Ontario Construction News staff writer
A significant multi-tower housing project featuring four high-rise buildings and a public park has been suggested for the site of the old Scouts Canada national headquarters in Ottawa’s west end.
In addition, the City of Ottawa has received an application for a planning review concerning a seven-building development intended to take over the existing Meyers auto dealership at 1200 Baseline Rd.
According to planning documents submitted to the City of Ottawa (File No. D02-02-22-0062), developer Bertone and property owner Scouts Canada have put forth an application for a Zoning By-law amendment to redevelop the 3.3-acre site at 1345 Baseline Rd., near Clyde Avenue.
The revised submission builds on an earlier application made to municipal authorities in August 2022, which originally proposed three towers ranging from 26 to 30 storeys that would contain 952 residential units.
The updated planning documents indicate that the new proposal includes four residential towers located at each corner of the property, standing at heights of 40, 34, 34, and 28 storeys on top of four- to six-storey podiums. Overall, this project would add up to 1,251 residential units in total, designed as 231 one-bedroom, 457 one-bedroom-plus-den, and 483 two-bedroom apartments.
A planning rationale report prepared for Bertone by Fotenn Planning + Design suggests that construction will be carried out in phases. The first phase will build the 40-storey tower containing 370 units, followed by the construction of the 28-storey tower and one of the two included 34-storey towers.
As noted in Fotenn’s report, “Tower B,” which is another one of the proposed 34-storey structures, will be held back until local municipal servicing infrastructure can support full capacity on site.
The application filings detail additional plans for this project:
Ground-level commercial space: At-grade retail spaces incorporated into podiums to enhance street-level activity and services for residents. Underground parking: Two underground parking facilities designed with room for up to 952 vehicles. Public green space: A dedicated municipal park measuring approximately 1,109 sq. m., positioned along Baseline Road. Transit orientation: Design elements intended to align with Ottawa’s planned Baseline Road Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor.
Current city records indicate that there is a two-storey office building covering around 41,200 sq. ft. on this property that was built in1959. According to statements from Scouts Canada, they no longer operate at this location due to an asset strategy launched in2022 aimed at selling real estate holdings and redirecting funds towards youth programs.
Scouts Canada’s archives reveal that a notable totеm pole from1961 stands near Baseline Road’s entrance. This pole was gifted by British Columbia’s government and crafted by Kwakiutl Chief Mungo Martin alongside his grandson Henry Hunt.
The application concerning1345 Baseline Rd. coincides with another major redevelopment plan within this corridor. Municipal planning applications presented by Zena Investment Corporation (File No. D02-02-26-0056) have requested amendments regarding both Official Plan and Zoning By-law for1200 Baseline Rd., where Myers Automotive Group currently runs an active Chevrolet Buick GMC dealership.
Zena Investment Corporation’s planning submission outlines their vision for master-planning1200 Baseline Rd., proposing a two-phase redevelopment strategy allowing continued operation of the car dealership during Phase1 while constructing two initial towers standing25 and30 storeys tall. Phase2 would ultimately remove dealership operations paving way for five more buildings (towers measuring14 ,25 , and35 storeys alongside two mid-rise structures standing six stories) along with public park access via Eleanor Drive.
The zoning request relatedto Scouts Canada’s headquarters site at1345Baseline Rd. is currently under review by Cityof Ottawaplanning staff; it will need approval from both Planningand Housing Committeeas well as City Councilbefore any site preparation or construction begins.
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