 AM
If there is too be a one of the two subway accesses where the Podium building now stands, logicly the new tower needs to be completed (at least the exterior) by 2017.
J.OT13
Apr 18, 2013, 10:00 PM
May not mean anything, but Tower C's escalators (north-east corner) has a bunch of scaffolding over them. The plans called for removing those escalators and moving them in a new link between Tower C and Tower D (replacement of Podium).
McC
Apr 18, 2013, 11:43 PM
I don't think so, I'm pretty sure that they're just replacing the escalator.
No movement on the escalator replacement in Tower-C for some time, apparently, elevator technicians are on strike.
Harley613
May 31, 2013, 9:34 PM
my ex is the general manager of the st. paul university residence, and they are down to one elevator. the techs are definitely on strike!
DowntownDensity
Aug 5, 2013, 3:39 PM
This is one site that, when or if redeveloped will hopefully be to Place de Ville Tower C what 150 Elgin and the Tribeca Condos are to Place Bell: contemporary infill that balances the existing hulking mass and makes it all integrate into the skyline a little better. Once Performance Court and Tribeca popped up around Place Bell, I daresay it looked nowhere near as bad as it did when it was the lone centre of attention. Place de Ville Tower C might turn out looking less like a sore thumb if there were a new development beside it! Hopefully my argument stands even in the light of concerns about height on this property. I am definitely in support of a structure as high as possible, what a prime location for a real downtown Icon! (No pun intended, Claridge :p)
J.OT13
Aug 5, 2013, 4:56 PM
And like the Place Bell area redeveloppement, I think that a slightly shorter building for the Podium replacement is best to bridge the gap. Once the parking lot is redevelopped though, I expect them to go big or go home.
DowntownDensity
Oct 21, 2013, 2:17 PM
I'm curious if the integration of the Lyon LRT station into the Place de Ville complex has/will have an impact on the proposed development of the new office tower to replace the four-storey podium? Will this encourage the development, cause delays, or perhaps get the developers to revamp their proposal? (As far as one can use the term "delay" on a project that hasn't been moving much over the past several years).
http://www.ottawalightrail.ca/en/the...lyon/overview/
J.OT13
Oct 21, 2013, 5:35 PM
I'm curious if the integration of the Lyon LRT station into the Place de Ville complex has/will have an impact on the proposed development of the new office tower to replace the four-storey podium? Will this encourage the development, cause delays, or perhaps get the developers to revamp their proposal? (As far as one can use the term "delay" on a project that hasn't been moving much over the past several years).
http://www.ottawalightrail.ca/en/the...lyon/overview/
I would imagine they would want the building completed on the same day as the subway opens. Having this direct connection is a huge advantage both to revive the underground concourse and to attract tenants. Furthermore, there's no point in building a station entrance into the podium building if you plan on closing it soon after for redevelopment.
Similarly for the underground concourse; you would want it done and ready (renovated with new, better retailers) to welcome a potential 30,000 customers. Closing it, or partly closing it soon after it opens would hurt their customer base.
A few potential tenants are already looking for space such as the NCC who are moving out of the Chambers complex and Alterna Savings who have already moved their main branch to PdV phase I and sold their property (containing their head office) to Broccolini in 2012. Both of these could fit in the new tower.
J.OT13
Oct 21, 2013, 11:32 PM
The link posted by Waterloowarrior's in March has been updated.
OFFICE TOWER ADDN Proj: 9116995-6
Ottawa, Ottawa-Carleton Reg ON NEGOTIATED/PLANNING
Place de Ville, 300 Sparks St, K1R
$35,000,000 est
Note: The owner is seeking tenants. Schedules for design, tender and construction is undetermined at this time. Further update in spring, 2014.
Project: structural steel frame, addition of a 19-storey office building on the existing roundation with a two-storey link to existing 29-storey office tower.
Scope: 281,000 square feet; 18 storeys; 4 storeys below grade; 1 acres
Development: New
Category: Commercial offices
Owner Complete information is available to subscribers. Click HERE to find out how to subscribe.
Gen cont Complete information is available to subscribers. Click HERE to find out how to subscribe.
Architect Complete information is available to subscribers. Click HERE to find out how to subscribe.
First report Wed Apr 14, 2010. Last report Wed Mar 06, 2013.
This report Wed Sep 25, 2013.
http://www.dcnonl.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=4d05353281c8d49f80da5e18283a203fe095f21e&projectid=9116995®ion=ontario
harls
Oct 22, 2013, 1:29 PM
Now it's 18 storeys? Figures.
