[rocketphish]

Tommy & Lefebvre intends to primarily construct on the existing footprint of the building. However, because the site was an amalgamation of various buildings with various characters, scale, massing, etc., the reconstruction represents an opportunity to rationalize the footprint and design. The proposed building will have the appearance of a two-storey building with an overall height of approximately 8.4 m. The building will be located tight to the Bank and McLeod Street sidewalks with ground floor retail providing a continuous commercial frontage. Office and additional retail space will be located on mezzanines. The main entrance is being proposed at the corner of Bank and McLeod Streets. A curved aluminum screen over the entrance may be used for signage and will assist in acknowledging the building entrance and corner presence.

The large sidewalk level windows on the Bank and McLeod Street elevations will be used to display merchandise and serve to animate the street. A projecting canopy at approximately 3.0 m above the sidewalk will serve to bring the scale of the building down to the pedestrian level. The regular rhythm of the second floor office windows is in response to the early commercial buildings in the District, where the second floor was often apartments.
The main building will be clad in a metric modular brick similar in colour to the original store. The ground floor retail windows will be framed in a black modular brick to highlight the retail aspect of the building. The canopy and curved screen at the entrance will be clear anodized aluminum. A simple cornice will complete the elevation.

The development application documents are posted here:

http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7NDR8G (http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7NDR8G)


The old building:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3588879139_2392111edd_o_d.jpg


The proposed new building rendering:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3612/3589686776_34d1f792d5_o_d.jpg

The proposed new building siteplan:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3631/3588879081_fb9ec714f8_o_d.jpg

[rocketphish]

It's a shame that this is such an uninteresting building proposal. Here is a unique opportunity to create a very impressive structure, either faux-heritage to fit in with the historic Bank St. motif, or maybe something bold and contemporary. Instead we get a bland box dressed-up with a curved screen. Oooh!

I guess their insurance company is paying for it, so they are doing it on the cheap.

[harls]

I noticed last week that the site's already been cleaned up (or close to it).

Agreed, this is a ho-hum rebuild. Guess they want to get back to business asap.

[Kitchissippi]

I wonder why they are not going taller. They could even easily warehouse their stuff here in a larger building instead of way out on Lancaster Road.

One thing that pissed me off with their old building is that there was no secure/covered bicycle parking (especially for a store that sells bikes!) and it seems like they've overlooked that again.

[kwoldtimer]

I would have liked to see some residential above the store. Seems like a missed opportunity, but maybe the market couldn't justify it, especially since they are rebuilding so quickly.

[Proof Sheet]

I guess their insurance company is paying for it, so they are doing it on the cheap.

I think you may be correct there...the firm doing the architectural drawings is also doing the site servicing drawings...not always a recipe for bold architecture.

[aesthetic]

Is it strange that it I find it more unappealing than what's actually there now? I think it's kind of terrible.

[fireicedog]

I didn't think it was possible to build anything uglier than what was there before, but I guess I was wrong. What are they trying to hide with all the windows and door covered up? What a wasted opportunity.

[m0nkyman]

My standard line in support of tall buildings is that I'll support attractive at any height, and oppose ugly no matter how short.

This is one story of ugly. I can't support it, and plan on saying so at the Planning and Development committee of the Centretown Citizens Community Association.

They can do better.

[Rathgrith]

I noticed last week that the site's already been cleaned up (or close to it).

Agreed, this is a ho-hum rebuild. Guess they want to get back to business asap.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, how do you know this one won't mysteriously burn down like the old store during the next economic recession.

Speaking of, what caused it to burn down anyways?

[jitterbug]

Ugly. It Should Not Be Permitted. End Of Story.

[cityguy]

WOW,that just awful.

[Dado]

WTF is that? The curved screen is weird and the black cladding along the streets is awful - stick with the bricks. There's also a reduction in windows that I don't think does any good at all.

If they went to 3 storeys, could they do better?

[ajldub]

Well said, Rathgrith.

[azz]

For some odd reason that evangelical type gospel church on Wellington and Hamilton (I think) comes to mind first….that's not a good sign.

:shrug:

[Radster]

Hideous! WTF?

No height
No bicycle parking
No underground parking
No imagination
etc...etc...etc..

[Kitchissippi]

I submitted a comment to the city mentioning the bike parking oversight and they got back to me saying they will ask the owners to provide it.

[m0nkyman]

The black is a black brick. The rendering I saw last night was an improvement over what is posted here.

They are aware that this is a missed opportunity to go higher. They are probably wishing their store burnt down in better economic times, but them's the breaks.

It isn't what I want, but it is better than an empty lot and crippling Tommy & Lefebvre's business. They want this back up and running by November.

[nccwatch]

I've seen better looking big box stores.

Dire.

[waterloowarrior]

report to lacac/p&e (recommended for approval)
(http://www.ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/pec/2009/06-23/4%20-%20ACS2009-ICS-PGM-0095%20-464-474%20Bank%20St.htm)

[rocketphish]

Tommy & Lefebvre on Bank to be rebuilt

CBC News. Last Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 3:21 PM ET


Ottawa's Tommy & Lefebvre sporting goods store on Bank Street may soon be opening its doors for business again.

On Tuesday, Ottawa's Heritage Committee unanimously approved the owner's application to rebuild the flagship store that was destroyed by fire on March 31.

Since the blaze, the store has been operating out of a temporary location in the Glebe, further south of where it stood on Bank Street on the north side of the Queensway.

City council still has to approve the plans, but the owners said they hope to begin construction on a new two-storey building next month.

"We're hoping this new building will be able to springboard us into the new millennium," said Natalie Tommy, vice president of Tommy & Lefebvre, and the daughter of one of the three men who founded the company in 1958.

