Site of the proposed Ashcroft development that would house the portrait gallery.
A local developer has been given the go-ahead by City Council to build two high-rises in Centretown as part of a bid for the Portrait Gallery of Canada.
Council voted to allow Claridge Homes to construct 20- and 24-storey towers on the Metcalfe Street site it has proposed for the gallery.
Somerset Ward Coun. Diane Holmes says she is unhappy with council’s decision.
“I think it was very unfortunate that the city found ourselves in this position of being forced to go for a major re-zoning,” said Holmes. “I don’t like being held captive by development.”
The proposed towers would normally violate construction rules for the area at the corner of Metcalfe and Nepean streets, but council agreed to change the zoning for the site after the developer said it would pull its bid for the gallery. Claridge said earlier this month that without the residential complexes, it would be unable to get funding for the construction of the gallery.
“We’re happy with it,” said Neil Malhotra of Claridge Homes. “We’re happy that we’re able to move forward . . . with the re-zoning decision.”
Council voted to allow the highrises after Alta Vista Ward Coun. Peter Hume introduced an amendment that would guarantee community space is part of the development even if Claridge does not win the gallery bid. If Ottawa does not get the portrait gallery, the site will be used as a community centre, library or public health facility. Who will pay the operating costs and run the facility has not yet been discussed.
“One of the challenges was how to resolve this if the gallery doesn’t happen,” said Malhotra.
Hume’s amendment will ensure the site has some public use.
Council has been debating this project since the federal government announced the competition in November. Holmes and other councillors, including Capital Ward’s Clive Doucet, have said the competition is robbing the nation’s capital of its right to certain cultural infrastructure.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that it’s all about the money,” said Holmes.
Holmes said she recently learned Calgary is putting forward a bid supported by a $165- million cultural fund, with an extra $40 million from the Alberta’s government. Ottawa just does not have that kind of money for a bid, she said.
Some councillors and citizens have accused Claridge of pushing for the re-zoning knowing it will not win the bid for the gallery. Malhotra denied those claims, saying the project is important to his family and that they want to ensure Ottawa stays in the running.
The developer’s next step will be to submit a proposal for the site by mid-May. Public Works will collect bids from all competing cities and make a decision by October. No construction is permitted before then.
Holmes said she is disappointed with the entire process.
“This has been a very fast process allowing for very little public participation,” she said. “The people who live in that area will not be happy.”