CITY HALL – Council  approved the heritage application required for the proposed addition to the Château Laurier hotel during today’s (Feb. 24) council meeting.

“Developed in consultation with Heritage Ottawa, the latest design proposes one 10-storey and one 11-storey tower, extending the wings of the existing hotel toward Major’s Hill Park,” city staff released in a statement today. “A two-storey base will join the two towers.”

The hotel is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, which means the proposed addition cannot compromise the historic building’s heritage value in terms of landmark character and architectural style. The approved changes from the previous seven-storey design open up views into the centre of the historic building when seen from Major’s Hill Park. The revised design also uses materials drawn from the historic building to minimize its visual impact on the Château and its surroundings, cladding the two towers in Indiana limestone and accenting the roofline with bronze panels and fins.

“The building design and landscaping will contribute to the public realm, connecting with Major’s Hill Park, improving publicly accessible areas and making better pedestrian connections across the property between the ByWard Market and the Rideau Canal,” city staff said. 

Council received an update on the City’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Second doses of the vaccine have now been made available to residents at all 28 long-term care homes, and first doses have been made available to those at all 82 designated retirement homes. Ottawa is administering vaccines in accordance with Phase 1 of the province’s three-phase distribution plan. Adults aged 80 and over are now among the priority groups being offered vaccines, joining essential caregivers of long-term care and retirement homes, priority health care workers, Indigenous individuals and adults receiving chronic home care.

The city is readying up to seven community clinics.

“Together with The Ottawa Hospital clinic and a second possible clinic at Queensway Carleton Hospital, this would give Ottawa the capacity to provide 380,000 vaccines per month when vaccine supply increases,” staff said. “Additional capacity is possible with mobile vaccination teams, pop-up clinics, pharmacies and primary care providers.”

For more information about vaccinations, please visit our COVID-19 webpage.

 Council also approved updated standards for emergency shelters and new standards for transitional housing programs that outline minimum guidelines for governance, operations and service delivery.

“The proposed standards would help improve consistency in shelters and transitional housing, enhance the client experience and improve efficiency,” staff said.

Ottawa homeowners will be able to take advantage of a new pilot program to help manage stormwater on their properties. The three-year pilot will train landscapers, offer education and outreach, provide free assessments and cover up to $5,000 per household for stormwater-management projects. 

Council approved a community design plan and secondary plan to help guide future development in Orléans. The plans would see the area south of Innes Road that straddles Mer Bleue Boulevard build on and complement the nearby Trailsedge and Mer-Bleue communities. This East Urban Community design plan envisions a livable, walkable, complete community that supports cycling and transit, with higher density anticipated along the future Brian Coburn transitway line and a network of public parks.

Westboro will also see a wider range of dwelling types in the area bounded by Byron, Dovercourt, Golden and Tweedsmuir avenues. Council approved a zoning amendment after a city study determined three-unit dwellings are compatible within this area. The amendment will ensure higher densities are concentrated along major streets like Churchill Avenue, with development on local streets limited to heights of two to three storeys.

Council also declared March 8, 2021 as International Women’s Day in Ottawa.

For more information on city programs and services, visit ottawa.ca or call 311 (TTY: 613-580-2401).