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Shovels could be in the ground as early as next year on a long-awaited redevelopment of LeBreton Flats, a 29-hectare parcel of under-used, under-developed land just a short walk from Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
The National Capital Commission (NCC) which oversees the land recently gave the green light to a new, much-anticipated preliminary master plan concept that lays the framework for rebuilding the area and allows the Crown corporation to move ahead with planning, technical studies and municipal applications.
The NCC hopes to tender its first procurements within a few weeks, paving the way for construction to begin in 2021 on developments across the site.
Marc Seaman, chairperson of the NCC board of directors, said the commission listened to feedback from the community at public meetings and delivered a plan that incorporates what the residents wanted.
“I think while we have an ambitious plan, and we have an ambitious timeline, we are making it happen, and I think that’s really important for our citizens of the National Capital Region and Canadians as well who’ve made it very clear that that’s a top priority and we’re making it happen deliberately.
“It’s very exciting to see that we’re close to the first phase of implementing this and going to development proposals.”
The plan will guide development of the site over the next 25 to 35 years. It proposes 418,000 square metres of residential space, 116,000 square metres of office space and 21,000 square metres of retail space.
While the plan doesn’t include a proposal for an NHL-sized hockey arena, which was the centrepiece of an earlier failed RendezVous LeBreton plan, there is flexibility to support a major event centre in future.
The recently released LeBreton Flats framework by the NCC would establish four unique districts in the area. One will be a cultural hub and entertainment district, a second will be a predominantly residential community with a variety of housing types, a third will be a mixed-use neighbourhood anchored by a library and potential event centre, and a fourth will be a park district.
NCC — The recently released LeBreton Flats framework by the NCC would establish four unique districts in the area. One will be a cultural hub and entertainment district, a second will be a predominantly residential community with a variety of housing types, a third will be a mixed-use neighbourhood anchored by a library and potential event centre, and a fourth will be a park district.
The area has been the subject of much debate over the years and there have been several proposals floated. However, the new plan appears to have buy-in from the city although there are still some details to work out, including an economic development and implementation strategy.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told the NCC board that the city is basically supportive of the venture but notes it’s still a “high-level plan” and there’s a lot of work to do before Ottawa officially signs off on the project.
There is also the thorny question of who pays for what, he says. “That’s always a great issue around these tables.”
Watson said he wants the city and NCC staff to work closely on an economic development strategy for site to make sure it supports a fulsome employment base, but so far he’s impressed with what he’s seen.
“We don’t want to have a sea of condos where there are very few jobs or minimal retail jobs and I’m pleased to see that was included. That’s important from a mobility point of view and an economic development point of view.”
The NCC figures the area will have 4,000 dwelling units and could be home to 7,200 residents. Nearly 13 acres, or 44 per cent of the total area, will consist of parkland and open spaces. The site is anchored by two new LRT stations, aqueduct water features, and Nepean Inlet, with access to the Ottawa River.
NCC chief executive Tobi Nussbaum said at the NCC board meeting that he is very encouraged by the plan and, while there’s further work that needs doing, staff have a pretty good handle on a financing strategy.
“One principle that is important to be clear on is the board has authorized us to make sure that we can reinvest the proceeds from early parcels back into the actual project.”
Developers who are awarded contracts will be subject to Ottawa’s financing rules, he said, so development charges will go city coffers.
The NCC will also ensure that it has money available to move on infrastructure and public-realm elements in the plan because they’re important to demonstrate progress and raise the value of properties.
“The more beautiful these public phases are, the more money we will have to regenerate and invest in these properties,” said Nussbaum.
In response to a request by the NCC, a plan for the site was put forward in 2016 by RendezVous LeBreton Group, a partnership with the Ottawa Senators and Trinity Developments, which included a new NHL arena, but partnership issues arose and in 2019 the NCC had to restart the redevelopment process.
The NCC went back to the drawing board and hired 02 Planning + Design to develop a new plan. A consultation in November found that the public is generally supportive of the concept, however it was deemed there are some key areas where input could be used in the future, such as the design of outdoor amenities and public spaces, incorporation of sustainability features, and inclusion of heritage and cultural elements.
The plan establishes four unique districts. One will be a cultural hub and entertainment district, a second will be a predominantly residential community with a variety of housing types, a third will be a mixed-use neighbourhood anchored by a library and potential event centre, and a fourth will be a park district.
Now that the plan has been approved, the NCC will work on making sure the master plan aligns with Ottawa’s plan and, by the end of the year, will begin requesting development proposals for one or more subsequent parcels of the property. |
