Lansdowne Park Public Consultations

This info is from the office of MPP Yasir Naqvi:

As you know, Ottawa City Council is currently considering a proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Park.

Situated at the heart of Ottawa for over a hundred years, the redevelopment of Lansdowne will be a key defining moment in the history of our city. This project is overflowing with potential, and if done carefully, could breathe new life into our city by increasing tourism, sport and community. This is really our opportunity to shine as a community and a National Capital – to build something truly worthy of the history and prestige of this site.

As you may know, the proposal and process for the Lansdowne redevelopment has been cloaked in controversy and secrecy for months. However, the City is now undertaking to expose the project and involve residents in the planning process through public consultation sessions to take place over the next two weeks. This is an important opportunity for all Ottawans to get involved and voice their opinions and visions for Lansdowne. Whether you live in the Glebe, Nepean, Orleans or Vanier, the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park will have an impact on your community and your city.

I encourage you to participate in the consultations taking place in your community. I also ask you to please spread the word to your friends, families and neighbours and ask them to participate as well. To be truly representative of the life and character of our city, we need everyone to participate in the consultations taking place.

-

The consultation in our ward will be held:

Monday, October 5, 6 to 9 p.m.
Tom Brown Arena, Hall
141 Bayview Road

Westboro Collection open house

Edited to add: Introductions & open forum begin at 7:00 pm

-

This latest open house is concerning the mixed-use development of McRae Avenue. Come see the latest plans and talk to the people behind this development.

Embassy West Hotel
(downstairs in the Canada Salon)
1400 Carling Avenue
Monday, September 14, 2009
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Introductions & open forum begin at 7:00 pm

Check out the official Westboro Collection website here.

Pending sale of Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent

If you’ve lived in the Westboro area for any length of time you’re probably already familiar with Les Soeurs de la Visitation convent at 114 Richmond Road. It is a major historical fixture in our neighborhood.

The 19th-century building is up for sale. A brochure from the real estate company DTZ Barnicke is marketing the property as a “simply extraordinary development opportunity.”

This article at CBC.ca has more information about the building and the issue of its sale.

Here is how an August 15th editorial in the Citizen described it (you can read it in its entirety here):

“According to architect and heritage critic Barry Padolsky who is one of the few members of the public to tour the grounds, entering the site at 114 Richmond Rd. just west of Island Park Drive, is like going into a different world; more like being in Europe than in one of the trendiest parts of Ottawa. And the convent, according to Padolsky, is like the jewel in the crown of the property. It is full of art. The building is an unknown treasure in the community.”

Heritage staff have visited the site and are currently researching the history of the property with a view to recommending heritage designation in a report to LACAC, PEC and Council in October. Councillor Leadman has provided her support for the heritage designation of this site.

We’ve been fielding quite a few emails about this and will be posting updates as we get them, but in the meantime we love to hear from our community. Is it or is it not important to hold on to our architectural history? Use the comments area to let us know what you think about its proposed sale and heritage designation.

Kitichissippi United Church (KUC) open house

Kitichissippi United Church (KUC) held an open house on Thursday June 18 to present their plans to the interested citizens on their Westboro Church property.

KUC was formed from three congregations – Westboro, Northwestern and Island Park churches. They are currently using the Island Park location for the next three to five years while they deliberate on how to consolidate their properties. They are now focusing on what to do with the Westboro location because the current building least suits their needs. At the moment a dozen community groups use the building including a day care.

However, the many stairs in the buidling create access problems and maintenance costs are very high.

KUC board members presented a number of four options for the property:

1. selling the site (the least desirable option in their view),
2. working with a community group interested in taking over the property,
3. redeveloping the property as the home for KUC, as well as for use by other community groups and
4.  redeveloping the property for community use and secondly for KUC outreach activities.

Redevelopment of the property will be costly and would involve the construction of a new building as the current structure is not practical nor an effective use of space. Any redevelopment would also be subject to parking by-laws and therefore would probably require underground parking.

