General Update/Rumour Thread

[jay2028]

Councillor wants Ottawa to explore acquiring Kanata Lakes golf club

A Kanata councillor is asking Ottawa City Council to continue its opposition to the redevelopment of the Kanata Golf and Country Club and explore the possible acquisition of the land, as the developer digs “test pits” on the golf club in the city’s west end.

www.ctvnews.ca

Hey we have a major housing crisis but lets stop a major project.I am sorry i am just fed up with some on council who say we need housing but do anything to stop it in there ward.

 

[Katimavid]

unfortunately thats every councillor and they are incentivized to do so

 

[jay2028]

unfortunately thats every councillor and they are incentivized to do so

Maybe but Curry seems to be one of the worst.

 

[J.OT13]

We've already wasted so much money on this. If they want to buy the golf course, it better be through a tax levy on Kanata North residents.

Council didn't even consider buying the Bank Street block to save heritage deeply affordable housing, let's not waste money on a golf course in a upper-middle class neighbourhood.

 

[jay2028]

We've already wasted so much money on this. If they want to buy the golf course, it better be through a tax levy on Kanata North residents.

Council didn't even consider buying the Bank Street block to save heritage deeply affordable housing, let's not waste money on a golf course in a upper-middle class neighbourhood.

Just to buy it your looking at 40 million plus then your looking at around 3-5 million a year to run it.To add it eneds major renovations so your looking at maybe another 10 million point is the city should not be doing that.

 

[J.OT13]

Just to buy it your looking at 40 million plus then your looking at around 3-5 million a year to run it.To add it eneds major renovations so your looking at maybe another 10 million point is the city should not be doing that.

If we buy it, it should become green space, not a golf course. The City should not be in the business or running a golf course.

 

[jay2028]

QCH expansion plans

D07-12-25-0163 - Development Application

 

[Ottawacurious]

Thoughts?
What if the city can buy half to 3/4 of it. Charge tax levies for Kanata (beaverbrook, beaverpond, kanata ridge, etc) for 40 years like they do in Barrhaven for their golf course.

Develop heavily along Campeau and Knudson. Medium density (mix of stacked towns and towns) that goes ~120m into the golf course from each road. Repeat the developments like Sawchuck, Robson, Stonecroft, Kinmount, and Catherwood; however, Campeau to have 15+ storeys along the road. They'll hate that but whatever - tall apartments are across from the club house already. Add more soccer fields, tennis courts, and usable space to liven the golf course.

Removes most of the issues including the water management issues. Leave the ponds where they are now. Everyone loses a bit for the win-win.

 

[jay2028]

Thoughts?
What if the city can buy half to 3/4 of it. Charge tax levies for Kanata (beaverbrook, beaverpond, kanata ridge, etc) for 40 years like they do in Barrhaven for their golf course.

Develop heavily along Campeau and Knudson. Medium density (mix of stacked towns and towns) that goes ~120m into the golf course from each road. Repeat the developments like Sawchuck, Robson, Stonecroft, Kinmount, and Catherwood; however, Campeau to have 15+ storeys along the road. They'll hate that but whatever - tall apartments are across from the club house already. Add more soccer fields, tennis courts, and usable space to liven the golf course.

Removes most of the issues including the water management issues. Leave the ponds where they are now. Everyone loses a bit for the win-win.

If i am the city i go to Terry Matthews and make a deal with him.Matthews buys the golf course in exchange the city will allow him to do as he wants with the high tech park.

 

[Ottawacurious]

I think Terry Matthews was already part of the conversation with the developers - if you see the proposed development he has a new pond bordering the west side of his property. If he wasn't - it's probably an easier pill to swallow/less resistance when presenting the idea to him.

On an aside, should we create a separate thread for this project? Not sure if I can move and drop this convo somewhere so we don't lose it in the general discussion thread.

 

[Ottawacurious]

Ashcroft Homes, one of Ottawa's leading developers, now in receivership
A Toronto-based receiver, KSV Restructuring Inc., now has control of Ashcroft’s extensive real estate portfolio in Ottawa.

Author of the article:Andrew Duffy
Published Feb 19, 2025

Ashcroft Homes, one of Ottawa's leading developers, now in receivership

One of Ottawa’s leading developers, the Ashcroft Homes Group, has been forced into receivership.

ottawacitizen.com

More Ashcroft news: 330 Gilmour is up for sale

Came across this site which is also interesting:

Planned Ruination: Demolition by Neglect in Ottawa

This short photo essay documents two cases of demolition-by-neglect, one a long-vacant former public building in Centretown, and the other, a row of tenant-occupied brick houses in Sandy Hill, now …

wasteheritageresearch.wordpress.com

Susan M. Ross
Redevelopment in limbo

330 Gilmour Street: A cherished backdrop to the urban scene?
330 Gilmour Street is the former Ottawa Public School Board Building which was built in three phases (1922, 1956 and 1963). In 2001 it was sold by the School Board to Ashcroft Homes and has stood empty for over 20 years. Ashcroft Homes initially proposed to demolish the entire building. The building was assessed as being of high heritage significance as part of the Centretown Heritage Conservation District Study. When demolition was refused, Ashcroft proposed a 9-storey seniors’ residence, keeping only the 1922 wing[10] The city approved this proposal, on the condition of lowering the new structure to seven storeys. These development restraints were contested by Ashcroft at the Ontario Municipal Board, and the project has gone no further[11]


Access prevented by signs, fences and boarding
Frayed but still intact character
Over the last few years, temporary fencing and boarding-up on an increasing number of windows and doors of all three wings of 330 Gilmore have in theory served to secure the building from the weather and intruders while also signalling the building’s vacant status. While proposals for possible future uses continue in student theses and local newspaper articles, worsening conditions make any reuse increasingly unlikely[12]

In my exterior photos from May 2024, deterioration might not seem so bad, apart from flaking paint and likely rotting of wood windows in need of repair and repainting. However, the interior video posted by Freaktography (2024) shows substantial water damage inside; the floors of some rooms are covered in moss or vegetation[13] This is likely from roof and/or plumbing leaks. That such damage is not typically visible from the street is a key issue in monitoring vacant sites and thus requires more than the inadequate exterior inspections that the city currently offers, to ensure that problems promptly addressed before decay sets in and spreads[14]