An Ottawa firm wants to add an apartment building to a Centretown site that’s now home to a heritage church. Azure Urban Developments has filed a plan to redevelop the property at 254 Argyle Ave., between Bank and O’Connor streets, with a nine-storey building that would include 84 rental units and ground-floor commercial space. The […]
An Ottawa firm wants to add an apartment building to a Centretown site that’s now home to a heritage church.
Azure Urban Developments has filed a plan to redevelop the property at 254 Argyle Ave., between Bank and O’Connor streets, with a nine-storey building that would include 84 rental units and ground-floor commercial space.
The quarter-acre plot of land is currently occupied by the desecrated former L'Église Christ-Roi church built in 1930.
The property, which is located in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District, is considered a “contributing building” under the Centretown and Minto Park Heritage Conservation District Plan, meaning a heritage permit is required to redevelop the site.
In planning documents filed with the city, Azure Urban says it plans to move the church closer to the street, where it will be integrated into the new apartment building. The firm says the development will include a total of 87 bicycle parking spaces and an underground parking garage with 27 spots for residents and eight spaces for visitors.
The apartment building is expected to feature a gym and a rooftop terrace. In addition, Azure Urban is proposing to build a cafe and wine bar at the front of the church.
The firm is requesting several bylaw amendments. For example, current zoning rules limit buildings to six storeys at the property and require a minimum of 33 residential parking spaces for a development of that size. 
