[c_speed3108]

Phoenix proposes two 31-storey residential towers
By Peter Kovessy, Ottawa Business Journal Staff
Tue, Feb 10, 2009 4:00 PM EST

An Ottawa developer has reactivated its plans for a residential development just east of the Bayview Transitway station, but has returned with a significantly taller proposal.

DCR Phoenix has submitted a site plan application to build a pair of 31-storey, 338-feet high-rise apartment buildings and a four-storey office building on a 5.35-acre site at 801 Albert St. (map), formerly known as 801 Wellington St., according to city documents.

The proposed development would create 466 dwelling units and 478 surface and underground parking spaces. The property would have to be rezoned to accommodate the increased density.

A rezoning application was initially submitted in 2003 to allow for a residential development consisting of townhouses, stacked townhouses and an apartment.

The development was to be incorporated into a light rail station as part of Ottawa's since-cancelled north-south rapid transit line, an individual familiar with the file said on background.

"It all came to a halt with the death of the north-south light rail and then it got put on hold for two or three years as water mains were being built through the site," he said.

In September 2007, the developer requested its application be reactivated and proposed two 19-storey towers.

The developer's most recent application has not yet been deemed complete by city planners, but is being circulated for early public review.

DCR Phoenix's manager of planning could not be immediately reached for comment.
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[Mille Sabords]

"Surface and underground parking" already reeks of a tower-in-the-park type of garbage. I'll wait to see renderings, but it would make me smile more if I had also seen the words "retail podium" and "Integrated with a transfer station".

[waterloowarrior]

here's their old proposal('05)

http://www.phoenixhomes.ca/phoenixNews/documents/September28-2005.pdf

[Davis137]

It'd be awesome to ANYTHING built west of Lebreton near Bayview/Scott Streets...would add some much needed rejuvination to the northern section of the city...

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

here's their old proposal('05)

http://www.phoenixhomes.ca/phoenixNews/documents/September28-2005.pdf

I quite liked that proposal.

[cityguy]

I live on Preston,these towers rise up quite close to my house.

[harls]

The views would be phenomenal....

[osirisboy]

what are the chances of this thing actually getting built at 31 stories? did they make it taller so they have room to negotiate with the city on height?

[cityguy]

^that's what I'm thinking.

[Beatrix]

Well, the elevation at Bayview is substantially lower than that of the CBD. I don't think it would obstruct any views of Parliament....

[highdensitysprawl]

what are the chances of this thing actually getting built at 31 stories? did they make it taller so they have room to negotiate with the city on height?

Happens all the time...it is rare that the public or councillors ask the developer to increase the height/density. City Planners do, but I've never known the public or the elected officials.

Its called the art of the negotiation.

[waterloowarrior]

application page (site plan) (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7JXBPO)


To construct 2- 31 storey apartment buildings. + 2 storeys of mechanical equipment and 3-4 storeys of office building.

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/801albert.jpg

[Deez]

bahaha.

This thing is an absolute abomination of urbanism...some of which is the City's fault and some the developer's.

First of all...why on earth are the property lines set so frigging far back from Scott (Albert?)? This development is steps from the CBD yet the setbacks are similar to new single family home subdivisions in Avalon. And what abuts the property line? A surface lot? At the intersection of what could be an N-S-E-W transit transfer location? Give me a break.

[cityguy]

I guess you would have too see the site,the property lines are set far back because of steep terrain.

[jeremy_haak]

I guess you would have too see the site,the property lines are set far back because of steep terrain.

Usually they would just zone it Hazard or something similar to prevent development on that part of the land (at least where I work). Obviously the road ROW is particularly wide along Scott Street/Wellington in that area. I'd be curious to find out why.

It seems a little bit premature to begin developing Bayview. There should really be a more comprehensive plan for the area before development should proceed.

[harls]

You can see the hatch marks along Scott street on the left hand side, but that's the only place where steep terrain is shown.

the drawing makes me think of Place Champlain in Hull with its parking lot along Taché.. it has a similar type of drop-off from the street.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/3328472660_a521ce739e_o.jpg

[bradnixon]

First of all...why on earth are the property lines set so frigging far back from Scott (Albert?)? This development is steps from the CBD yet the setbacks are similar to new single family home subdivisions in Avalon. And what abuts the property line? A surface lot? At the intersection of what could be an N-S-E-W transit transfer location? Give me a break.

