Cathedral Hill [428 Sparks St] | 21f | Completed

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by S-Man

Well, there's now a special interest group dedicated to getting that bus off that particular street (something like 'Stop The Bus Ottawa' or something similarly ridiculous). The reasoning is that buses kill children and have no part in downtown neighbourhoods, thus the Glebe bus should bypass the Glebe on its current route. No mention of whether people in the Glebe might actually want to catch that bus inside their community, but it's clear public transit is unwanted and unused by the people complaining.
As for the cathedral site, one commenter wants the condo owners to sue the city for 'breach of trust', as if there's been an unspoken rule in Ottawa for decades that all development will happen in the suburbs and no change will ever occur downtown.
It seems whenever one of these people encounters the position that 'intensification is necessary', they inevitably come back with the assertion that the city is greedy for allowing development downtown, that this is an entirely new sort of problem that never happened in the past (though I question how the existing tall buildings got there), and that their rights are being trampled on.

I have to wonder how this mindset was nurtured and reinforced? The logical person in me says they must realize that this is not how any municipality operates, that these so-called 'rights' can't logically exist in educated people's minds, yet here we are listening to this, again and again. What is going on here?

I think part of it is this there is a fair amount of devlopement going on now and has in the past and the near future some may think there is to much.

[gjhall]

Passed by committee today, council tomorrow.

[ThaLoveDocta]

Originally Posted by gjhall

Passed by committee today, council tomorrow.

Full Steam Ahead!!!!!!!


http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ca...041/story.html

OTTAWA — After an hour of ceremonial events and reports, city council whipped through its agenda Wednesday morning.

The only issue that was discussed at all was the proposed development on Cathedral Hill, which Councillor Diane Holmes argued against. She represents the area and was the only councillor to dissent on the issue.

That means the proposal to construct a 21-storey condominium tower, a row of four townhouses and a 12-storey office building around Christ Church Cathedral at the west end of Sparks Street will go ahead. The plan was also approved last week by the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee.

For the spot where the condo building will be built, the old zoning allowed for heights of 20 metres. The new zoning allows a maximum height of 73.6 metres. The development has been opposed not only by Holmes, but also by neighbouring residents.

The site is bounded by Bronson Avenue to the west, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church to the east, Sparks Street to the north and Queen Street to the south. Christ Church owns all the property except St. Peter’s and three Queen Anne revival houses on Queen Street.

Other measures that were carried included waiving the patio fees for Feleena’s restaurant in the Glebe this summer as the Bank Street reconstruction is expected to hurt business in the area. Approved at the transportation committee, the issue was expanded into charging Preston Street businesses lower patio fees as well, to help compensate them for the recently concluded renovation of the street there.

City staff is now preparing a report looking at how Ottawa’s fees charged for patios that encroach on city property compare with fees from across the country.

Also carried was a proposed plan for a new apartment complex in Overbrook, which was also opposed by neighbouring residents.

Groupe Lépine plans to develop a U-shaped building at 127 Presland Rd., with the entrance to the complex directly off Vanier Parkway. It would replace three buildings on the site that were once owned by Les Soeurs Franciscaines Missionaires de Marie de l’Ontario, an order of Catholic nuns.

But under an amendment moved by Councillor Peter Clark — which was approved by council immediately — some of the details of the project have changed. The complex will contain a maximum of 299 units, instead of the planned 307. Also, it appears there will be more height on the Vanier Parkway side of the development, and less on the side that abuts to a residential neighbourhood — now five storeys instead of the previous nine.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ca...#ixzz1M4FQcufT

Bold added by me.

[reidjr]

I find it amazing some who live in the area said this is a massive tower its only 21 floors thats not massive by any means.

[MountainView]

This is great news!

Any idea when the buildings will begin to be built? Or will they wait a while to confirm some tenants for the office building and condo. Also do you all think that they will both be constructed simultaneously or one at a time, if so which one first? I would like to see the entire site built at once!

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by MountainView

This is great news!

Any idea when the buildings will begin to be built? Or will they wait a while to confirm some tenants for the office building and condo. Also do you all think that they will both be constructed simultaneously or one at a time, if so which one first? I would like to see the entire site built at once!

From my understanding they will market both buildings this summer and start construction next winter with a target date of spring 2013 for the opening.I agree its great news this just adds to the amount of projects such as the claridge plaza 3 and 4 the tribbica and the meritt and of course the soho and re i think its going to be a very exciting all around.

