Greenspace and apartments are coming to South Keys Shopping Centre

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Good morning! 

November is lung cancer awareness month, a cause that is very close to my heart. 

In February 2023 my mom was diagnosed with an aggressive Stage 3 form of the disease. She was given four months to live without treatment. The answer to whether or not to get treatment was an easy one to make. What followed was 30 rounds of radiation and nine rounds of chemo. That summer we got the all clear that she was cancer free, but complications followed: Pneumonia twice, COVID-19, a sinus infection, to name just a few. 

But she is alive thanks to the amazing doctors and nurses who saved her life. 

This year, we found out the cancer had returned to her brain. It was caught early, and a new form of radiation, which shows very promising results, was performed. It’s too soon to tell if it worked, but doctors are very confident it did. Recent scans gave the all-clear for her lungs and chest. It’s all very promising. 

The bottom line is her life has been saved because of medical advancements. The prognosis would have been worse just a few years ago. Still, lung cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada. It is estimated that 29,300 Canadians developed lung cancer in 2019 and 21,000 passed away from it. Those are alarming numbers. 

This month I am walking 80 kilometers to raise money for lung cancer awareness, and I’m going to be having community members join me to profile their neighbourhoods and causes along the way. You will get to read those amazing on-the-ground stories in the Lookout all month long. If you have an idea of a story I should cover, please drop me an email below. 

You can be part of finding a cure: The Lookout is also going to be donating 30 per cent of all new insider subscriptions to Lung Cancer Canada for the month of November. So if you’ve been considering getting our exclusive food and city hall stories straight to your inbox, now is the time to do so. Not only will you be supporting local news, you will also be helping to save lives like my moms. Become a member today.

Today, we are in South Keys where I met with local city councillor Jessica Bradley and a community advocacy group that are envisioning new plans for the shopping centre. A recent proposal could bring a mix of residential and greenspace to the site. We’ve got all the details you haven’t read anywhere else. 

Happy reading! 

Charlie Senack, managing editor 

[email protected]

X: @Charlie_Senack

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign up for free.

WEATHER

Wednesday: 21 🌡️ 7 | ☁️

Thursday: 11 🌡️ 4 | ⛅️

Friday: 12 🌡️ -1 | ⛅️

CITY

Greenspace and apartments are coming to South Keys Shopping Centre

A new future: Today South Keys shopping Centre is a sprawling concrete jungle with 3,000 parking spots and dozens of stores. But, a new residential tower with greenspace is planned and one community group hopes that’s just the beginning. 

In Oct. 2021, plans were unveiled for two towers at 2200 Bank St, with a maximum of 21-storeys and a four to six-storey podium in the middle. Last year a revised development was proposed with only one tower. It will have three retail stores on the ground floor and will be surrounded by greenspace. It would replace a currently vacant strip mall next to the Cinema. 

But it’s just the beginning of a four-stage plan: The full vision, which is at least 15 years away from finalization, would see four mixed-use buildings of rental units ranging from one to three-bedroom units. Each building could have about 446 dwelling units, 314 parking stalls, 454 bicycle stalls, one loading stall, and retail on the ground floor. These other three stages would be built in the parking lot and where the movie theater is located. 

Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Jessica Bradley told the Lookout that plans were slowed down “for good reason”, but said the file will go before planning committee by the end of the year. 

• “We are seeing younger families, people coming in from downtown to live near South Keys. A lot of students will be interested in residing there, too,” said Bradley. ”It could become a real gem, a real hub. It’s going to have a major transit station that can take residents by light rail to the Airport and EY Centre in one direction, and to Carleton University, Little Italy, and Bayview in the other.”

Community group looks to push that a step further 

Wanting better: In 2020 Matt Pinder, a transit engineer by trade with projects in Ottawa and across Canada, moved to the South Keys area from Chinatown. He picked that neighbourhood because of access to light rail when the Trillium Line re-opens later this year. 

But Pinder quickly realized the community wasn’t as accessible as he nearly thought. 

That, alongside the new development proposal, inspired the idea to create a group called “Better South Keys” in 2021. About 30 people who lived in the neighbourhood joined a zoom call, and half a dozen decided to form a working group to try and push a new vision for the site. Their focus right now is on the public park and what it should include. 

• “We need more amenities for youth to play. I’d personally like to see an O-Train themed play structure. There needs to be quiet sitting places. There isn’t even a single bench there today. You see people leaning on the retaining wall getting ready to be picked up,” Pinder told the Lookout. 

Expanding further: Next to South Keys is the Greenboro Park & Ride, which was almost full before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped in-person work and the O-Train shut down for expansion. It’s showing signs of being well utilized again, but Pinder is still eyeing it for development. 

