Transit-oriented development is happening

Good morning! 

It seems the heat just won’t go away! I took a quick 20-minute walk at lunchtime yesterday and thought I was going to melt into the pavement.

But on Monday, I spent the day in Renfrew visiting my siste,r where the air quality was better and the temperature surprisingly a few degrees cooler. I am starting to realize why she wants to live in the country! If you’re looking for a break from the heat, I highly recommend trading the concrete jungle of the city for a cornfield any day. 

I was reading an article the other day about the importance of putting green space and trees on top of buildings if we want a cooler planet, especially considering the planet is expected to experience warming between 2 and 4 C by 2100.

Today’s members-only story is about new developments that are planned in Ottawa around transit stations. Many include new or expanded greenspace, but will it be enough? 

Let’s get to today’s headlines.

— Charlie Senack, Ottawa Lookout managing editor, [email protected], X: @Charlie_Senack

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WEATHER

Wednesday: 33 🌡️ 21 | 🌤️

Thursday: 31 🌡️ 14 | 🌧️

Friday: 24 🌡️ 16 | ☀️

DEVELOPMENT

How Ottawa’s biggest transit-oriented development projects will reshape much of the city

Ottawa’s population is massively growing, which means there is a need for more housing. The problem? There is only so much land space. 

As a result, the city is building up and focusing on transit-oriented development. This is part of an effort to create 15-minute neighbourhoods where people don't need to travel far to access essential services like stores, green space, work, or education. 

The city also has targets to get drivers off the road and into other modes of transportation, such as public transit, cycling, or walking. 

No neighbourhood across the city is being left out. From Barrhaven to Orleans and Carling Avenue to Walkley Road, the city is set to look very different in the next few years. 

Here is a list of some of the significant transit-oriented developments that are in the works for Ottawa, and how each neighbourhood could look different.

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Want to learn more before signing up? Read how the program works.

Or, join us for our next Neighbourhood Leader Training on Wednesday, July 24 from 5:30–7:30 PM. Meet other volunteers, explore the role, and see how you can support local food sharing in your neighbourhood.

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THE OTTAWA NUMBER

26 C

🥵 That’s the maximum temperature one Ottawa MPP thinks it should be in rental units. NDP MPP Catherine McKenney says they intend to bring a motion to Queen’s Park this fall that will legislate a cap on apartment temperatures. Currently, landlords are not legally required to provide air conditioning and may prohibit renters from installing their own AC units.

THE AGENDA

☀️ Man, it’s a hot one. A heat warning remains in effect through at least Thursday night. A burn ban is also in effect. Read more. [CBC]

🌊 But… Leamy Lake Beach is closed until further notice due to a ‘possible spill’ in the area. Read more. [Ottawa Citizen]

👙 …and the General Burns pool remains closed for repairs, until further notice. Read more. [CTV] 

🚗 Carleton University has said it will not issue on-campus parking permits for students who live in Ottawa, Stittsville, Kanata, Orléans, and Manotick and who have access to public transit. Read more. [CTV]

💰️ The Ontario government is investing $15.7 million to build a new MIFO Community Centre in Orleans. Read more. [Ontario Government]

🙏 The Stittsville community is mourning the passing of Damien Brown-Graham, a Sacred Heart and St. Pius X High School teacher who passed away from heart failure while cycling with his best mate on the evening of June 24. Blue ribbons have been placed on lampposts across the community. Read more. [Stittsville Central]

🚍 OC Transpo is capping monthly fares for Presto card holders to not exceed the total cost of a monthly pass. This means that once a Presto cardholder taps over the cost of a monthly pass, all remaining trips that month are free. Read more. [CTV]

👮 A 34-year-old Mississippi Mills woman who was hit by a falling tree limb has died. Read more. [CTV] 

HOME OF THE WEEK

This cheerful 2+1 bed, two bath home in Overbrook has a mid-century modern charm. French doors, interesting archways, tile backsplashes and warm hardwood floors give a potential buyer character to work with.

There’s also a detached garage and a fenced-in backyard, and the listing boasts that it’s within walking distance of the NCC Park and Rideau River…

ON THIS DAY

July 16, 1909: Six stores and a dwelling were affected by a large fire on Bank Street near Somerset, which resulted in about $20,000 worth of damage. The blaze started in a pile of oakum, which was in a shed, and quickly spread to the building, given its combustible materials. It then spread to Metcalfe’s Stationery Store, where there was a quantity of fireworks which exploded. 

July 16, 1919: A fire that was extinguished in just minutes at the residence of Mr. C. F. Whitley, caused little noticeable damage but destroyed a family portrait by Gilbert, the famous English painter, valued at $10,000. Persian rugs and other antique furniture were also severely damaged in the blaze at 160 Cooper Street.  

July 16, 1971: As Ottawa started to develop apartment and condo communities, there was debate in Nepean over zoning. Minto was requesting rezoning of the Bruce Lands on the south side of Base Line Road for high-density development. The developer was looking to build 850 apartment units, row housing, and garden home units on the 31-acre site. 

Reeve Andrew Haydon balked at the idea, saying the city made it clear a maximum density of 600 units would only be allowed. Councillor Ken Kerr accused Minto of “trying to pack buildings into every available inch they can find.”

Kerr then went on to say he was getting tired of “development schemes while the developers walk away rich,” and said, “at this rate, all these places are going to be slums in 25 years.” Minto argued it was looking to build fewer than the 1,200 units they thought the land could hold.

OTTAWA GUESSER

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• A baby bird was returned to its nest in Orléans by Ottawa firefighters after falling 30 feet. The young merlin was given a clean bill of health by a bird specialist on hand from Safe Wings Ottawa. Read more. [CTV]

• Nepean took 4th place in PetSmart Canada’s list of the Top 10 Cat-Loving Cities of 2025. Read more. [Yahoo!]

• A 24-hour grab-and-go health food convenience store is opening in the ByWard Market. Read more. [CTV]

• Did you know Ottawa has a free tool library? [Kitchissippi Times]