Developer’s two-tower proposal for Barrhaven includes nearly 600 rental units

An Ottawa developer has submitted a proposal to build two mixed-use towers of 26 and 35 storeys that would add nearly 600 new units to Barrhaven’s rental housing inventory. Kionas Construction says the two highrises at the corner of Marketplace Avenue and McGarry Terrace would contain 592 apartments, including 290 one-bedroom units, 244 two-bedroom units, […]

An Ottawa developer has submitted a proposal to build two mixed-use towers of 26 and 35 storeys that would add nearly 600 new units to Barrhaven’s rental housing inventory. Kionas Construction says the two highrises at the corner of Marketplace Avenue and McGarry Terrace would contain 592 apartments, including 290 one-bedroom units, 244 two-bedroom units, 46 studio suites and 12 three-bedroom apartments.  According to a design brief attached to the application, the builder is seeking preferential financing through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. in exchange for providing below-market rent as well as barrier-free units and “achieving sustainability standards.” Six levels of underground parking would include space for about 653 vehicles. The plan also calls for nearly 12,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.  The two buildings would be connected by a 10-storey link. According to the design brief, the 10th floor of the link will feature amenities such as a party room, exercise room, golf simulator and outdoor pool. 

The plan also calls for a small courtyard that would serve as a privately owned public space. The proposed buildings would be less than 400 metres from a major transit hub at Marketplace Station. The Barrhaven Downtown Secondary Plan currently limits building heights in the area to 30 storeys, and the developer has requested amendments to the Official Plan and zoning bylaws to accommodate the project. The proposal is a scaled-down version of Kionas’s original plan, which called for towers of 40 and 30 storeys with a total of 619 apartment units and 749 parking spaces.  The city’s Urban Design Review Panel reviewed the original proposal in June 2023 and made several recommendations, including limiting the buildings’ heights to 30 storeys and “greatly reducing” the number of parking spots. The 35-storey tower would be among the tallest in Ottawa’s west end. While the urban design panel questioned the project’s scope, Kionas said Ottawa’s Official Plan has designated downtown Barrhaven “to accommodate significant development and growth with the intent of developing into a compact, walkable, and vibrant mixed-use district.” Pointing to Nepean’s 1.7 per cent rental vacancy rate last year, the developer said the project would add much-needed housing density to the neighbourhood. Kionas also said it had tried to address the panel’s concerns about parking, noting the reduced number of spaces in its revised proposal. “While the site is located close to many amenities and frequent transit, vehicle use remains high in Ottawa suburban areas and there remain challenges to rental uptake in the absence of vehicle parking,” the response prepared by engineering firm Stantec said.  “All parking has been located below grade and has the potential to be used for other purposes in the future should parking needs decrease.”