A plan to rebuild two historic ByWard Market buildings that were nearly destroyed by a fire early last year and add hotel rooms to the site will go before a city committee next week.
The owners of 35-37 William St. are proposing to repair the stone facade of the buildings – which housed the Vittoria Trattoria restaurant before the April 2019 blaze – and build a four-storey L-shaped addition that would extend to the rear of 62 York St. and include 16 hotel units.
A new restaurant is expected to occupy the ground floor of the building along the east side of William Street. The third and fourth floors would be set back several metres from the street.
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The William Street properties are designated as heritage buildings under provincial law, meaning the proposal required approval from the city’s built heritage subcommittee and city council, which gave the alterations the green light earlier this year.
The proposal still requires several zoning amendments to accommodate its height and the size of the restaurant’s footprint. Some heritage subcommittee members expressed concerns about the project’s height earlier this year, but staff noted the owners had originally submitted a request for six storeys and were refused.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury, who represents the ByWard Market, backs the proposal.
“The proposed expansion will add to the property without impacting the heritage character we see from the street,” he said in comments attached to a staff report. “Ultimately, we are ecstatic to see a rebuilding and an opportunity for Vittoria Trattoria to re-open for everyone to enjoy.”
The planning committee will consider the plan at its next meeting on Nov. 26, and full council will vote on it on Dec. 9.
