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There will be a virtual public consultation on Aug. 12 (Public Consultation Zoom Meeting, Monday August 12 – 7:30 pm).
By Charlie Senack | Barrhaven Independent
Read the full article here
One of Ottawa’s tallest residential buildings could soon be towering over Barrhaven’s Marketplace district.
Two high-rise buildings of 26 and 35-storeys tall have been proposed for the corner of Marketplace Avenue and McGarry Terrace. They would include 592 units ranging from bachelor suites to three bedroom apartments. Commercial units would be located on the ground floor alongside a publicly accessible courtyard.
The two buildings proposed by Kionas Construction would be connected by a 10 floor link which would house “amenities including a party room, exercise room, golf simulator and an infinity outdoor pool at the roof. With a rooftop terrace and an infinity pool on the 12th floor level,” says the design concept report.
Ottawa’s tallest building is currently the Claridge Icon in Little Italy which towers over the city at 45 storeys. Proposals are in the works for a 65 storey building called Trinity Centre near LeBreton Flats, and a new tower at Lansdowne which will rise 40 storeys. Barrhaven’s tallest structure is currently an 18 storey rental also located in the Marketplace area. It is located near two other buildings which are 15 and 17 storeys.
Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill is supportive of the proposal but would like to see a few amendments made.
“Two issues that I plan to represent hard before this file comes to committee in October is that I would like to encourage the developer to maximize the building usage for local seniors looking to downsize, and to ensure good safety measures on the McGarry Terrace drive as it becomes completed to Marketplace,” Hill wrote in his weekly newsletter.
Hill noted to the Barrhaven Independent in an interview that he would like to see a series of cheaper and smaller units be constructed as part of the plan.
“One of the problems I hear from people is we have apartments in Barrhaven, but they are on the higher end and they are difficult for someone on a fixed income to afford,” he said. “What we can do on the market rate side to keep them affordable is to have less premiums. That could include laminate countertops instead of quartz, laminate flooring instead of hardwood, and smaller square footage.”