One of Ottawa’s Tallest Towers Proposed for Marketplace in Barrhaven

By Charlie Senack

One of Ottawa’s tallest residential buildings could soon be towering over Barrhaven’s Marketplace district.

Two high-rise buildings of 26 and 35-storeys tall have been proposed for the corner of Marketplace Avenue and McGarry Terrace. They would include 592 units ranging from bachelor suites to three bedroom apartments. Commercial units would be located on the ground floor alongside a publicly accessible courtyard.

The two buildings proposed by Kionas Construction would be connected by a 10 floor link which would house “amenities including a party room, exercise room, golf simulator and an infinity outdoor pool at the roof. With a rooftop terrace and an infinity pool on the 12th floor level,” says the design concept report.

Ottawa’s tallest building is currently the Claridge Icon in Little Italy which towers over the city at 45 storeys. Proposals are in the works for a 65 storey building called Trinity Centre near LeBreton Flats, and a new tower at Lansdowne which will rise 40 storeys. Barrhaven’s tallest structure is currently an 18 storey rental also located in the Marketplace area. It is located near two other buildings which are 15 and 17 storeys.

Barrhaven West Coun. David Hill is supportive of the proposal but would like to see a few amendments made.

“Two issues that I plan to represent hard before this file comes to committee in October is that I would like to encourage the developer to maximize the building usage for local seniors looking to downsize, and to ensure good safety measures on the McGarry Terrace drive as it becomes completed to Marketplace,” Hill wrote in his weekly newsletter.

Hill noted to the Barrhaven Independent in an interview that he would like to see a series of cheaper and smaller units be constructed as part of the plan.

“One of the problems I hear from people is we have apartments in Barrhaven, but they are on the higher end and they are difficult for someone on a fixed income to afford,” he said. “What we can do on the market rate side to keep them affordable is to have less premiums. That could include  laminate countertops instead of quartz, laminate flooring instead of hardwood, and smaller square footage.”

A series of public consultations is expected to occur in the following weeks, including one possibly on Aug. 12.

The Marketplace corridor has seen massive transformation in the last few years and is expected to see further growth as officials work to build the new “Barrhaven Downtown” Civic Complex. Plans for the six-acre site began in the 1990s but received a boost in 2022 when all three levels of government stepped up to fund the project.

It proposes a new linear park along the Jock River, a new Civic Complex which would house a new library and event space, public art installations, a seniors facility, outdoor plaza and residential units. If ever built, Stage 3 of Ottawa’s LRT line is also slated to reach Marketplace Station in Barrhaven.

“The city is in the land acquisition process. That’s the first phase that really is going to kick off planning,” said Hill. “The city is unable to move forward with detailed planning until the acquisition. That’s a standard process.”

Community reaction is mixed

After news of the new proposed towers was announced, Barrhaven residents were quick to share their views on the controversial development. Some felt it was a prime location right in the middle of shopping amenities, whereas others worried of losing the community’s suburban charm. There were also corners over the lack of affordable housing options and the need for more public transit.

“Parking, walking and driving is already a challenge around there,” Barrhaven resident Jodi Parker wrote on councillor Hill’s Facebook page. “Not to mention during the school day when many Pierre Savard students are out. I would want to consider their safety.”

Barrhaven Ottawa Catholic School Board Trustee Spencer Warren also echoed the need for better safety and infrastructure improvements including the Greenbank Road realignment which has been in the books for two decades. Developments in the Half Moon Bay community were given the greenlight to be built with the promise of this essential crossing being built. Construction is currently scheduled for 2030 with completion in 2032, however parts may be fast tracked.

Barrhaven resident Jeni Bekha said there does not appear to be any long term strategic plan for the growing community of over 100,000 people and fears developers are winning over residents.

“It’s build cram, build cram; let the residents figure it out,” said Bekha on Facebook. Until basic needs are met for the community that exists right now [like] schools, affordability, transit, and greenspace, adding more people will just exacerbate the existing problems and create new ones.

If approved, the new buildings would be constructed by Stantec and Kionas. The file is expected to go before Ottawa’s planning committee in October.