City staff have put forward a series of measures designed to advance downtown revitalization goals. The Downtown Revitalization Framework and Action Plan was approved by the finance and corporate services committee last week and will go to council next week. Measures include the redevelopment of municipal properties such as Bayview Yards and implementing incentive programs […]
Get Instant Access to This Article
Become an Ottawa Business Journal Insider and get immediate access to all of our Insider-only content and much more.
City staff have put forward a series of measures designed to advance downtown revitalization goals.
The Downtown Revitalization Framework and Action Plan was approved by the finance and corporate services committee last week and will go to council next week. Measures include the redevelopment of municipal properties such as Bayview Yards and implementing incentive programs for office-to-residential conversion projects.
The measures, which are short-, medium- and long-term, fall into four categories: rebalance uses; diversify and strengthen Ottawa’s downtown economy; improve community safety and well-being; and transform places and spaces.
According to Sheilagh Doherty, director of economic development at the city, the framework builds on priorities established by council and is complementary to the Ottawa Board of Trade’s Downtown Ottawa Action Agenda, which was released in 2024 with the goal to revitalize the core by 2034.
“It’s really building on work that was already underway, but it does identify some gaps in some areas where we can go in the future … Some of the catalytic anchors in the board of trade’s plan … are ones that are under the city’s control,” Doherty told OBJ Tuesday. “For example, the revitalization of the ByWard Market is one of our projects and that was approved at council in March.”
Short-term measures will be funded by “existing funding and resources,” while funding for medium- to long-term projects would have to be considered by the next term of council, said Will McDonald, director of the city’s strategic projects office, in an email to OBJ.
“Short‑term actions in the framework aim to deliver visible improvements while preparing for longer‑term changes. These include early coordination on the redevelopment of underutilized public properties, accelerating office‑to‑residential conversion projects, expanding support for small businesses, and targeted public space and safety measures,” wrote McDonald.
The framework will help the city and its partners, including local BIAs, take a coordinated approach to revitalizing downtown Ottawa, he added.
“It’s about making downtown work better for the people who live there now, attracting new residents, employers and visitors. Rather than focusing on a single project, the framework brings together City-led initiatives which focus on improving day to day livability.”
If approved by council on April 22, the next step is implementing the short-term plans, Doherty said.
Here are five of the short-term plans that will be considered by council next week:
Advance the redesign of Sparks Street and seek partner government funding for implementation
The redesign of Sparks Street will include upgrades to beautify the area and enhance the pedestrian environment. These improvements will add new amenities that encourage public lounging, social interaction, and a more vibrant, welcoming streetscape. The city will also seek funding partnerships with other levels of government to support implementation of these improvements.
Launch a downtown-focused investment attraction program
This program will proactively attract private investment, businesses and new industries to downtown Ottawa by promoting development opportunities, supporting redevelopment projects and strengthening partnerships with investors and economic development agencies. The initiative will help diversify the downtown economy and increase long-term economic activity.
Advance expedited conversion and approval processes to accelerate adaptive reuse
Advance streamlined approval processes for office-to-residential and other conversion projects to reduce timelines, improve certainty and lower barriers to adaptive reuse. Simplifying review processes and prioritizing eligible projects will help accelerate the repurposing of underutilized buildings, support increased housing supply and contribute to a more diverse and resilient downtown.
Propose a Bayview Yards redevelopment concept for consideration in the next term of council
Develop a redevelopment concept for Bayview Yards for council’s consideration that explores the potential to transform city-owned lands into a mixed-use, transit-oriented district, including opportunities for future infrastructure investment, public realm enhancements, and a balanced mix of uses to support long-term growth and economic activity.
“Looking at Bayview Yards, we have Invest Ottawa there, but it’s a piece of city-owned land that’s quite close to transit and central (in the city). We’ll be looking at a plan for that land going forward,” Doherty said.
Federal-city partnership table on redevelopment of federal assets
The city and the federal government will work collaboratively to identify priority sites, align planning and investment decisions to accelerate redevelopment opportunities that support housing, economic growth and revitalization objectives.