You can see from the site plan that this site is criss-crossed with sewer easements. If the buildings were brought any closer to Scott/Albert, they would be encroaching on the easement.

I don't think there's any other alternative in this case.

[waterloowarrior]

The residential buildings have about 50% more resident parking spaces than required (although based on the numbers it is probably all underground and visitors is above ground)

[Radster]

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this plan was the grouping of all the Alta Vista apartments and condos (in the vicinity of the Canada Post depot). I agree, this is a joke.

[Deez]

You can see from the site plan that this site is criss-crossed with sewer easements. If the buildings were brought any closer to Scott/Albert, they would be encroaching on the easement.

I don't think there's any other alternative in this case.

I guess that shows how much I know about reading site plans.

Would these sewers predate the current Scott St. alignment? I wonder if there are plans to move them...

[Davis137]

I hope they go through with this location...

[k2p]

Sorry, they need to build something that horrendous because of a steep incline? Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New Zealand, Rio, Italian mountainsides have steep inclines. Scott Street?

[d_jeffrey]

Sorry, they need to build something that horrendous because of a steep incline? Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New Zealand, Rio, Italian mountainsides have steep inclines. Scott Street?

Look, it's Ottawa, the same people that think that digging under the canal will result in a flooded subway.

[Mille Sabords]

Sorry, they need to build something that horrendous because of a steep incline? Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, San Francisco, New Zealand, Rio, Italian mountainsides have steep inclines. Scott Street?

I'm with you, and I hope the city kicks their asses out of the building permit office as soon as they show up. This is a pathetic effort.

[highdensitysprawl]

I'm with you, and I hope the city kicks their asses out of the building permit office as soon as they show up. This is a pathetic effort.

My experience with the 'building permit' office is that they never question the architectural treatment, FSI, proposed setbacks etc. That is taken care of by the Planners at the City and as long as their is a site plan approval in place, the building permit review people never question it. They are more concerned with Building Code conformity, making sure it meets the zoning, any variances applied for and in full force and effect, development charges paid etc.

[Mille Sabords]

My experience with the 'building permit' office is that they never question the architectural treatment, FSI, proposed setbacks etc. That is taken care of by the Planners at the City and as long as their is a site plan approval in place, the building permit review people never question it. They are more concerned with Building Code conformity, making sure it meets the zoning, any variances applied for and in full force and effect, development charges paid etc.

That was a figure of speech, but thanks for the lowdown.

[highdensitysprawl]

That was a figure of speech, but thanks for the lowdown.

Pas de probleme.....if ever there was a greater difference between the planning policy wonks and development approvals boffins and the 'pick and shovel' guys in the Building Department, I've yet to find it at City Hall. In many smaller municipalities that I've been involved in, the person who reviews the plans for zoning/site plan issues is also the person who reviews for building permit purposes....

[rocketphish]

here's their old proposal('05)

http://www.phoenixhomes.ca/phoenixNews/documents/September28-2005.pdf

...and here's another old, yet different, rendering from their 2007 Corporate Brochure. Notice that they were still planning to get their hands on the Tom Brown Arena lands as well.

http://www.phoenixhomes.ca/aboutPhoenix/CorpBrochure3.pdf

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/3665383642_b3979328a5_o_d.jpg

Maybe the latest plan of theirs will be third time lucky?

[cityguy]

^buildings in this picture appear to be about 22 stories.

[citizen j]

^Which might indicate what they expect to get approved if they propose 31 storeys?

[cityguy]

projects change all the time the picture has 3 main towers,the current proposal has two 31 storey tower with a 4 storey office building.

[waterloowarrior]

streetview of the site

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2447/4043976385_461f1b693b_o.jpg
(http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=801+albert,+ottawa,+on&ie=UTF8&gl=ca&ei=OcLkSqyvCpOStgfCiLi3DA&ved=0CAsQ8gEwAA&hq=&hnear=801+Albert+St,+Ottawa,+Ottawa+Division,+Ontario&ll=45.410322,-75.718825&spn=0.012262,0.027874&t=h&z=16&layer=c&cbll=45.410248,-75.718998&panoid=qVqs_i3_SHMAh_MtJsKz6g&cbp=12,200.42,,0,5.29)

[cityguy]

Proposal signs have been removed.

[archie-tect]

After the commical effort on Somerset I think Pheonix should be banned from developing anywhere near the downtown core. Commical is so bad in this case that you just shake your head since what can you say

[cityguy]

^what?