[waterloowarrior]

http://www.clc.ca/properties/800-montreal-road

Canada Lands Company (CLC) is in the process of planning the redevelopment of 800 Montreal Road. This 10-acre (4-hectare) property is located at the south-east corner of Montreal Road and Den Haag Drive and was acquired from Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) by CLC in 2007. The elements of the administration building and forecourt (located nearest to Montreal Road) have been "recognized" by the Federal Heritage Building Review Office. In keeping with our mandate, CLC's intention is to create a redevelopment plan that will complement the surrounding community.

Constructed in the 1950s by PWGSC the building served as the eastern base for the federal government's Forest Products Laboratory, which conducted research into numerous aspects of Canada's forest industry. Changing government priorities led to the closure of the government's forest research program in 1978, and the building was later leased to Forintek a private, non-profit corporation designed to promote forestry research. Forintek ceased operation at the site in 1994.

Currently, CLC is consulting with community stakeholders and area residents to prepare potential redevelopment concepts for the property. Demolition of the non-heritage portion of the existing building was completed in the fall of 2008.

Location (http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=rk6n068pxg5x&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&scene=32850417&encType=1)

Public meeting presentation
http://www.clc.ca/en/pr/factsheets/800montreal_040709_EN.pdf

there are a few preliminary site plans in the presentation and other drawings...

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/800montreal.jpg

[osirisboy]

wow that looks really good!!

[phil235]

It is really important that they integrate a decent amount of commercial space into the plans. Montreal Road is a surprisingly functional main street despite its astounding ugliness. It should be enhanced in that role as much as possible.

There are clearly enough employment centres in the area to support business development. CMHC has 2000 employees right across the street, the greatly expanded Monfort hospital is 200 m away and the NRC is just further along.

[Mille Sabords]

The proposal has good bones and it is a good start. Option 1A puts the townhouses next to the green buffer, leaving parking to front on the new street - not good. And in Option 1, the condo at the northeast corner of the site has grass in front of it next to Montreal Road - they have to bring that building forward and relate it to the street better. Other than that, pretty good!

[waterloowarrior]

I like the density in Option # 2. It seems appropriate, especially with the hospital, CLC Rockcliffe, and other employment areas and schools nearby. There's also good transit and highway access right there. It would be cool to designate the internal roadway (or part of it) as a woonerf or home zone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woonerf), or at least keep them quite narrow.

[Kitchissippi]

I find the concept of a "green buffer" between the old and new residential areas a bit funny, like it's just a way to appease NIMBYism. I think there could be a better use of green space within the site, like a rain garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_garden) that is more of a central feature rather than create an edge that turns the development into a bordered community apart from the old.

[Mille Sabords]

I find the concept of a "green buffer" between the old and new residential areas a bit funny, like it's just a way to appease NIMBYism. I think there could be a better use of green space within the site, like a rain garden (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_garden) that is more of a central feature rather than create an edge that turns the development into a bordered community apart from the old.

That's actually an excellent point. I don't see a need to wedge these two communities apart whatsoever. A shared parkette that would benefit the two and link them at the same time would be much better than this "buffer", as if right off the bat we assume that people from either side of it won't want to have anything to do with each other.

[Davis137]

Interesting ideas and information...

[waterloowarrior]

http://www.clc.ca/sites/default/files/Letter_to_residents_-_September_24_2009.pdf

September 24, 2009
Dear Sir or Madam,
Subject: 800 Montreal Road Redevelopment

We are contacting you to provide an update on the 800 Montreal Road redevelopment. After meeting
with area residents last April, we continued our discussions with the City of Ottawa and met with
residential builders. As a result of all these discussions, we are now ready to submit the necessary
applications with the City.

The purpose of these applications, which will be submitted in the very near future, is to create the legal
boundaries of the development blocks, modify the zoning to allow retirement living use and to increase
the height limits for the north section of Block A to a maximum of 12 storeys. CLC will also be applying
to construct a municipal street. The attached plan illustrates the resulting development block
boundaries and land uses.

The project should be reviewed by the City of Ottawa over the fall and winter, using the supporting
plans and studies submitted by CLC. CLC and the City will continue to inform and consult citizens
through both a community information meeting followed by a formal public meeting that will be held
during the City’s review and processing of the applications and before any formal recommendations are
made.

Later this year CLC will be initiate a process to select builders for these development blocks. Builders’
proposals will be subject to CLC’s predetermined quality criteria. Builders whose proposals are selected
by CLC must then submit their project to the City of Ottawa for a Site Plan Approval process. CLC will be
supervising implementation by ensuring the compliance of the projects carried out by the builders.

CLC will provide future updates on the progress of the development on our website, through the
Rockcliffe Mews Residents Association newsletter and by e-mail to our mailing list. If you wish to be on
the mailing list or if you have any questions or comments about the project or the approval process, you
may contact us by e-mail at 800montreal@videotron.ca or by telephone at 613-941-5843.

Yours truly,
Norm Jarus
General Manager - Real Estate, Ontario

http://wwuploads.googlepages.com/montrealrd_subdivision.jpg



Here's another artist conception on the Canada Lands site
http://www.clc.ca/sites/default/files/800Montreal_header2.jpg

[rakerman]

Is there any reuse of the existing buildings? I've ridden the bus past there on the way to work for years and thought that those buildings look solid and good for nice lofts.

[waterloowarrior]

application is in
http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7S7JE9

[waterloowarrior]

Canada Lands to redevelop 800 Montreal Rd.
By Jim Donnelly, Ottawa Business Journal Staff
Thu, Oct 22, 2009 11:00 AM EST
http://www.ottawabusinessjournal.com/322515063577729.php

The Canada Lands Company is preparing to redevelop a 10-acre property at the apex of Montreal Road and Den Haag Drive, according to the Crown corporation.

The property, acquired by CLC from Public Works in 2007, features a 60-year-old heritage building and under CLC's redevelopment plan would see 140 units of retirement living, 240-290 condominiums in two buildings and 76-80 units of stacked townhomes constructed on the site.

CLC spokesperson Rodger Martin told OBJ that the Crown corporation has submitted a series of zoning modification applications with the city. Those include an application to allow a retirement home on the site, to increase height limits for the most northeast section to 12 storeys and to construct a municipal street through the site, to run from Montreal Road to Den Haag Drive.

When asked the approximate value of the site, just east of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. headquarters, Mr. Martin declined comment.

In a letter no nearby residents in September, CLC general manager of real estate for Ontario Norm Jarus said the company had already met with local residential builders and will issue a request for proposals later in the year. Local residents were allowed a series of public consultations on the project, the last of which took place last April.

And while Mr. Martin acknowledged community concerns were voiced about the height of the tallest condominium building and increased traffic on Den Haag, he said much of the commentary indicated the design plan fits well with the neighbourhood.

The site includes several acres of treed, grassy open space and an existing federal heritage building. The building was constructed in the 1950s and once housed Forintek, a private, non-profit corporation which promoted forestry research. The company moved out in 1994.

[rocketphish]

I'm always amazed at how long it can take the regular press to find out about some development proposals. Heck, we all knew about this over 6 months ago, and OBJ is writing about it like it's a brand new idea.