J.OT13
Oct 22, 2013, 4:22 PM
The number of stories always seems to change depending on whether or not someone counts the mechanical floor(s). It was the same deal with the EDC (18 or 19?) and 150 Elgin (varies between 21 and 23).
waterloowarrior
Jan 18, 2014, 7:20 PM
Ottawa’s Abandoned 1,200 Seat Downtown Movie Theatre
http://ottawow.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/ottawas-abandoned-1200-seat-downtown-movie-theatre/
J.OT13
Jan 19, 2014, 4:45 PM
Ottawa’s Abandoned 1,200 Seat Downtown Movie Theatre
http://ottawow.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/ottawas-abandoned-1200-seat-downtown-movie-theatre/
Cool, thanks!
Yeah, thanks for sharing! I could never keep straight in my mind whether it was Capitol Square or Place de Ville that had *that* escalator, but I have vivid memories riding it up to see some great movies growing up (#Goonies4Life).
loga0082
Jan 19, 2014, 10:26 PM
Silvia Logan
loga0082
January 19, 2014
In my opinion, I think that they should fix the escalator and the elevator at the Place de Ville Podium building. I really think that they should put some effort renovating the Place de Ville Podium building. With the closing of both the Rideau Centre movie theaters and the World Exchange plaza cinemas, I believe that they should add new chairs and put new screens at the Place de Ville Podium building. They should make this building a movie theater again because I cannot see this space as anything else but a movie theater. It has been vacant like that for more than 17 years. At least leave one movie theater which shows first run movies downtown. To me, it is ridiculous that one has to take a bus just to see a movie in the suburbs.
J.OT13
Jan 19, 2014, 10:52 PM
Silvia Logan
loga0082
January 19, 2014
In my opinion, I think that they should fix the escalator and the elevator at the Place de Ville Podium building. I really think that they should put some effort renovating the Place de Ville Podium building. With the closing of both the Rideau Centre movie theaters and the World Exchange plaza cinemas, I believe that they should add new chairs and put new screens at the Place de Ville Podium building. They should make this building a movie theater again because I cannot see this space as anything else but a movie theater. It has been vacant like that for more than 17 years. At least leave one movie theater which shows first run movies downtown. To me, it is ridiculous that one has to take a bus just to see a movie in the suburbs.
With the downtown population continuing to rise and Lyon Station to have a direct connection to the complex, and of course the recent lack of first run movie theatres downtown, re-opening the PdV cinemas would be a realistic alternative to a total redevelopment of the site (considering the recent rise of vacancy rates in downtown offices). Furthermore, the industrie's big argument about having too many first run cinemas in one area would be greatly alleviated considering PdV only has 2 screens, therefore would not be a full fledged competitor to Lansdowne.
MichelKazan
Jan 20, 2014, 3:36 AM
Yeah, thanks for sharing! I could never keep straight in my mind whether it was Capitol Square or Place de Ville that had *that* escalator, but I have vivid memories riding it up to see some great movies growing up (#Goonies4Life).
Actually now that I think about it, I believe both cinemas had an escalator...... Correct me if I'm wrong.
J.OT13
Jan 28, 2014, 2:01 AM
Photos and short article of the Place de Ville theatre from CBC.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/inside-place-de-ville-theatre-a-hidden-piece-of-ottawa-s-past-1.2511978
With the loss of the WEP theatre, PdV has been front and centre in the conversation about the lack of megaplexes downtown. I've said it before, I'll say it again; if Brookfield can't find a tenant for the proposed office tower, I could definitely see them re-opening the old theatre.
As much as I would love a modern Brookfield office tower (usually very nice and slick), I would be in favor of instead re-opening the theatre, right on the subway line.
loga0082
Jan 28, 2014, 3:13 AM
Silvia Logan
loga0082
I agree with you a 100%. I think that Brookfield Properties constructing a 19 storey building is a complete wast of time. I suggest that Brookfield properties should spend money fixing the elevator and the escalator and renovating the cinemas. They should install new seats and put new screens. With the closing of both the WEP and the Rideau Centre cinemas, there is no movie theater left downtown except for the Bytowne. The Bytowne just shows foreign, classic, and second run movies. To me, it is ridiculous that one has to take the bus just to see a movie in the suburbs and in Lansdowne park. As I saw old pictures of the Place de ville cinemas, the cinemas looked so nice. I am so sorry that such a lovely movie theater had to be abandoned for so many years.
loga0082
January 27, 2014
Urbanarchit
Feb 13, 2014, 6:47 PM
I don't know when these renderings were drawn up, and I don't know if people have already seen them, but I decided to post what this project is probably going to look like. It is a glass box again.
http://i.imgur.com/qDP4lQB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Bj8pou6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0y8ikBj.jpg
what the deuce is going on at the sites of Place de Ville phases I and III in that overhead shot? Tower A and the Skyline are merged into a giant cube and something that looks suspiciously like a cross between NDHQ and the Tupper building on the PHASE 3 lot....?
