The tallest building in Ottawa could one day tower over the Little Italy arch.
View of proposed building from Carling/Preston
A proposed 35-story condominium would be built at 500 Preston St., near the arch.
The structure’s plans include 220 residential units and an Italian-Canadian heritage museum on the ground floor.
Last week Mastercraft Starwood, the condominium developer, pitched the idea to Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson, Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes and Coun. Peter Hume, chairman of the planning and environment committee.
Right now the zoning laws for the area state that buildings cannot be above 17-storeys high, said Holmes.
So far the developers have not applied to have the area re-zoned. Currently they are meeting with different community groups to discuss the project.
The piece of land in question is 3,500 square feet, a rather small area for a project this size, Holmes said.
Without room for smaller structures to be built at the base or any green space like other similar projects, she said it will be like a wall rising from the sidewalk.
“It’s excessive,” she said.