West Orchard Urban Rentals [1047 Richmond Rd] | 112+121m | 36+38f | U/C

[AuxTown]

Wow, that's a big dig! Gonna be nice to add a couple modern towers to that 70's slabfest.

Is this still the current design?:

[rocketphish]

Originally Posted by AuxTown

Wow, that's a big dig! Gonna be nice to add a couple modern towers to that 70's slabfest.

Is this still the current design?:

No, not even close... that was the bait before the switch. It was Approved on Sept 22, 2025 with this devolved design, a modern take on the slab that fits right in, unfortunately:













http://webcast.ottawa.ca/plan/All_Image%...20UDRP%20Report%20-%20D07-12-24-0104.PDF

[Harley613]

Not as bad as the Trinity 'Story of Mediocrity and Bean Counting' fiasco on Rideau, but close.

[ponyboycurtis]

It's funny because I really like the plain and repetitious older tower next door.

Give me some white/very light grey aluminum panelling and some light blue tinted glass and this could work.

Or is there a material list on the DevApps for this current iteration?

[Uhuniau]

Originally Posted by Harley613

Not as bad as the Trinity 'Story of Mediocrity and Bean Counting' fiasco on Rideau, but close.

What's the imaginary problem this time?

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

What's the imaginary problem this time?

The serious dumbing down of the project compared to the renders of the approval is what I assume Harley is referring too.

The original proposal for Story was a glassed out tower with vertical details etc. Would look right in place in the middle of Toronto. Not that I am saying we should emulate Toronto.

Bait and switch is the crux of the issue I think.

[Harley613]

Originally Posted by Uhuniau

What's the imaginary problem this time?

TIL that my problems are imaginary

[J.OT13]

The first proposal was very nice, but a bit too office complex looking for me, so I'm not too disappointed.

I really like that second iteration, but I don't think it was ever official.

What's currently u/c could be bad, but could also be great. It's very hard to tell with the renderings provided. I just really hope they don't screw up, especially the podium, like Riverain.

Overall, I'm far more upset with the changes to the Curling Club proposal even though the new proposal is nicer than this (probably).

[ponyboycurtis]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

The first proposal was very nice, but a bit too office complex looking for me, so I'm not too disappointed.

I really like that second iteration, but I don't think it was ever official.

What's currently u/c could be bad, but could also be great. It's very hard to tell with the renderings provided. I just really hope they don't screw up, especially the podium, like Riverain.

Overall, I'm far more upset with the changes to the Curling Club proposal even though the new proposal is nicer than this (probably).

The current rendering shows a very light panelling and a reflective blue glass.

Despite the simple design, as usual the material can make or break a project.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by ponyboycurtis

The current rendering shows a very light panelling and a reflective blue glass.

Despite the simple design, as usual the material can make or break a project.

For sure. Could end up being a striking modern addition, or look like a cheap re-clad of a 70s slab.

[Davis137]

Wow, those are big towers...what are the chances that this gets approved?

[SL123]

Originally Posted by Davis137

Wow, those are big towers...what are the chances that this gets approved?

Already approved and under construction!

[J.OT13]

LiUNA and Fengate break ground on new transit-oriented, mixed-use rental community in Ottawa

Global Newswire, July 14, 2026

Ottawa, Ontario, July 14, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Fengate Asset Management (“Fengate”), celebrated the groundbreaking of West Orchard Urban Rentals, a new mixed-use, rental community located at 1047 Richmond Road, near Ottawa's Westboro neighbourhood.

West Orchard Urban Rentals is a LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada (“LPFCEC”) project, developed in partnership with Fengate and The Hi-Rise Group. The 37-storey development will deliver 425 new homes, including 15 designated affordable units, positioned at the future New Orchard LRT station, and nearby The Queensway, and a network of bus routes.

Located just steps away from the bank of the Ottawa River, West Orchard Urban Rentals offers residents access to public green space, a network of trails and bike paths, and a variety of amenities that promote active living.

The event featured comments from Councillor Theresa Kavanagh, Ward 7, City of Ottawa, Joseph Mancinelli, Chair of LPFCEC, LiUNA International Vice President and Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Canada, and Jaime McKenna, President, Fengate Real Estate.

