Toronto-based investor Forum Asset Management is the latest firm to propose a new development in Orleans, with plans for a multi-tower build that would create more than 1,500 residential units and a new community centre just east of Place d’Orleans Shopping Centre.
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Toronto-based investor Forum Asset Management is the latest firm to propose a new development in Orleans, with plans for a multi-tower build that would create more than 1,500 residential units and a new community centre just east of Place d’Orleans Shopping Centre.
The development application proposes several new structures, including four mixed-use towers ranging from 30 to 40 storeys, and a nine-storey midrise residential building.
“By introducing a mix of residential, commercial, and community uses in proximity to rapid transit, the project supports the City’s goals for density, sustainable mobility, and complete community design,” said an urban design brief for the project.
“It transforms an underutilized site into a transit-oriented, human-scaled urban block, reinforcing the Town Centre’s identity as the next-generation urban district within Ottawa’s east end.”
The buildings would also contain ground-floor retail along Centrum Boulevard.
The proposed three-storey community centre, which would be located on the northern edge of the site and integrated into one of the towers, will be adjacent to a park and provide indoor recreational programming and event space for the public.
The multi-purpose facility would be a "focal point and anchor” of the development, according to the urban design brief.
“The community centre’s location has been carefully chosen to ensure functional adjacency to existing community assets,” the document said. “A community centre is being considered as a core amenity, supporting the social and recreational needs of residents and enhancing the vibrancy of the neighbourhood.”
The new facility will be dedicated to the city as public lands to meet parkland requirements for the development.
The application requests a zoning bylaw amendment for the site, which consists of two vacant properties immediately south of Highway 174.
The 0.71-hectare site at 530 Brisebois Cres. would contain three of the towers, which would be 30, 35 and 40 storeys respectively, with townhouses on the ground floor.
Meanwhile, the irregularly shaped second parcel at 265 Centrum Blvd is 0.36 hectares and would be the location of a 30-storey tower, plus the nine-storey midrise building and the community centre.
The site is located near the future Orleans Town Centre LRT station, which is planned as part of OC Transpo’s eastward LRT extension. Also nearby is the Shenkman Arts Centre and Place D’Orleans Shopping Centre, where the current nearest LRT station is located.
“Over the past two decades, Orleans has entered a new phase of evolution - one guided by urban planning frameworks that emphasize intensification, mixed use, and transit-supportive design,” said an urban design brief for the proposal.
“Centrum Boulevard represents the civic and cultural heart of the Town Centre. Anchored by the Shenkman Arts Centre, public plazas, and the future Centrum LRT Station, the area is planned to evolve as a pedestrian friendly mixed-use hub.”
The surrounding area is primarily occupied by mid-rise residential development, with Orleans Town Centre lands to the south.
Orleans has received significant interest from developers in recent years.
Petrie’s Landing, a four-tower development on Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard by Brigil, is currently under construction and set to open this summer. Nearby, a recent commercial development added a pharmacy, dental clinic and restaurants to the area.
Another large development nearby is under consideration by the city. Theberge Homes is proposing a four-tower development on the corner of Tweddle Road and Jeanne D’Arc Boulevard, which would see 1,200 residential units built in Orleans along the Ottawa River.
