NEW VISION FOR UPPER RIDEAU ST.

A new neighbourhood blueprint is poised to dramatically change the look and feel of Rideau Street’s eastern reach, a gateway to Ottawa’s downtown and Parliament Hill, writes Matthew Pearson. Although the plan for Uptown Rideau — a 1.2-kilometre stretch of

Q Why the update?

A Rideau Street has undergone a massive transformation since 2011. The installation of new water mains, sewers, sidewalks, cycling and transit facilities, landscaping, benches and public art, as well as the opening of a future light-rail station just 600 metres from the western end of the study area, has piqued the interest of developers. Approved in 2005, the last Uptown Rideau plan limited heights in virtually the entire area to a maximum of six storeys, yet already a dozen buildings exceed that limit. Plus, there’s a desire to clear up some ambiguities about the south side of the street, which is covered by a different neighbourhood plan.

Q What’s there now?

A A little bit of everything — restaurants, shops, offices, homes, vacant lots, a supermarket, a few towers. It’s mostly shorter buildings on the south side and some taller ones on the north side. Bytowne Cinema, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and Rideau Bakery are all located on this strip.

Q What does the plan call for?

A It envisions a vibrant main street with shops and restaurants located in a It’s mostly shorter buildings on the south side of Rideau Street, and some taller ones on the north side. Bytowne Cinema, Sandy Hill Community Health Centre and Rideau Bakery are all located on this strip. mix of heritage and new buildings; a street where pedestrians, cyclists and transit users would have priority over motorists. It calls for new height limits of four, six, seven and nine storeys in different sections of the street, with some site-specific exceptions. Generally speaking, building heights would increase from east to west toward King Edward. And more green space in the form of POPS — privately owned public spaces. Designed and built by developers, these POPS must be open to the public during the same times as regular parks. They must also have benches, bike parking, trees and lights, and remain accessible forever.

Q What is density transfer?

A It’s basically a chance to play with volume. Developers wouldn’t be able to cram more people into a building, but they would be able to juggle height limits on the same property. T hey could make a building taller as long as it’s also thinner, for example. The plan outlines certain conditions and clearly identifies which areas and lots would qualify.

Q What are people saying?

A Action Sandy Hill is opposed to density transfer because, its members say, it undermines the notion that community planning should result in more certainty. They say the cycling and pedestrian improvements aren’t good enough and remain upset over 560 Rideau St. In August, council approved a 14-storey tower here, which proposes to make use of the new density transfer policy (Action Sandy Hill is appealing council’s decision to the Ontario Municipal Board). The Lowertown Community Association also opposes density transfer and takes issue with some of the proposed maximum building heights.

But it’s hard please everyone, writes Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury in his comments on the plan. Density transfer is a “novel approach to allowing intensification in creative ways on our traditional main streets,” he writes.

The city must not neglect the importance of Rideau Street, he adds. “From St-Joseph to Wellington, this corridor forms Ottawa’s mainstreet and it is important that we dedicate ourselves to ensuring it has the proper policies in place to grow in a way in which we can all be proud.”