City of Ottawa

An artist's rendering of a bird's eye view of the escarpment district as seen from LeBreton Flats.

After two years of preparation, the Escarpment Area District Plan was presented at a city planning and environment committee meeting last week to unanimous approval.  

The community development strategy proposes an extensive urban facelift in the area surrounding the north end of Bronson Avenue, including new stretches of green space, redevelopment of existing Ottawa Technical High School property, low- and high-rise residential buildings and eventually forging a connection with the city’s planned light rail transit system.

“Some of the elements of this plan I think are truly exciting,” said Coun. Peter Hume, the committee’s chair.

“There are lots of great opportunities to make that gateway much better than it is today, because it certainly isn’t an inviting entrance to our downtown core.”

The plan is intended to implement a key component of the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy, an award-winning visionary document completed in 2004 by city planners to enhance the quality of urban experience in the Capital by providing a guide for downtown design.

The escarpment strategy aims to generate a diverse and attractive Centretown community, bridging the gap between the downtown core and the LeBreton flats development taking shape farther west.

Landscape architect George Dark has been appointed by the city as the plan’s chief designer. He acknowledged the challenge of such a large undertaking, but noted that things are off to a good start.

“It’s big and it’s complicated and it takes a lot of time,” Dark said. “But having a clear plan that’s endorsed by [the planning committee] is a great departure point. I’m thrilled it went through this well.”

The proposal’s initial popularity is due in part to input from escarpment area residents themselves, who participated in a consultation process of workshops and informal discussions to determine the expectations of stakeholders.

Many of the residents attended the committee meeting to show support for the plan, and to stress the importance of preserving heritage and ensuring accessibility to transit within the congested neighbourhood.

Members of the Nanny Goat Hill Garden co-operative in particular were enthusiastic about the formalizing of their community garden as a central part of the plan’s proposed park landscape.

“I sincerely thank the committee for its openness to consider this issue as a priority,” said Rosemary Taylor, the garden’s caretaker. “Carrying forward the intention to maintain this key green area as livable space for the area and its residents is crucial.”

Coun. Diane Holmes was presented with fresh produce by patrons of the garden in appreciation of her active support for the project. She was pleased with the planning committee’s motion of approval, but reminded members of the 25-year-long road ahead if the sweeping redevelopment plan is given the go-ahead by city council.

“It’s a very inspiring study and it will be quite a challenge for us to…make sure that this study is the vision we try and implement over the many years it will take to bring this to fruition,” said Holmes. “It’s a very good start.”