City of Ottawa spending $10 million for land to build new Barrhaven community facility

The sign outside City Hall in Ottawa (CTV News Ottawa)

The City of Ottawa is spending $10 million to purchase land for a new cultural and civic hub in Barrhaven and a future LRT station for the O-Train.

A report for the finance and corporate services committee meeting on June 30 recommends the city purchase a 4.18-acre parcel of land at the north-west corner of the future intersection of Chapman Mills Drive and Riocan Avenue.  The land will be purchased from the South Nepean Development Corporation.

Staff with Parks and Facilities Planning Services, the Recreation, Cultural and Facility Services Department, and the Ottawa Public Library are planning to design and build a new facility in the Barrhaven Town Centre. The project will include a 15,000 sq. ft. cultural centre with performance and event space, a 3,000 sq. ft. seniors’ space, a library branch, a councillor ward office and an urban plaza with a possible water and ice feature.

The land could also be a future site for an LRT station if the city expands the O-Train into Barrhaven.

“The new civic hub will become a valued community asset, focal point and destination that will resonate with the people of Barrhaven and instill a sense of civic and cultural pride,” staff said in the report.

“The district library branch will serve residents in the South Nepean communities of Riverside South and Barrhaven.”

Staff say the proposed civic complex is in the preliminary design stages and the LRT design will “follow in the coming years.” There is no word on when construction will begin on the new complex.

The City of Ottawa received funding under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program for the new facility.