Insider Only Real Estate, Residential

Montreal firm floats plan for seven-tower mixed-use development in Overbrook

January 12, 2023

Group Oradev recently filed a development application that calls for the industrial building and attached three-storey office complex that currently occupy 400 Coventry Rd. to be torn down and replaced with seven highrises ranging from 18 to 30 storeys.

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A Montreal company plans to build a major mixed-use development in Ottawa’s east end that would include seven highrises with about 1,700 residential units. Group Oradev recently filed a development application that calls for the industrial building and attached three-storey office complex that currently occupy 400 Coventry Rd. to be torn down and replaced with seven mixed-use towers ranging from 18 to 30 storeys. The development would also feature a half-acre public park as well as about 1,300 underground and surface parking spots and more than 950 spots for bicycles. The rectangular-shaped parcel of land spans nearly five acres at the southwest corner of Belfast and Coventry roads, just north of the Queensway about 800 metres west of St. Laurent Shopping Centre and 850 metres from the Tremblay LRT stop at Ottawa’s train station. It was previously owned by energy giant Enbridge Gas, which currently operates a distribution facility on the site. In planning documents filed with the city, Group Oradev says the development would be separated into northern and southern blocks by a proposed public road running from east to west. The northern block would include three highrises of 18, 20 and 25 storeys with a total of 615 residential units ranging from bachelor apartments to three-bedroom units, along with nearly 18,000 square feet of commercial space along Coventry Road. The area would also include a public park and an underground parking garage that connects the buildings. The southern block would feature four towers – a 23-storey building on the northwest corner, two 27-storey highrises on the eastern end and a 30-storey tower on the southwest side. All four towers, which would include a total of 1,075 residential units, would also be linked by an underground parking garage. The application does not specify whether the units would be rentals or condominiums. Group Oradev president Simon Ethier did not immediately reply to requests for comment from OBJ. The development application prepared by Fotenn said the proposal would “contribute to providing new housing options and price ranges in the Overbrook-McArthur neighbourhood,” adding it “will contribute to achieving residential intensification in an appropriate location at the edge of an existing community, where existing services, such as and including servicing and public transportation, already exist.” Current zoning allows for maximum building heights of 34 to 90 metres at the site, and the developer is asking for amendments to permit taller highrises. Oradev is also requesting a reduction in required minimum front, rear, corner and interior side lines as well as reduced setback requirements and relief from stepback requirements.