[gjhall]

Originally Posted by MountainView

This is great news!

Any idea when the buildings will begin to be built? Or will they wait a while to confirm some tenants for the office building and condo. Also do you all think that they will both be constructed simultaneously or one at a time, if so which one first? I would like to see the entire site built at once!

I know for the office that they are involved in an RFP process for a "high profile tenant" which is why the city sped up the approval process. As for the condos, these will be a really easy sell with their sweeping views, etc.

[reidjr]

Originally Posted by gjhall

I know for the office that they are involved in an RFP process for a "high profile tenant" which is why the city sped up the approval process. As for the condos, these will be a really easy sell with their sweeping views, etc.

I think aslo beeing real close to the chruch may be a real big appeal for some.

[Fraser]

Passed at Council - the 2 townhomes have been changed to 4.

[Harley613]

this is EXCELLENT news!!! i LOVE it when Dianne Holmes loses a battle.

oh yeah, the buildings will be nice and whatnot as well

[S-Man]

I was bowled over when she stated she liked the idea, but the height was a problem. Her aversion to anything tall goes well in line with the Freudian complex I mentioned in some other post. Must be the 1970s/feminist/socialist outlook that is still festering in Ottawa (including Ottawa U).

Hope this thing gets built soon - those Soviet grey towers can't be covered up soon enough!

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by S-Man

I was bowled over when she stated she liked the idea, but the height was a problem. Her aversion to anything tall goes well in line with the Freudian complex I mentioned in some other post. Must be the 1970s/feminist/socialist outlook that is still festering in Ottawa (including Ottawa U).

Hope this thing gets built soon - those Soviet grey towers can't be covered up soon enough!

Quite an interesting debate occurred between Councillors Holmes and Hume over this development. Hume essentially argued that we need to ditch our aversion to height limits in an effort to get sleeker buildings and better streetscaping. By forcing developers to go vertical, the building isn't pushed to the very reaches of the site area, so there's a better connection between the building and the street, allowing for more 'green space' and better pedestrian accessibility, rather than 8-storey, stumpy, uniform boxes.

This Council is going to be far more open to better design / greater height than the previous Council(s). When it comes to stunting the height of buildings, I think Holmes is now a lone voice around the table. Developers will catch on, but it will be a gradual process.

[kwoldtimer]

The Soho Italia proposal suggests that developers may already have got it. I would expect them to be two steps ahead of city council, not behind.

[Fraser]

Sorry, I meant that a greater frequency of taller, denser buildings will be a gradual process, not that it will take the developers a while to clue in. Council will want to ease into it, though.

[S-Man]

Hmmm...maybe Diane should take a walk in her own neighbourhood and see what height limits did for greenspace, ground-level interaction, architecture, etc in Centretown over the last 40 years. Stumpy boxes from property line to property line with no gaps in between. Sure, there's no sun or grass and the streetscape is cold and uninviting...but at least the buildings aren't tall!

[Davis137]

You guys provide me with pure entertainment with your comments about council! Keep it coming!

[S-Man]

There's no shortage of fodder on that front, I'm afraid.

I actually walked past this site today (Albert to Bronson, up to Sparks, and through the Garden of the Provinces). A nice place that - even with this development - will keep its church (which will now be financially sustainable), and continue to have greenspace in the form of the garden of the provinces and the park at the end of Sparks on the cliff overlooking the Flats. Really, just some parking lots are being used, nothing heritage or green. The place is a dead zone at any hour, may as well make use of the available space.
I don't see anything being destroyed besides a bunch of condo owners' views.

[AuxTown]

People are going to say that this project takes away from the herritage character of the church, but that was done 15-20 years ago when all the buildings (ugly ones I might add) were built right behind it. At least we have a chance that these towers will be made with decent materials and may actually emphasize the beauty of the church rather than taking away from it. Put a shovel in the ground before the Friends of [insert NIMBY plight here] start to organize.

[S-Man]

'Friends of the Hill' I would have to imagine...

Though really, its actually 'Friend of my Self-Interests'

[MountainView]

They have revised the look to the 12-story office tower... not too shabby in my opinion, I like the curve but I would need to see a better rendering to formulate my full opinion. Looks kind of strange that close to the church though.

You can read the article in the Citizen here:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/ot...996/story.html