West Orchard Urban Rentals marks LiUNA and Fengate’s third residential community in Ottawa, building on the success of Milieu & Ballantyne at 175 Main and 1140 Wellington Street West. Together, these projects reflect a long-term commitment to delivering institutional-quality, transit-connected urban living in established Ottawa neighbourhoods, supported by modern amenities and complementary retail.

“LiUNA is proud to continue investing in Ottawa and delivering the housing Canadians need,” said Joseph Mancinelli, Chair of LPFCEC, LiUNA International Vice President and Regional Manager for Central and Eastern Canada. “West Orchard Urban Rentals reflects our long-standing commitment to building complete communities while expanding housing supply, creating high-quality union jobs, and strengthening local economies. As Ottawa continues to grow, projects like this demonstrate what is possible when long-term investment, strong partnerships, and a highly skilled union workforce come together to deliver lasting results for families, workers, and future generations.”

Once complete, West Orchard Urban Rentals will offer a mix of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom suites alongside select townhomes. Residents will have access to a full suite of amenities including a fitness centre, yoga studio, coworking and social lounge space, sports theatre, kid zone, private dining areas and a penthouse sky lounge, accompanied by ground-floor retail.

“West Orchard Urban Rentals reflects Fengate’s confidence in Ottawa and the strength of its rental housing market,” said Jaime McKenna, President, Fengate Real Estate. “As our third residential community in the city, this project builds on our established presence while reinforcing our long-term commitment to delivering high-quality rental communities in well-connected neighbourhoods. We are proud to continue supporting the city’s growing housing needs while creating lasting value for residents, investors and the broader community.”

The project is targeting LEED certification and will include approximately 1,000 square metres of new public park space, integrating environmental responsibility with community-focused design to deliver a more livable and sustainable future for Ottawa renters.



https://www.globenewswire.com/news-relea...ixed-use-rental-community-in-ottawa.html

[J.OT13]

Construction begins on one of Ottawa’s tallest buildings

Kimberley Johnson, CTV Ottawa
July 21, 2026

A new high-rise building is going up near Ottawa’s Westboro neighbourhood and at 37 floors and hundreds of units, it’s set to be one of the tallest in the City of Ottawa.

West Orchard Urban Rentals is located at 1047 Richmond Rd., near Woodroffe Avenue. It is being described by Fengate Asset Management as “a new mixed-use rental community.”

The building will have 425 rental units, including 15 designated affordable units.

Celine Kalra lives in the building next door and has been watching the construction on Richmond Road closely.

“It’s very fascinating,” she says. “I wish I could go down there, and they can explain what they’re doing.”

At first, she says she was very concerned about the new high-rise, but now she’s accepted it has broken ground.

“Too bad that it’s right next door to my home,” she says. “But at the same time, when you live in the city you have to expect this. And at first, we were not too pleased about it. But now it’s like, okay, it’s coming up and we’ve accepted it and we’ll have to be.”

Fengate says it will include one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and four townhomes.

It’s being developed along with LiUNA Pension Fund of Central and Eastern Canada and The Hi-Rise Group.

“Important node for Ottawa”

Carolyn Poirier, sale leasing and marketing vice president with Fengate, told CTV News Ottawa that there will be several amenities in the building, including a yoga studio, a penthouse sky lounge and a kid zone space.

“We have a lot of conviction in the neighborhood,” she explains.

A big draw is that it sits right across from the future New Orchard LRT station.

“We do believe that this is a really important node in Ottawa,” says Poirer. “Great connectivity, amazing waterfront trails, access and views to the Ottawa River bike routes, walking trails. We’re really excited about this.”

There are some residents who are not in favour of the building, citing obstructed views and construction frustrations.

Bay Ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh says she understands residents’ frustrations, but this will provide much needed housing in a popular area.

“It will be a place for people to live right next to a transit station,” she says. “And that’s good news because we do need housing. There are affordable units that are going to be in it. We negotiated that as well.”

Kavanagh says this is the first of two buildings that will be built over the coming years.

Fengate also says there will be a park and green space and retail spaces located in the building.

The 37-storey building would be one of the tallest buildings in Ottawa. The Claridge Icon on Carling Avenue in Little Italy is 45 storeys, and the city has approved a 50-storey Claridge building on Carling Avenue.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/new-37-storey-building-under-construction-on-richmond-road/