The proposed addition to the residential building located at Preston and Aberdeen streets. FOTENN ConsultantsThe skyline in Ottawa’s Little Italy could soon be welcoming another lofty addition — a residential tower near the Queensway that the head of the Dalhousie Community Association says is appropriate for the site.
The City of Ottawa is now reviewing a proposal to build a new, 24-storey tower at the corner of Preston and Aberdeen streets, as well as to add an additional story to the existing Adelaide building.
The details of this proposed development were outlined in a briefing document released by FOTENN Consultants and posted on the City of Ottawa’s website.
The Adelaide is an eight-floor residential building containing 158 apartment units. The proposed tower would add 175 rental units to the complex. The ground floor of the tower would add an “amenity space” — including lounges, a gym and several meeting rooms.
A new rental residential storey, consisting of 22 units, would also be added atop the existing Adelaide building, bringing the number of units in the original building to 180. In total, 197 new units have been proposed.
The property in question is located on the east side of Preston Street, occupying the entire block south of Highway 417 north of Aberdeen Street and west of Rochester Street.
The lot is currently occupied by a mixed-use development featuring office, residential and retail uses, as well as an underground parking garage. The present parking garage would also be modified to accommodate the expanded building.
A total of 34 underground parking spaces would be removed from the garage while 13 additional spaces would be provided at surface level.
DCA president Michael Powell said the location for the tower is suitable as it “fills in” space in the Preston Square development.
“As it is bordered to the north by the Queensway and the Adult High School parking lot, there will be limited shade impacts on residents,” he added.
Powell recommended that the developers create a multi-use cycling and pedestrian pathway on the north side of the tower, which would allow for connections between the Rochester/Booth area and the Trillium bike path.
But not all residents of Little Italy, where the construction of numerous condos in recent years have been controversial, are happy about the latest tower plan.
Jessica Allen, who lives in the area, said adding skyscrapers takes away from the “culture” of the area.
“This isn’t a neighbourhood that is meant to have a bunch of skyscrapers and huge apartment buildings. Most of the buildings in Little Italy are four storeys or less,” she said.
But another area resident, Jordan Hughes, said he has no problem with the proposed building. “Cities are constantly growing and new, taller buildings are being built. If the city scrapped building projects every time somebody got upset, nothing would get done,” he said.
Numerous area residents have opposed previous proposals for condos, such as the Soho Italia building at the south end of Preston Street.
Despite being located at what the DCA deems a suitable spot, the tower site has some constraints.
Because Hwy. 417 is a provincially controlled, limited-access freeway, a 14-metre setback from the edge of the highway is required.
FOTENN Consultants has said it will work with the DCA to ensure that the building meets the needs of the community.
The existing buildings on the site also present a challenge for the addition. The surrounding buildings mean that appropriate measures must be taken in order to maintain natural sunlight in public spaces, offices and residential units within the building.
The building will have expansive views in all directions of the Ottawa River and Gatineau Hills to the north and the Central Experimental Farm to the south.
A site plan agreement has been approved for the subject property, but more detailed designs and revisions will also require approval.