Fatty McButterpants
Feb 13, 2014, 7:13 PM
I don't know when these renderings were drawn up, and I don't know if people have already seen them, but I decided to post what this project is probably going to look like. It is a glass box again.
http://i.imgur.com/qDP4lQB.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/Bj8pou6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/0y8ikBj.jpg
Hey didn't I see this masterpiece somewhere in the "visions and ideas" thread?
J.OT13
Feb 13, 2014, 7:33 PM
I've seen these a while ago, but they were never posted so thanks! Can't explain the weird shit going on with phase I, but the DND/Tupper Frankenstein thingamajig is probably Brookfield's attempt at maximizing the office space on the lot without having to rezone anything.
The way I see it, owning Place de Ville comes with the responsibility of having vision, pushing the limits and build something that would transform the CBD. Embrace your inner Campeau!
If I owned PdV, I would probably build something very similar for the podium replacement, but for phase IV, I would buy out everyone else on the eastern part of the block and build the tallest buildings in the CBD (400-500 feet) containing over a million square feet of office space, 600+ hotel rooms and a few hundred condo units. Both the Bank and Kent Street sides would have public plazas (Bank being the largest) and the podium would hold a performance hall or a proper downtown movie theatre. Of course the complex would connect to phase I, II and the subway through the underground city.
Boxster
Feb 13, 2014, 9:34 PM
Not good for the hotel on the west side!
Hey didn't I see this masterpiece somewhere in the "visions and ideas" thread?
J.OT13
Feb 13, 2014, 9:47 PM
Not good for the hotel on the west side!
I assume one of the original reasons for the Podium was in fact to have good spacing between the hotel and a 372 foot wall of glass. Campeau did the same for the Skyline/Crown Plaza/Delta as did Teron with the garden of the Provinces/Delta/Hilton(?) one block west and Minto 2 blocks south.
That said, we have many other hotels with rooms facing office towers at close proximity, such as the Sheraton's view of the mini-Varette to the south or lord Elgin's view of 66 Slater or Capitol Hill's view of Lorne 2.0's west wall. The absolute worst view will be the Alt's Slater street hotel where guests will have a wonderful view of the Bell Switching building's blank wall.
MountainView
Feb 14, 2014, 2:33 AM
The absolute worst view will be the Alt's Slater street hotel where guests will have a wonderful view of the Bell Switching building's blank wall.
I agree that there are A LOT of blank walls in Ottawa, but many of them were built that way because the lots beside them were/are empty and would eventually also have a blank wall - and those blank walls would stare at each other for eternity. Now... imagine having to look at THIS blank wall forever:
All 4 walls are blank .:. No Windows!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/AT%26T_Long_Lines_building.jpg/399px-AT%26T_Long_Lines_building.jpg
The AT&T Long Lines Switching Station in Manhattan, NY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_Thomas_Street
Harley613
Feb 14, 2014, 4:45 AM
What a shame. What a dinky boring little tower. It will be invisible from almost any angle in the city.
Urbanarchit
Feb 14, 2014, 7:10 AM
http://i.imgur.com/0y8ikBj.jpg
I just noticed, there's a filler rendering for the parking lot on Kent and Queen/Albert in this rendering. Any guess that this is what Brookfield might be thinking about for the site?
Harley613
Feb 14, 2014, 1:42 PM
I just noticed, there's a filler rendering for the parking lot on Kent and Queen/Albert in this rendering. Any guess that this is what Brookfield might be thinking about for the site?
another phase of C.D. Howe/240 Sparks. It's been on the drawing board forever. It's a massive project, I don't see the gov demand coming any time too soon.
CD Howe / 240 Sparks is federally-owned, the Kent-Queen-Albert lot in question (where they're digging subway at the moment) is Brookfield; and last decade (give or take) it was billed as Place de Ville Phase III ("An idea this good is worth repeating" was the motto, I kid you not), the plan was for three 19-storey towers. At some point they dropped the "PdV III" branding, but there was still Brookfield signage about the three 19-storey towers on the site until quite recently -- "prime office space" etc. But you're right, nothing will happen there for a decade or more, even forecasting for optimistic growth in downtown office demand from current levels.
