Kanata tech park office conversion passes at city committee
Work is already underway on the project, which looks to add 115 housing units to Kanata North
An office conversion project in Kanata North sailed through a city committee today, with the local councillor hoping it will help transform the area's tech park.
The 11-storey building at 535 Legget Dr. is one of three identical glass office towers surrounding a parking lot. Owner Wesley Clover International, chaired by billionaire Terry Matthews, wants to convert it into a mixed-use development with 115 housing units.
Council's planning and housing committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the required zoning changes. Kanata North Coun. Cathy Curry called it an exciting project that will change the dynamic of the community.
"Right now, it has 570 companies where people work — just the work hours — and then they leave," she said. "Well now, with people living there, it will bring about more restaurants, more nightlife, more activities that people can participate in, which will bring a lot of life to the park and make it more attractive."
She said the project isn't a one-off, but part of a trend toward more residential development in the technology park. Main and Main is planning an expansive housing development in Kanata North that could add 2,100 housing units.
The city's top planning document aims to transform the Kanata North Economic District from a 1970s-era business park built around the automobile to a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use community focused on innovation.
The conversion plan for 535 Legget Dr. calls for replacing the existing window walls with a new facade including Juliette balconies. The developer is also planning to add green space, and to connect the building to the neighbouring Brookstreet Hotel to allow residents to access restaurants, a spa and The Marshes Golf Club.
While the upper floors will be residential, the plan would retain about 4,300 square feet of office space on the ground floor.
The developer also asked the committee to relax minimum parking rules. It plans to provide 108 parking spaces for the 115 units, including visitor spaces. The committee agreed, and also voted to ban auto-focused uses such as drive-thrus from the site.
The committee's decision must still go to a full meeting of council for final approval. But Curry said work has already begun, and CBC witnessed crews at work on Wednesday. Large panels of windows have already been removed.
"The preliminary construction starts because they can do that without getting this final approval," said Curry. "I'm in the park a lot and I talk to the people who are running this project and they are full steam ahead."
Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper, who chairs the planning and housing committee, said city council is keen to see more office conversions. But based on his discussions with the industry, he admits it might not be a quick fix to the city's housing shortage.
"There are economic challenges to doing conversions, and some of the advantages that are purported to be part of those may not materialize," he said. "That said, certainly if developers are interested in converting, as a city council we're here to support them."
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