Status Update: Tower Development at Blair and Montreal Roads
As previously reported in July, the proposed development of the 26-storey tower at the north-east corner of Blair and Montreal Roads was approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) after a 5-day hearing. The approval of the proposed development was granted despite refusals by both the City of Ottawa’s Planning Committee and Ottawa City Council.
Subsequent to the OLT decision, the RHPOA explored further options for community input to the proposed development, but were repeatedly advised that the decision of the OLT is final, that there was no avenue of appeal, and that even if there were basis for a legal option, it was very unlikely to be helpful for a situation like this.
Therefore, the RHPOA’s multi-year challenge of the scale and height of this proposed development has now come to a close. The RHPOA Board has authorized application of the project’s refund policy to residual project donations. Donors will be contacted in the near future.
Thank you to the many people who contributed their time for the significant work done on the project over the last 2 ½ years, to residents who put forward their perspectives on the importance of neighbourhoods, and to the many supporters who donated generously to this project.
Currently, the RHPOA has no information of when, how or even if the proposed development will go ahead. Initial site preparations for development were begun late in 2023, with demolition of the car repair garage and the original house on site. But there is no indication now of when construction will proceed.