OMB approves Kent St, highrises

By Kayla Hounsell

Those moving to Kent and Nepean streets will have more options since the Ontario Municipal Board dismissed an appeal against a residency development last month.

Charlesfort Developments was granted permission by the city to build Hudson Park, two highrise buildings, one at Kent and Lisgar streets at 15 storeys high, and the other on Nepean Street at 17 storeys.

That decision was appealed by several area residents.

“We’ve been opposed to it from the beginning,” says Barbara Feldman, who lives on Lisgar Street, and who voiced her concerns at the OMB hearing. “We just feel that it’s too massive and too high for the site.”

Charlesfort spokesman Doug Casey says the developer plans to begin construction on the Kent building in January and the second building late next year. The first building will be ready for occupancy in April 2008.