Are you concerned that many of the community's new infill development is not in harmony with the character of Old Ottawa South, and you'd like the City of Ottawa to ensure that developers adhere to the Urban Design Guidelines the City itself developed? If so, you can sign the online petition here and read background information below. The Petition is as follows:
"We, the residents of Old Ottawa South, petition the City of Ottawa to ensure that property developers adhere to the Urban Design Guidelines for Low-Medium Density Infill Housing. We petition the City to ensure that our public streetscapes are preserved and that building design is harmonious with existing homes."
The petition was spearheaded by Hopewell Avenue resident Janet Jull and was inspired by the 71 Hopewell redevelopment, where the developer planned to build three townhouses of three stories each with garages in front at street level. (The photo on the right is a Photoshop mockup of the 71 Hopewell site, with a photograph of an identical triplex that had already been built on Sunnyside inserted. This triplex was shown by the developers to neighbours as being an example of what they would be building.) The garages in particular are not within the Urban Design Guidelines, and will not be in harmony with our front porch streetscape. Councillor Clive Doucet had met with the developers to urge them to redesign with parking in rear, and organized a public meeting of affected residents with the developers that showed an overwhelming consensus that the City's guidelines be followed.
400 Plus Signed the Petition
Over 400 residents signed the petition that Janet Jull, with a few neighbours, walked around the Old Ottawa South neighbourhood on the weekend of April 24-25. She delivered the signatures to Clive Doucet's office on the 27th, who passed them on to City planner Alain Miguelez. The petition was influential in the result: the 71 Hopewell development is now on hold. If City planners get enough support like this petition, they may succeed in accomplishing an improvement in the current design, as well as succeeding in improving the design of future OOS infills.
Property values and the desire to live here are currently very high in Old Ottawa South, and land values are such that many properties will be worth far more to developers to tear down existing older homes and build multiplexes (where zoning currently allows) to within 1.3 metres of property lines. The profit to be made is substantial in this hot real estate climate; citizen action is time-sensitive.
Next Steps: OSWatch and citizens' action
OSCA's zoning and development committee, OSWatch, has plans, among other activities, to push forward on a Community Design Plan for Old Ottawa South with the City. The committee meets every 2nd Tuesday of each month, and the agenda is published in this website's email newsletter the Thursday before the meeting, and on this website. Everyone is encouraged to attend meetings or become an OSWatch member. You can find out more about OSWatch, its mandate and activities, and read past meeting minutes here.
An independent neighbourhood citizens' action group is currently forming to plan their next steps. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you would like to be on their contact list.
Background Information on Infill Housing in Old Ottawa South
Read the related articles below, read the Urban Design Guidelines on the City website, and then sign the petition if you agree that the City should act to preserve our public streetscapes and the character of our unique community, while there is still time.
Note: Comments can also be submitted directly to City Planner This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Related articles in order of publishing date:
- 71 Hopewell: Another Piece of OOS History Lost?
- Residents' Letter to City on 71 Hopewell Development
- Another Neighbour's Response to the 71 Hopewell Infill Development
- Meeting with 71 Hopewell Developers Results in Petition
- Petition Delivered As Another House Comes Down at 104 Hopwell
- Old Tree Removed to make Room for a "Duplex" at 104 Hopewell
- OSWatch Forum Discussions on Infill Development
