Committee approves project for affordable housing on ‘underutilized’ parking lot

With mandates to build more housing near major transit station areas the City of Ottawa is getting creative with how it accomplishes that.

Two housing projects were approved by the Planning and Housing Committee last week on an “underutilized” parking lot. The site of the proposed developments is at 30 Cleary Avenue in the Laurentian neighbourhood, near the Ottawa River.

The six storey building would have 66 affordable units and is in partnership with Ontario Aboriginal Housing, a provider with the focus of housing Indigenous Peoples with cultural sensitivity. The 16 storey structure would have a four storey base and 148 dwellings.

The committee needed to amend the Official Plan and zoning bylaw for the area to allow for the two projects.

“The site currently houses institutional uses including a church, retirement residence and daycare, and the zoning amendment is primarily needed to permit residential uses including a mid-rise apartment and a high-rise apartment,” city staff said in a press release.

The site is also home to many trees, including a garden at the centre of the 2.2 hectares area, that residents have expressed concerns over. To the north, there is a wooded area and the Kichi Zibi Mikan Parkway. A report by staff said that no exiting buildings are to be demolished.

It is also nearby to the future Sherbourne O-Train Station, about 200 metres walking distance south of the area.

“Along Richmond Road south of the campus, there are existing and future high-rise buildings ranging in heights up to 24-storeys,” the report to the committee reads. “Behind the buildings within the southerly boundary of the site, there is a city backbone watermain that will prohibit any development in its vicinity.”

There are some concerns with the location of the building, comments from Ward Councillor Theresa Kavanagh noted.

“The proximity to the property line of residents on Aylen Street has been a contentious issue,” she said. “There has also been concern from the residents of Unitarian House on the traffic that will be coming to the campus, particularly after 40 years of their existence. The Unitarian House residents have petitioned for a separate construction route to be added while this project is being completed.”

The proposal will now go to Ottawa City Council to be ratified.