Brigil presents updated proposal for high-rise buildings on Baseline Road

Despite changes to proposed high-rises on Baseline Road, the area councillor says she’s not sure they fit the neighbourhood. CTV’s Josh Marano reports.

The debate over a major redevelopment along Baseline Road is heating up once again.

Brigil has submitted an updated application to the City of Ottawa to build three more high-rise buildings at 2946 Baseline Rd., just west of Greenbank Road.

The revised plan scales back the tallest building from 32 to 30 storeys and reduces the total number of units from 888 to 871

Coun. Laine Johnson, who represents College Ward, says while the developer has made some changes, she’s still not convinced the project fits the neighbourhood.

“The size of the project does give residents pause,” Johnson says. “However, it is 800 plus units, on an area that isn’t well served by transit, so we are taking a closer look at some of those implications.”

The new development also includes more balconies, improved green space, and a reconfigured layout that staggers the towers instead of joining them in an L-shape.

Johnson adds she will reserve judgment on whether she supports the project, adding that it does work with their official plan policies.

“We want to encourage density in more urban context instead of sprawl. Cities cannot afford to continue sprawling outwards; we can’t afford the infrastructure services that are required to bring those to that type of housing online,” Johnson says.

“This project does create a new housing typology for College Ward with apartments that are so desperately needed, whether it’s young people, or even older adults that want to downsize and don’t want to move out to the edge of the city. So, there are a lot of benefits to welcoming this kind of project in this area,” she adds.

The city will also collect cash-in-lieu of parkland from the developer, allowing the funds to be used to improve nearby parks, while Brigil plants additional trees on site.

Residents can review the full application and submit comments through the city’s development applications portal until Oct. 21, before the proposal moves to the Planning and Housing Committee and then City Council for consideration before the end of the year.

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