By Esther Au
Claridge Homes says its proposal to develop a residential area on LeBreton Flats exceeds the required amount of affordable housing by more than 10 per cent.
The builder, working with Dan S. Hanganu Architects and Daoust Lestage Inc., unveiled its plans for the 4.4-hectare site being sold by the National Capital Commission at a public meeting last week attended by about 200 people.
While the NCC asked that 25 per cent of residential buildings be set aside for affordable housing, Claridge says of the 850 units, 35 per cent will be low-income housing.
“On the surface, Claridge seems to have met the requirement (for affordable housing),” said Russell Mawby,the city’s housing director. He said the real test though will be whether or not it’s implemented in the actual developments.
“The how is really important.”
The designs for the area south of Wellington Street include a variety of apartment buildings and two-storey brick, glass and stone townhouses, arranged around courtyards. Claridge envisions a pedestrian-friendly community surrounded by green space.
“The intent of the design is it’s a diverse type of housing — a fully diverse community,” said Neil Malhotra, vice-president of Claridge, at the meeting.
Ranging from small studios to three-bedroom units, the rental apartment buildings would be set aside for low-income and affordable housing.
Rents would run between $750 and $1,360. Chris King, an engineer who lives on Preston Street, said the low-income housing is still too expensive. He wanted to know when it would actually be built.
Malhotra responded that it could take at least five to eight years to begin construction on the rental apartments at the corner of Booth and Fleet streets. Instead, Claridge would first begin work on the buildings available for purchase.
He said the company wants to show its best work first and the ownership residences are located in the “best phase.” Meanwhile, the rental apartments are the “last phase in our plan,” he said.
However, some Centretown residents said the proposed residential housing all look the same on paper. They blamed the lack of diverse ideas on the fact that out of three short-listed firms, only Claridge produced a proposal and an offer to purchase.
“You have one firm and one developer. You have one idea,” meeting participant Raymond Chow said after listening to the presentations.
“It’s pretty unbelievable — the scale of the development with only one developer,” complained area resident Michael Conway. “It becomes very homogeneous.”
But Malhotra said the plans are diverse because the company worked with another architect and the buildings are still in the planning stage. “Each building will take on its own life,” he added.
Thomas Schweitzer, an architect with Dan S. Hanganu Architects, said there’s “conformity” in the designs, which present “a sense of cohesiveness, so it’s not a negative thing.”
Another concern about the design related to its level of creativity. “I don’t think their designs are particularly adventurous…what is it? It’s a glass building, isn’t it? I’m a little disappointed,” said King.
But the opposition wasn’t unanimous. Evelyn Archer, who lives on Booth Street, liked the plans. “Most of what I’ve seen, people have been liking it. And if they don’t, they can leave,” she said.
Claridge plans to build four towers that will have a view of the Parliament Hill, the Gatineau Hills, the Ottawa River and the aqueduct.
A 12-storey glass building overlooking Wellington Street is designed as an architectural landmark for the neighbourhood.
Also, children at a day care housed in a 13-storey rental apartment building will have their own outdoor play area facing the aqueduct.
Most other buildings will be four- to six-storeys high.
Participants at the meeting were given questionnaires to make suggestions and comments on the proposal.
The NCC will continue to accept public comments until Nov. 10. It will make a decision on whether to sell the land to Claridge early December, based in part on suggestions from the public.
“It’s not a numbers game. We’re looking for quality of comments. Some comments just might not fit with the criteria laid out ahead,” said NCC spokeswoman Eva Schacherl.