Retail space in a proposed Little Italy development has been significantly reduced, but the developer said he’s hopeful groceries will still be a major piece.
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Retail space in a development planned for Little Italy has been significantly reduced, but the developer said he’s hopeful grocery access will still be a major piece.
The original proposal by Ottawa-based developer Arnon received approval from the city in 2020. The two-phase project would be located at 450 Rochester St., on what is now a parking lot just a few blocks from the Carling LRT station.
Plans for the site include 500 new housing units, ranging from bachelor to family style dwellings.
The project has been billed as a potential solution to Little Italy’s “food desert” status, referring to a lack of grocery stores in the area.
But in an interview with OBJ Wednesday, Arnon president Gillie Vered said retail space has been significantly reduced in the revised plans, from 46,000 square feet to between 5,000 and 12,000.
It’s a decision that he said will improve the project overall.
“The retail has been completely reduced,” said Vered. “Drastically. It makes for a much better project, a much more attractive project. It makes for better living accommodations. It’s just better overall.”
According to a study from the University of Alberta, a full-service grocery store in Canada is typically 10,000 to 35,000 square feet.
Despite the new sizing, Vered said he hopes the development will ultimately improve grocery access for residents in Little Italy.
“Hopefully, one of the retailers that we’ll rent to will have groceries,” he said. “Hopefully that will be the case. There’s no guarantee, but we’re really happy with the new design and it’s going to be gorgeous.”
The design of the project is still being finalized, Vered said. Once complete, it will be presented to the city for approval.
“We’re working on the revised plans and they’re coming along really, really well,” he said. “I never want to give a timeline. I want to make sure if I give a timeline, I can meet it. We’re working really hard on it and we’re really getting much closer. We’re feeling comfortable and we’re very happy with the final designs. The architects are doing a great job.”
He added that the company is excited to build in the neighbourhood, which has seen significant residential development in the last few years.
“We think it’s a fantastic location,” he said. “We think it will be really great for the continued revitalization of Preston Street. We really are going to build something special. We’re really, really excited about it.”
