Supertalls in Ottawa

eternallyme · #1 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 1:11 AM**

Since Ottawa is starting to "grow up" with serious proposals of towers over 30 storeys, first 36 and now 42, I wonder how high everyone thinks we will eventually see?

For the question of the poll, I am wondering will Ottawa see a 50+ storey building proposed, actually built and when.

FiereSansVoiture · #2 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 4:48 AM**

If we compare with other Canadian cities.
Toronto hit the 50+ storey building in 1967
Montreal hit the 50+ storey building in 1992
Vancouver hit the 50+ storey building in 2008
Calgary hit the 50+ storey building in 1984

MountainView · #3 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 4:50 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by FiereSansVoiture

If we compare with other Canadian cities.
Toronto hit the 50+ storey building in 1967
Montreal hit the 50+ storey building in 1992
Vancouver hit the 50+ storey building in 2008
Calgary hit the 50+ storey building in 1984

And none of these cities have height restrictions that I am aware of!

MountainView · #4 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 4:49 AM**

We might see a proposal for a 50+ within the next 10 years, but if one were to be built it would most likely, imo, be in the 10-25 year time frame. So that's where my vote went.

Nouvellecosse · #5 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 5:37 AM**

Montreal and Vancouver have serious height restrictions.

eternallyme · #6 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 4:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Montreal and Vancouver have serious height restrictions.

Outside the core area (bounded by the Queensway, Rideau River, O-Train corridor and Ottawa River) they should remove all height restrictions. I'm also in agreement that the middle term - sometime in the 2020s or early 2030s - one will actually get built that tops over that. Agreed a proposal might come up within 10 years, but it will sure have a fight - at least at first - especially if obstructionists like Diane Holmes are still on Council.

lrt's friend · #7 Posted: **May 15, 2012, 7:58 PM**

If you want 50+ storey buildings, you must have rail transit in place in advance within walking distance. And I don't mean the current O-Train. It must be proper rapid transit. You just can't plunk down this kind of building anywhere in the city.

McC · #8 Posted: **Jun 1, 2012, 8:09 PM**

Darwin hears rumours

http://westsideaction.wordpress.com/...-you-wish-for/

Quote:

...a new proposal is going to council, promoting the City’s tallest office building(s) for the Dalhousie/Flats neighborhood.

More details — and pix — in the next post.

Harley613 · #9 Posted: **Jun 1, 2012, 8:17 PM**

i'm very excited to hear about this proposal but i don't understand who would fill ottawa's new tallest office building....150 elgin was downsized dramatically and is being built without much in the way of tenants, and the feds are downsizing....

McC · #10 Posted: **Jun 1, 2012, 8:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

i'm very excited to hear about this proposal but i don't understand who would fill ottawa's new tallest office building....150 elgin was downsized dramatically and is being built without much in the way of tenants, and the feds are downsizing....

and nothing's happened with the Morguard proposal on Bank between Laurier and Slater, or with Telus Phase II, or with the Fed-comissioned study to re-develop Tunney's, or...

J.OT13 · #11 Posted: **Jun 2, 2012, 3:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by McC

and nothing's happened with the Morguard proposal on Bank between Laurier and Slater, or with Telus Phase II, or with the Fed-comissioned study to re-develop Tunney's, or...

PdV phase III, replacement for Podium building, BMO place II, Cathedral Hill office and Lansdowne (although last 2 are smaller buildings). Not to mention large empty buildings (and floors at Sunlife) such as the old EDC plaza and, after renovations, L'Esplanade Laurier.

All put together, it's about 1.5 million + unbuilt and another 1.4ish+ million of empty space.

jaydog0212 · #12 Posted: **Jun 1, 2012, 8:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

i'm very excited to hear about this proposal but i don't understand who would fill ottawa's new tallest office building....150 elgin was downsized dramatically and is being built without much in the way of tenants, and the feds are downsizing....

Yes there downsizing but that does not mean new office buildings would not be indemand there is a rumor that they are looking for 1 million square feet of new office space downtown.

Capital Shaun · #13 Posted: **Jun 1, 2012, 11:18 PM**

The Feds currently occupy many buildings that are nearing end of life.

A good chunk of Tunney Pasture was built cheap during the post war years and is now in need of upgrades or replacement.

Harley613 · #14 Posted: **Jun 2, 2012, 4:51 AM**

ottawa needs to find a non-governmental niche. look at hartford...insurance capital of the US, omaha...pretty much everything...Minneapolis, junction of the midwest and home to many corporate headquarters. Dubai...poor souls...at least they tried to diversify before maxing daddy's credit card (abu dhabi).

This city relies too much on the feds. We tried to position ourselves as Silicon Valley North, and it has worked to a certain extent, however that industry is too static. Filet mignon for a year and Kraft Dinner for the next two years...

It's a shame really. We are geographically in the centre of Canada's population. Easy access to Toronto and Montreal. We need pitchmen in the corporate and political realms to promote Ottawa as a good place to do business....not just a place to design some semiconductors and govern the nation.

jaydog0212 · #15 Posted: **Jun 2, 2012, 10:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harley613

ottawa needs to find a non-governmental niche. look at hartford...insurance capital of the US, omaha...pretty much everything...Minneapolis, junction of the midwest and home to many corporate headquarters. Dubai...poor souls...at least they tried to diversify before maxing daddy's credit card (abu dhabi).

This city relies too much on the feds. We tried to position ourselves as Silicon Valley North, and it has worked to a certain extent, however that industry is too static. Filet mignon for a year and Kraft Dinner for the next two years...

It's a shame really. We are geographically in the centre of Canada's population. Easy access to Toronto and Montreal. We need pitchmen in the corporate and political realms to promote Ottawa as a good place to do business....not just a place to design some semiconductors and govern the nation.

Ottawa does have other fields besides the feds such as high tech and medical.

eternallyme · #16 Posted: **Mar 29, 2013, 3:13 AM**

At this rate, it may not be very long before the 50 storey barrier is smashed...

kevinbottawa · #17 Posted: **Mar 29, 2013, 3:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

At this rate, it may not be very long before the 50 storey barrier is smashed...

If there was a part of the city where I'd want to see 50+ storey buildings it would be Tunney's Pasture. The feds plan for Tunney's is sad. It would be good as a second business district. Mixed-use.