A “destination wellness spa” slated to be built in Kanata North is not going ahead. Markham-based Silk Development Group’s plan to build a three-storey facility called SerenVita at 2505 and 2707 Solandt Rd. was approved by city council in April. In a news release Friday, the company said it would not proceed with the development. […]
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A “destination wellness spa” slated to be built in Kanata North is not going ahead.
Markham-based Silk Development Group’s plan to build a three-storey facility called SerenVita at 2505 and 2707 Solandt Rd. was approved by city council in April.
In a news release Friday, the company said it would not proceed with the development.
“A destination project of this scale requires alignment between the capital invested to build and operate the facility and the long-term ownership of the land and operating asset. Following extensive discussions, that alignment could not be achieved at this site, and Silk Development Group has determined that the Kanata North location is not the right foundation for the long-term development of the SerenVita brand,” Silk Development said in the release.
Over the past year, the company said it had completed substantial planning and pre-development work on the project, including zoning, design coordination, engineering studies, site planning and municipal approvals.
Mike Dunphy, president of construction and business development at Silk Development, said in the release Friday that SerenVita was more than a spa project.
“The vision is a destination built around restoration, hospitality, community, and long-term guest experience. Delivering that properly requires the right location, the right operating model, and a partnership structure where investment and ownership are aligned for the long term.”
Silk Development said it will close out the municipal applications associated with the Kanata North site.
Still, the company said it remains confident in the Ottawa market, adding that it will continue to evaluate opportunities in Ottawa and other markets for SerenVita.
“Ottawa continues to be one of the most underserved wellness markets in North America relative to its size, demographics, tourism base, and quality of life,” Dunphy added. “We believe strongly in the opportunity here, and we welcome conversations with property owners, investors, and development partners who share that long-term vision.”
The main building of the proposed spa, at 47,275 square feet, would have included spa functions such as saunas, pools and “treatment rooms,” as well as offices and a restaurant. A “series of accessory personal service buildings” and outdoor amenity areas, including pools, “relaxation rooms” and footpaths, were planned for west of the main building.
The building would have been connected to the Brookstreet Hotel by a pedestrian walkway and located near the Marshes Golf Club.
According to a report to the city’s planning and housing committee in April, the city considered this a “high economic impact project,” which would support Ottawa’s economic development strategy and create new jobs in construction and other permanent employment opportunities in Kanata North.
“By supporting a more complete, amenity-rich innovation environment in proximity to major employment uses and planned rapid transit, the development (at 2505 and 2707 Solandt Rd.) advances the official plan’s vision for Kanata North as a globally competitive mixed-use economic hub and reinforces the district’s long-term economic vitality,” the report stated. 