• “It’s publicly-owned land. Over the next few months we are working with architecture students at Carleton University. By the end of December we will have 14 different consultations of what it could look like as a living space with dense apartments and living space. There could easily be 2,000 people living in this space,” he said. 

By the numbers: By rough count the group said 200-300 cars parked there daily last winter. Even if the numbers climb with the reopening of Line 2, Pinder said the site should be better used to promote the city’s plans for intensification around transit hubs. 

A similar plan in other communities: Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo is exploring the feasibility of selling off the Fallowfield and Nepean Park & Rides to be converted for development. It’s thought proceeds from the sales could help better fund transit in the community. 

• “Fallowfield is a sea of asphalt that’s filled with 40-50 per cent capacity. It absorbs heat. It’s a major transit hub. I see a lot of potential there to develop a mid-density project that will bring people to the area, increase our tax base, and maximize use of that Iand,” Lo told the Lookout. “I want to preserve the parking capacity which I think is about 1,200 spots in a smaller footprint with something like a parking garage. Nepean Woods I want to close and dispose of all together. Strandherd park & ride is nearby.”

Improvements needed to road and cycling infrastructure 

Expanding the Greenboro path way: Back in the south end of the city, Pinder says they are advocating to extend the five-kilometre Greenboro Pathway which currently goes from Hawthorne Rd. to Pebble Rd. near Albion. It’s a popular spot for cyclists and walkers but ends about a kilometre before the Walmart entrance to the mall. 

Bradley said consultations have been done to see what a safe connection could look like and believes it would help better promote different modes of transportation around the typically car-centric community. 

Pinder agrees and said they are looking at putting multi-use pathways on Pebble with dedicated bike lanes on Cahill Dr. 

A safer Bank St: There have also been renewed calls to make Bank St. safer for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. An investment of $3 million has been greenlit for a better intersection to be designed at Bank St. and Hunt Club Dr — one of the city’s busiest intersections in the next two to three years. A final proposal will be released in the next few months. 

To the west, Bank Street is currently in the midst of a massive renewal project from Riverside Dr. to Collins Ave. The project, which began this year and is scheduled to end in 2027, will include cycling tracks, protected intersections, replacement of sewer and water main infrastructure, and new streetscaping. 

• CBC wrote a detailed article about all of the work planned earlier this year. 

Pinder expects that work will eventually continue eastward to Hunt Club and has brainstormed a number of safety improvements he believes the site needs. 

• “We need a complete street much like the work they are doing on Bank Street in Alta Vista near Billing’s Bridge. The first win would be lowering the speed to 50 kilometers an hour,” suggested Pinder. “At Bank and Johnson it doesn’t have left turn signals and it’s a very unsafe situation. We’ve just sent a letter to our councillor calling for that in the short term. When they do resurface the road they should use that as an opportunity to limit the size of lanes and increase wider sidewalks with protective crossings for cyclists.” 

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OTTAWA BY THE NUMBERS

🍝 25%: The number of Ottawa households which struggled to afford food in 2025, according to Ottawa Public Health. The survey also found that it costs about $1,244 a month to supply a family of four with adequate food. [CBC]

🛌 125: The amount of people the Salvation Army found living on the streets during a 24-hour period last month. It’s believed the number is actually closer to 300. [CBC]

🚔 6: The amount of time an Ottawa man has been sentenced to in prison after a drive-by shooting at a Tim Hortons last month. [Ottawa Citizen]

NEW JOBS

1. On-call crossing guard at the Ottawa Safety Council

2. Scheduling coordinator at Ottawa West Community Support

3. Research and development officer at the University of Ottawa

4. Call centre agent at Mercedes-Benz downtown

5. Warehouse supervisor at PepsiCo

Local jobs are selected by the Lookout team and are not paid ads, unless specifically noted.

HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Take a look at this charming house located on Queen Mary Street in the Castle Heights Community. It has solid wood furnishes throughout, it's colourful, and is surrounded by greenery. Built in 1922 it’s a fixer-upper, but with lots of potential. 

And for this price, it is very affordable for new families. 

House of The Week is a home selected by the Lookout team and is not a paid advertisement. All ads are labeled as such. If you’re a realtor who wishes to feature your home in our newsletter, please contact our sales team.

