6-storey building proposed overlooking Rideau Canal in Old Ottawa East

A proposal to demolish a building in Old Ottawa East and build a new six-storey complex is worrying the current tenants. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

A new six-storey residential building is proposed to overlook the Rideau Canal in the Old Ottawa East neighbourhood, replacing a current four-storey apartment building.

The City of Ottawa received an application to build a new 52-unit residential building, with a three-storey underground parking garage, at 441 Echo Drive, just steps from the Rideau Canal and the Flora Footbridge.

The proposal by JB Holdings would replace the existing four-storey low-rise apartment building at the site on Echo Drive.

According to the plan, the 52 units would include 19 two-bedroom units, two three-bedroom apartments, 22 one-bedroom units and eight one bedroom plus den units. There would also be a rooftop lounge and terrace consisting of 230 square metres.

Capital Coun. Shawn Menard says his office has heard concerns from residents of the current apartment complex about losing what is considering affordable rental housing in the area.

“We really need to make sure that there are options in place for existing tenants as well as that there’s consultation with the community around what this building looks like and how it functions,” Menard said.

“Those pieces, in terms of this neighbourhood, are going to be really important going forward. In the past, with other buildings of this sort, there has been some flexibility shown (by the developer). I’m really hoping that, in this case, we need to see flexibility. These are affordable units in the ward right now. There are existing tenants there that deserve that discussion, and the community deserves a consultation on this.”

Menard says his office is setting up to meet with both tenants and the developer.

Fotenn Planning + Design has been retained by JB Holdings to prepare the planning rationale for the plan.

“The proposed development has been designed to serve as a complementary backdrop to the Rideau Canal,” Fotenn Planning + Design said.

“The proposed development, if approved, would be taller than surrounding buildings and will be visible from the Flora Footbridge.”

The proposal says a series of projections and step-backs on the front of the building will aim to mitigate impacts from the additional height.

“On the lower levels, a brick framework projects out from the face of the building. This creates articulation and, coupled with the recessed balconies, creates a highly varied building elevation that will offer contrasting shadowing over the course of the day,” the report said.

“Continuing up, the building is set back on Level 04 and then again on Level 06. The rooftop amenity space has also been designed to minimize its impact and ensure that it does not read as a seventh storey.”

Fotenn Planning + Design notes the building has a “prominent location” with its proximity to the Rideau Canal, but the building will be “screened by existing trees.”

The property would include 54 vehicle parking spaces and 56 bicycle parking spaces.

As part of the application, the developer proposes increasing the maximum permitted height under the Zoning Bylaw from 14.5 metres to 19.5 metres.

Margaret Vant Erve lives next to the current apartment, which she says fits-in and is well-sized for the neighbourhood. She argues the footprint of the possible future development and its three-level parking garage is too large because Echo Drive is a narrow, dead-end street, which is not equipped to handle the potential increase in traffic.

“There’s nothing of that magnitude in this neighbourhood and that’s a big increase in traffic. And then you think of all the service vehicles that come down to deliver things, guests that come to visit. It’s terrible,” she said, adding that if construction does begin, her home will see major impacts. “We currently have two very, very mature black walnut trees in our backyard and those would be destroyed. We wouldn’t be able to even walk from our front to our back because the property, this proposal takes it right up to the edge of our driveway.”

It’s expected to be presented to the planning and housing committee for approval in September.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Tyler Fleming

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