KUC is committed to thoughtful planning process that involves the community and ensures that the future use of the property reflects KUC’s mission.

During the meeting, KUC board members encouraged community residents to share ideas on potential community groups that might be interested in partnering with KUC on redevelopment of the site. The KUC board expects to take a decision in October on which option to pursue. Only a few members of the community attended the meeting. However, WCA welcomes the open and consultative approach to planing that KUC is using and encourages interested residents to participate in future events.

Future of Westboro United Churchill building: Public Meeting

Kitchissippi United Church is inviting residents to attend an open discussion on the future of the former Westboro United Church property on Churchill Avenue on Thursday, June 18^th at 7:00 pm. For details, see the following letter:

 -

OPEN LETTER FROM KITCHISSIPPI UNITED CHURCH TO LOCAL RESIDENTS ADJACENT TO THE FORMER WESTBORO UNITED CHURCH

 Dear Neighbours,

For generations, Westboro United Church has been an important institution in the community on Churchill Avenue.  It continues to provide space to a variety of Community groups while the future of the congregation is decided, and is in regular use for this purpose.

Last year, the congregation of Westboro United Church agreed to amalgamate with the United Church congregations of Kingsway and Northwestern.  The current base of the new Kitchissippi United Church is on Island Park Drive at the former site of Kingsway United Church.

The Kitchissippi United Church congregation is about to commence a process to determine the future use of the former Westboro United Church on Churchill Avenue. The Church is considering 4 potential options for the Churchill Avenue Site.

i) Selling the property,

ii) Granting the property to a community organization with goals consistent with the Church’s Mission,

iii) Redeveloping the property primarily for Kitchissippi United Church and partially for community use, or

iv) Redeveloping the property primarily for community use and secondly for KUC, allowing space for Church Outreach activities.

 Our first step will be to consult with the local community.  To this end, we are inviting residents who live adjacent to the Church to an open discussion on the property at the former Westboro United Church on Churchill Avenue on:

Thursday, June 18^th,
7:00 – 8:30 pm. 

The congregation plans to make a decision on the issue in October 2009, and given the time for planning and execution, expects that you will see no change in the site until mid 2010 at the earliest.   The Kitchissippi United Church will assess the pros and cons of various options before making any decision, and the views of local residents are an important part of the process.

Re-Development on McRae Avenue: Update

The proponents of the major “Westboro Collection” project on McRae Avenue and Scott Street have  submitted their formal development application. The supporting documents are now available on the City’s web site here (warning: some of the documents are quite large).

The deadline for comments from the public is June 24^th, however the WCA will be requesting that this deadline be extended. We are also working to arrange for a community information session as provided for under the City’s development application review process.

Watch this space for more details soon.

Redevelopment of McRae Avenue

On Wednesday March 11, a group called the Westboro Collection will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the redevelopment of McRae Avenue.

Up for discussion: condos, retail, office space. Anyone can attend the meeting.  

For a few more details, view this PDF of an ad which is to appear in the next issue of the Kitchissippi Times.

Development on Winona

More residential development, this time on Winona Ave.

The Committee of Adjustment hearing for this one is on Wednesday January 14th starting at 1:00 p.m. in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place.

View the CoA notice here in PDF format: page one, and page two.

Development on Roosevelt

There’s been a bit of buzz in the neighborhood regarding a proposed residential development at 562/564 Roosevelt Avenue near Princeton.

These files have been in circulation, but for those who haven’t seen them yet, here are some PDFs (1) the proposed site plan and (2) a view of the front elevation. The Committee of Adjustment hearing is on Wednesday January 14th at 1:00 p.m. in The Chamber at Ben Franklin Place.

View the details of the CoA notice in PDF format here.

Open house #2 for Churchill Ave. reconstruction

Coming up: the second open house for the Churchill Avenue reconstruction project.

Thursday, December 18, 2008
7 to 9 p.m.
Churchill Seniors Recreational Centre, Main Hall
345 Richmond Road, Ottawa, ON

Click here for the details. (PDF format).