not sure how the Forum has missed this proposal from Claridge for a fairly substantial-sounding mid-rise development in the NE-corner of Lowertown. Just heard about it on the CeeB, and it seems that this is another instance where the Lowertown community is being abandoned by their new rookie councillor; this time, because his pops apparently works for Claridge so he is in a conflict position to represent the Community's interest (not sure what the conflict was when he couldn't represent the community's interest on the King Edward file, but that's another thread).
Anyway here is the summary from the Community Association:
Quote:
No-ReZone-Non
Claridge has acquired more land and increased the total footprint and size of the building it proposes to build. Claridge is amending their first proposal from an 8 storey and three townhouse development, with separate back yards, to one Bruyere-to-St.Andrew "T". They have gone from 101 units to 108. The deal remains conditional on the city approving rezones for height (from 14.5 to 16.5) and setbacks across several axes (the front, and chunks of the side).
The City will notify Will Murray when the proposal has been submitted, along with the latest time lines. He will forward these documents to you. In the meantime, do not hesitate to continue your individual efforts to contact the Councilor and Chairman Hume about your thoughts on the City's chaotic planning processes and how Claridge intends to unilaterally alter our neighbourhood. We remain strongly opposed to the proposal to rezone this section of land between Bruyere and St. Andrew streets in Lowertown East, demolish existing lowrise housing for about 20 families and build this block of enormous block condominiums with more than 100 units.
The proposed development ignores Ottawa city guidelines for this residential zone; is out of scale and out of character for the community; represents a level of overdevelopment of a site that is not compatible with the neighbourhood; would decrease street awareness and community connectedness in an area where street level vigilance is essential to neighbourhood safety.
It continues to misrepresent the sun shadow effect for residents along Rose, St. Andrew and Cathcart as well as on Bordelau Park through late autumn to early spring; raises environmental and infrastructure concerns due to increased building mass, traffic, increased people and decreased open space. We encourage all concerned residents to contact their councillor, the mayor and especially the members of the planning committee:
Contact your city councillor and members of the planning committee
Mayor Jim Watson
Read our submission. In addition to this group submission a number of individuals submitted their own letters focussing on individual concerns
You can also read a draft of our latest newsletter which will be distributed to residents of "The Wedge"
Current Bruyere Task Force contact info:
We expect to be adding many more names to this list very shortly. At the moment the key contacts are:
Will Murray - [email protected]
Jodi Murray - [email protected]
Ian Burgess - [email protected]
John Chenier - [email protected]
Heritage matters
Four of the oldest buildings in the Wedge are threatened with demolition. Only after Claridge proposed its multi-storey condo tower did the community became aware that the affected houses on Bruyere and St Andrew were not protected by municipal heritage designation. The attached report (Lowertown East - Our Disappearing Heritage) outlines the significance of these buildings, in particular, their links to the working class French, Irish and Jewish communities unique to Lowertown East. It notes that only 10% of Lowertown East heritage buildings remain, largely due to the large scale "urban renewal" destruction in the 1960s and 1970s. The report also provides several options to the City and to Claridge to save or to incorporate the threatened buildings. Your comments, questions and thoughts about the options are welcome.
Please direct them to the heritage contacts:
Marc Aubin - [email protected]
Nancy Miller Chenier - [email protected]
http://www.bruyere.cathcartmuse.com/
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and the PDF with the Community Association's detailed position on the proposal:
http://www.lowertown-basseville.ca/documents/BSRTF.pdf
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