NCC approves plan for Ottawa's 'underutilized' Confederation Heights

NCC approves plan for Ottawa's 'underutilized' Confederation Heights

Federal campus south of Carleton University ripe for 'mixed-use residential development,' NCC says

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has approved a master plan for the redevelopment of a parcel of prime federal land in Ottawa that a Crown corporation considers "underutilized."

Canada Lands Company and Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) have been working to find new uses for federal sites including the Confederation Heights campus south of Carleton University.

On Tuesday, the NCC board approved recommendations for turning the area where Bronson Avenue, Heron Road and Riverside Drive meet into a new community.

Part of the process is the NCC allowing the sale of federal land and buildings.

Most of the land would be used for mixed-use residential development of three- to 40-storey buildings, according to the NCC.

The plan also includes a "heritage greenway" with public amenities, and involves the potential redevelopment of three buildings that are classified as federal heritage properties:

Other buildings in the area including Canada Post, Health Canada and the Tilley buildings are being retained for federal use

Any properties that are removed from the federal heritage list must be reclassified by the City of Ottawa under the Ontario Heritage Act, the NCC said.

The project would also improve access to nearby parks and adjust the boundaries of Hog's Back Park, and include a dedicated area for a recreational complex near Billings Bridge transit station, and a potential cultural and entertainment district near Mooney’s Bay transit station.

"There is an opportunity for many thousands of future residents to live there," NCC CEO Tobi Nussbaum said Tuesday of the potential redevelopment, calling it "hugely important" for the nation's capital.

"This is a project that will evolve over many years, I might even say decades."

In November 2021, Canada Lands and PSPC launched a public engagement process, and have since developed concept plans and drafted a master plan.

Cassandra Bellefeuille is a journalist with CBC Ottawa. She covers municipal affairs, politics and local news. She holds a combined honours degree in journalism and political science from Carleton University.