Neighbours fear taller building will dwarf former monastery

Some residents of Old Ottawa East are fighting a recommendation by city planners to allowthree extra storeyson a building going up in front of a former monastery.

Until now, residents saythe developerhas respected their community's design plan, which theoretically restricts building heights to six storeys, as itredevelopsa large propertybetween Main Street and the Rideau River that was once owned by the Fathers of the Oblate Order.

• Former Oblates land gets go-ahead for 900-home development in Old Ottawa East

But now The RegionalGroup, under its Greystone Village Inc. subsidiary, is asking for permission to add an extra few floors to one apartment building. The 119-unit building would stand behind another six-storey building on Main Street with commercial tenants on the main floor and 125 rental units above.

Community 'quite upset'

"The community is quite upset about that change," said Ron Rose, who watches planning files closely for the Ottawa East Community Association.

At public meetings last year, the city heard from residents who were concerned the buildings will cast long shadows and create a wind tunnel effect.

But Rose said he's most concerned that the tallerbuilding on the former lawn of theDeschtelets building will diminishthe heritage structure behind it.

Old Ottawa East residents oppose nine-storey building

6 years ago

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Ron Rose, with the Ottawa East Community Association, says opening the door to nine-storey developments would have a negative impact on the neighbourhood.

"[The heritage building] isthe focal point of this development. The early plan was that buildings in front of the Deschteletswere goingto be substantially lower,"hesaid.

Rose isn't as concerned about the nine-storey River Terraces II condominium because it'sbeing constructed beside theDeschtelets building, not in front of it.

Concern over precedent

Thecommunity association does worry about the precedent the rezoning request might setfor any new development at the site ofa nearby convent recently vacated by an order of nuns.

Capital ward Coun. Shawn Menard noted in a cityreport that the nine-storey request represents a "departure from the collegial work" that the community and developer have so far enjoyed, adding that residents who boughtnew condos across the street did so expecting a six-storeyneighbour.

Both the city's planners and Greystone Village Inc. believe the request is in line with city planning policies.

The planning committee will deal with the matteron March 28.