When the original building was destroyed by fire, she said, "we were definitely sad and felt like we'd been five rounds with the champ and kicked to the curb, but we knew we didn't have the luxury of letting it sink in."

Tommy said the plans for the new building include more floor space than the old building — which was formed out of four buildings the store had acquired over the years — but would be built on the same footprint.

"Because the building will be new and fresh inside, it'll be completely updated," said Tommy, who said the Bank Street location will use the new building as an opportunity to add more diversity to their regular stock of sports supplies.

City council will vote on the plans for the new Tommy & Lefebvre building in early July, and if the plans are approved, the owners said they hope to have a building permit in hand by July 15.

"I didn't realize what a daunting task it is," said Tommy about trying to run a business while learning how to move through the city's application process.

"Right now, I'm feeling really good about it. I feel like it's a reality," she said.

"I feel like definitely we will be up in time, and I'm going to feel good about the new building. It's going to be like a fresh start."


The storey, and some nice photos:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/06/23/ottawa-tommy-lefebvre-bank-street.html

[Proof Sheet]

Tommy & Lefebvre on Bank to be rebuilt

CBC News. Last Updated: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 | 3:21 PM ET


Ottawa's Tommy & Lefebvre sporting goods store on Bank Street may soon be opening its doors for business again.

On Tuesday, Ottawa's Heritage Committee unanimously approved the owner's application to rebuild the flagship store that was destroyed by fire on March 31.

Since the blaze, the store has been operating out of a temporary location in the Glebe, further south of where it stood on Bank Street on the north side of the Queensway.

City council still has to approve the plans, but the owners said they hope to begin construction on a new two-storey building next month.

"We're hoping this new building will be able to springboard us into the new millennium," said Natalie Tommy, vice president of Tommy & Lefebvre, and the daughter of one of the three men who founded the company in 1958.

When the original building was destroyed by fire, she said, "we were definitely sad and felt like we'd been five rounds with the champ and kicked to the curb, but we knew we didn't have the luxury of letting it sink in."

Tommy said the plans for the new building include more floor space than the old building — which was formed out of four buildings the store had acquired over the years — but would be built on the same footprint.

"Because the building will be new and fresh inside, it'll be completely updated," said Tommy, who said the Bank Street location will use the new building as an opportunity to add more diversity to their regular stock of sports supplies.

City council will vote on the plans for the new Tommy & Lefebvre building in early July, and if the plans are approved, the owners said they hope to have a building permit in hand by July 15.

"I didn't realize what a daunting task it is," said Tommy about trying to run a business while learning how to move through the city's application process.

"Right now, I'm feeling really good about it. I feel like it's a reality," she said.

"I feel like definitely we will be up in time, and I'm going to feel good about the new building. It's going to be like a fresh start."


The storey, and some nice photos:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/06/23/ottawa-tommy-lefebvre-bank-street.html

No doubt their optimism in terms of timing will be crushed once they get into the nitty gritty of the site plan and building permit process....early July Council approval never means a mid July building permit approval.

[m0nkyman]

Bet you a shiny nickel that they get it

[Kitchissippi]

I just got the notice in the mail that their site plan has been approved.

[Proof Sheet]

I just got the notice in the mail that their site plan has been approved.

Getting site plan approval does not = building permit but it does allow you to begin site preparation (as long as you have posted securities and have a site plan agreement in place)....the mid July building permit date was very optimistic and with summer holidays timelines can easily slip.

[Rathgrith]

I just got the notice in the mail that their site plan has been approved.

Did you sign up for the mailing list/fan club or something?

[Kitchissippi]

Did you sign up for the mailing list/fan club or something?

I submitted a comment (regarding the lack of bicycle parking) and got put on the city's mailing list for this file.

[rakerman]

they're working on the basement

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2649/4038785092_6533ed78ca.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakerman/4038785092/)

[rakerman]

status should probably be changed to U/C :)

[harls]

Done :)

[Radster]

wow, this was a golden opportunity for some underground parking, but nope, too shortsighted for that!

[Rathgrith]

^T&L owns a small parking lot across the street so underground parking not worth it.

[m0nkyman]

Also, any changes would blow some of their grandfathering out of the water, dragging out the rebuilding process to an unaffordable amount. Which is also the reason that they aren't going higher...

[rakerman]

^T&L owns a small parking lot across the street so underground parking not worth it.

If you mean the parking lot next to Central, that's probably going to become Central Phase II.

[peteotown]

If you mean the parking lot next to Central, that's probably going to become Central Phase II.

I think this is the lot they own on McLeod beside TandL:

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.411316,-75.693612&spn=0,359.989014&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.411272,-75.693739&panoid=vNpr_xCyr2kYplZyi3yOTA&cbp=12,334.69,,0,11.92

[Proof Sheet]

I think this is the lot they own on McLeod beside TandL:

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.411316,-75.693612&spn=0,359.989014&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.411272,-75.693739&panoid=vNpr_xCyr2kYplZyi3yOTA&cbp=12,334.69,,0,11.92

If you look at the T & L site itself on Google Earth, there are different timeline images...one looks like April of this year and the other maybe May or so...when did the reconstruction really start?

[Rathgrith]

I think this is the lot they own on McLeod beside TandL:

http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&ll=45.411316,-75.693612&spn=0,359.989014&z=17&layer=c&cbll=45.411272,-75.693739&panoid=vNpr_xCyr2kYplZyi3yOTA&cbp=12,334.69,,0,11.92

Thats the one.

[VIS]

Steel Frame

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/8969/tl1.jpg

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1398/tl2h.jpg

[rakerman]

They're at grade with a concrete slab

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/4110058612_2640766028.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/rakerman/4110058612/)