Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Ottawa’s planning and housing committee has approved plans to construct a new six-storey building on Arrowsmith Drive that will provide space for a community food bank and 50 new rental units.
The new structure will replace the existing building that houses the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard (GEFC). The GEFC will temporarily relocate during construction to maintain food bank operations.
The new building will offer 50 rental apartments, 10 of which will be accessible, and will be offered at affordable rates for low-income and moderate-income households.
The committee approved a zoning amendment to facilitate the development of the new building at its meeting last Wednesday (Feb. 19).
In other business, the committee also approved a zoning amendment to allow for the construction of a two-and-a-half-storey residential care facility on Forestglade Crescent in Hunt Club. The facility will provide 30 beds across 13 residential units.
In other residential development news, the committee approved zoning to facilitate the phased development of a new residential subdivision east of March Road in Kanata North. The subdivision will include 827 new homes, a mix of detached homes and townhouses, a public park, and an elementary school. The amendment would change the property’s zoning from Rural Countryside to a mix that accommodates the subdivision plan.
The committee also received an update on residential development indicators for the third quarter of 2024 and the year to date. The report highlights a significant increase in housing starts, with 2,500 units started in the third quarter, representing a 72 per cent increase from the previous quarter.
By the end of the third quarter, there were over 14,500 dwellings under construction, including over 900 not-for-profit units. The city approved land-use permissions for approximately 3,550 dwellings through Official Plan and zoning amendments during the quarter. The city approved 4,600 new dwellings through subdivision, condominium, site plan control, and variance applications, a 109% increase over the second quarter
The new interactive housing dashboard will soon be available for public use, replacing the existing static infographic. The dashboard will provide users with easy access to housing data, such as the number of housing applications approved and building permits issued.
The committee’s decisions will reach the full city council for ratification on Wednesday.