J.OT13
Feb 14, 2014, 2:44 PM
I agree that there are A LOT of blank walls in Ottawa, but many of them were built that way because the lots beside them were/are empty and would eventually also have a blank wall - and those blank walls would stare at each other for eternity. Now... imagine having to look at THIS blank wall forever:
All 4 walls are blank .:. No Windows!
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/AT%26T_Long_Lines_building.jpg/399px-AT%26T_Long_Lines_building.jpg
The AT&T Long Lines Switching Station in Manhattan, NY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/33_Thomas_Street
My God!! Bell switching buildings on steroids!!
I've got to say, I like it better than the Ottawa version; taller, better design, generous plaza separating it from the next building on the block, good setbacks, very nice entrance too...
J.OT13
Feb 14, 2014, 2:49 PM
CD Howe / 240 Sparks is federally-owned, the Kent-Queen-Albert lot in question (where they're digging subway at the moment) is Brookfield; and last decade (give or take) it was billed as Place de Ville Phase III ("An idea this good is worth repeating" was the motto, I kid you not), the plan was for three 19-storey towers. At some point they dropped the "PdV III" branding, but there was still Brookfield signage about the three 19-storey towers on the site until quite recently -- "prime office space" etc. But you're right, nothing will happen there for a decade or more, even forecasting for optimistic growth in downtown office demand from current levels.
I agree that an idea as good as PdV is worth repeating, but there 2-3 tower proposal, and even worse that piece of crap H building does not embody the vision that was Place de Ville!
J.OT13
Feb 14, 2014, 11:36 PM
The NCC used what I believe is Campeau's 1980s or 90s proposal for Place de Ville III (current parking lot used for Confederation Line construction) for a report supporting the height restrictions. This skyline view is shown in a Vancouver based blog (or whatever) by Stephen Bohus.
http://cityhallwatch.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bohus-fig-7.jpg
And of course the NCC took the proposal as a threat to the dominance of the Parliament Buildings by setting a bad precedent.
http://cityhallwatch.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bohus-fig-8.jpg
Text that goes with pictures;
At the time, developers were praising the tower and claiming that it ‘balanced’ the Peace Tower and Parliament. Upon further examination, the ‘Campeau tower’ would have set a very bad precedent for further development. The National Capital Commission (NCC) commissioned several studies, and looked at the impact of the tower. One key question was, what would the Ottawa skyline look like if other developable sites were allowed to exceed current height control guidelines by 15 storeys?
After public consultation, there was a great outcry by residents against the Campeau tower and the proposal to increase height limits in the downtown core. The City of Ottawa council listened to their constituents, and turned down the Campeau tower proposal. The height controls in the downtown core were kept and strengthened after a series of studies. Both the residents and the Ottawa City Council saw the importance of protecting our national symbols.
We now have these even more ridiculous height restrictions "cutting" the top of existing buildings.
http://cityhallwatch.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/bohus-fig-9.jpg
http://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/special-topics/higher-buildings-downtown/expert-analysis/height-control-review-for-vancouver-stephen-bohus-dec-2010/
loga0082
Feb 16, 2014, 3:50 AM
Place de Ville Podium Building
Silvia Logan
February 15, 2014
When I walked pass the Place de Ville Podium building this morning, the print shop and Italian restaurant looked close. However, I still saw chairs on top of the tables in the restaurant and printing supplies in the shop. As, I checked the office buildings the lights were turned off. Is Brookfield finally going to demolish the Podium building and construct the 19 storey building? I did read several months ago that they were going to put a LRT station in the bottom of the Place de Ville podium building. The building still says Brookfield. The movie theater doors looked sealed off.
loga0082
J.OT13
Feb 16, 2014, 5:11 PM
I'd have to see for myself if they are permanently closed or not. I assume the printing service is only opened during the week. Same with the restaurant; it's around the deader part of Sparks, so they might just keep it closed on weekends.
As for the new office tower, the next update is supposed to come in spring according to this;
http://www.dcnonl.com/cgi-bin/top10.pl?rm=show_top10_project&id=4d05353281c8d49f80da5e18283a203fe095f21e&projectid=9116995®ion=ontario
Regardless of what happens to the Podium, the printing service will eventually close down because they will in fact build an entrance to the subway station where the establishment now stands.
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