THE AGENDA

🏦 Scotiabank is set to eliminate bank tellers at many of their locations, including at Carleton University. The change will come into effect on March 5, 2025. It’s unclear if any other branches in Ottawa will be impacted. [CTV]

🌃 Ottawa’s new nightlife council has been chosen to hopefully make the Capital a more exciting place to live. According to the city, the nightlife council will meet at least four times per year to "identify shared objectives for the development of commercial and cultural vibrancy at night,” amongst other things. [CTV]

🌉 The Chief William Commanda Bridge will close again this winter when conditions are deemed unsafe. There has been lots of pushback with calls to keep it open year-round — something the bridge was branded as before opening. City staff say they will try again this winter to study the feasibility of using it during colder months. Studies last year were unsuccessful due to the warm winter. [CTV]

👨‍⚕️ Carleton University and the Queensway Carleton Hospital are partnering to open Ontario’s first university-based nursing program in more than 20 years. It will begin in September 2025 with up to 110 students who will graduate three years later with a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Premier Doug Ford stopped by the campus Tuesday to make the announcement. [Ottawa Citizen]

Outside downtown 

🔥 Three single-family homes in Orleans were severely damaged by fire on Tuesday morning. The blaze began on the roof of one of the homes and quickly spread to the other two. A firefighter suffered second-degree burns and another man was also treated for minor burns. A woman was treated for minor smoke inhalation. [CTV]

🛌 Barrhaven is continuing to share its opposition against a proposed spring structure which could be built at one of two locations. A protest was held at the Highbury Park location on Sunday with another Tuesday evening. Chris Stevens, pastor of Neighbours Church, said while he welcomes refugees in the suburban community, adequate support is not in place. [CTV]

🚗 A driver safely escaped his vehicle after it caught fire following a single-vehicle crash in Navan. The incident took place at about 3:30 a.m. Monday in the 3000 block of Frank Kenny Road. According to eyewitnesses, a person was seen screaming for help and noted that electrical wires were on the road. [Ottawa Citizen]

🌳 The Experimental Farm‘s Dominion Arboretum is a popular spot for kayakers, dog walkers, and those wanting to have a picnic. But did you know the work done there is also helping to combat climate change? According to a Carleton University study, it found that the Arboretum’s air quality was better than in other parts of the city. [Kitchissippi Times]

🛩️ A pilot was able to walk away with minor injuries after his plane crashed near the Smith Falls Airport on Saturday. According to police, the pilot had been conducting a training flight, simulating repeated takeoff and landing manoeuvres, when the Cessna 172 lost power and crashed. [Ottawa Citizen]

👮🏼‍♀️ The Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after a shooting took place outside a Kemptville medical clinic. When responders arrived on scene Saturday evening, there was nobody seen at the property, but some damage was done to the clinic. [Ottawa Citizen]

ARTS

The National Arts Centre has a number of upcoming shows, including beaded poppy workshop, SoulRythms, Carlos Alberto Santana Jazz Quartet, Marianas Trench and the Jim Cuddy Band.  

Bytown Cinema is showing a bunch of smaller, awards-focused films including Conclave, Anora and Blitz. 

Speaking of movies, it’s the Ottawa Canadian Film Festival starting tomorrow. The festival focuses on Canadian film, with something for everyone. 

Ottawa's Atrium Art Gallery’s latest exhibit is called Sense of Place and focuses on the emotional ties to everyday environment.

Music gig listing

Will Cook | Overflow Brewing, 2477 Kaladar Ave | Nov. 7 | Ottawa music veteran debuts songs from his fifth solo album showcasing his versatile blend of pop, rock, and country. Tickets $8.

JESSIA | 27 Club, 27 York St | Nov. 7 | Conversational lyrics and self empowerment anthems from the multiplatinum, Juno award winning pop artist. Tickets $25

Skrizzly Adams | Live! On Elgin, 220 Elgin St | Nov. 8 | Springsteen-infuenced “modern-day heartland rock” with over 200 million streams and counting. Tickets $20. 

JJ Wilde | Bronson Centre, 211 Bronson Ave | Nov. 9 |  Rock queen whose fierce energy and gritty songwriting creates a raw blend of classic rock and vulnerable ballads.  Tickets $27.50 

Roddy Elias Trio| Club SAW, 67 Nicholas St | Nov. 10 | Jazz guitarist known for his fusion of jazz, classical, African, and Brazilian musical elements, creating a distinctive and eclectic sound. Tickets $25.

Listings for music shows are provided by OttawaGigs.ca, the best place to discover live music in Ottawa. Check out Ottawagigs.ca for full listings across the city.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Beechwood Cemetery is bringing together students and the community for Remembrance Day. [CTV]

• Meet this Ottawa man who has been handing out poppies since 2015. [CTV]

• Take a look at this Westboro home renovation that was inspired by bird watching. [Kitchissippi Times] 

• The Black Tie Bingo Gala was held at the Infinity Convention in support of Bruyère Health. [Ottawa Citizen]

OTTAWA GUESSER

This one may be too easy, but can you guess this intersection in the photo? Reply with your name and the correct answer to be featured in the newsletter.