Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The City of Ottawa is bracing for a sweeping overhaul of its development process as the Ontario government moves to standardize land-use planning across the province, a move a senior local official warns could “limit the City’s ability to outline local priorities”.

In a memorandum released April 8, Marcia Wallace, general manager of Planning, Development and Building Services for the City of Ottawa, provided a preliminary review of the impacts of Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026. Introduced on March 30, the legislation represents a “broad push toward provincial standardization” designed to accelerate housing construction, but Wallace notes it will require significant “changes to established practices, processes and plans”.

A centerpiece of the legislation is a requirement for a “prescribed table of contents and schedules” for Official Plans, effectively creating a standardized land-use designation system across Ontario. For Ottawa, the deadline to implement this templated framework is Jan. 1, 2028.

While the Province argues consistency will save time, Wallace noted the shift “is likely to limit the city’s ability to outline local priorities within the structure of the Official Plan.”

Bill 98 grants the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing the power to set a minimum lot size of 175 sq. m. for urban residential land. This proposal, under ERO 026-0311, would apply to parcels in settlement areas with full public services.

Wallace indicated that staff are assessing the impact, as the city’s recently approved Zoning By-law regulates lot size through minimum width rather than total area.

Furthermore, the bill seeks to prohibit municipalities from imposing requirements for electric vehicle (EV) supply equipment through zoning or site plan controls.

• If the legislation takes effect, current provisions in Ottawa’s Zoning By-law would no longer be in force.
• Wallace noted that staff will explore “enabling approaches,” such as incentives and partnerships with the private sector, to support EV investment across the city.

The provincial changes arrive alongside the Canada-Ontario Partnership to Build, an $8.8-billion infrastructure program shared with the federal government over 10 years.

• Funding requirements: To access the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF), municipalities must commit to residential development charge (DC) reductions of 30% to 50% for at least three years.
  Goal: The funding is intended to offset the revenue impact of these reductions.

Ottawa staff have been directed to report back on DC reductions, but Wallace emphasized that previous Council direction was based on the city being “made fully whole,” with no reduction in investment in the city’s DC Background Study.

The province is also moving to mandate fully digital planning applications to create a “standard system across the province.” While Ottawa already utilizes electronic systems, Wallace warned that “any standardization that requires changing technology would be very costly and disruptive.”

Additionally, new regulations filed in January 2026 designate professional engineers as a “prescribed profession,” meaning municipalities must automatically accept their technical studies as meeting complete application requirements. The province is now consulting on whether to add additional certified professionals, such as registered landscape architects, to this list.

In a parallel move, the province is initiating a “section-by-section review” of the Ontario Building Code, supported by an independent advisory body of engineering and construction specialists.

The government is also considering a “spectrum of options” for site plan control, ranging from a standardized checklist to removing site plan control entirely for certain projects. Wallace noted that Ottawa has already moved to expand site plan exemptions to developments with 12 or fewer units.

Wallace stated that city staff will “carefully monitor and review the impacts” of Bill 98 as it moves through the legislature and provincial processes.

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Ottawa Construction news staff writer

A newly established real estate firm has signaled major ambitions for Ottawa’s skyline, acquiring a strategic nearly three-acre site in the Little Italy neighbourhood for $21 million.

The Calgary-based Turn Group, which opened its doors less than a year ago, purchased the property at 299 Carling Ave. from Canada Lands Company. The deal paves the way for a 600,000-square-foot mixed-use development featuring four residential towers housing approximately 750 units.

“They had very specific requirements about affordability, which we’re going to exceed by far,” Turn Group CEO Ash Mahmoud told RENX in a recent interview. “They (the former owner) had some mass designs, which we will maintain, but with a different perspective and more mixed use.”

The project, located near the O-Train’s Trillium Line and the new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, will feature towers ranging from 13 to 30 storeys. According to the development plan, three of the towers will be connected by a single podium and include market rental units. The third tower is slated to include approximately 135 affordable rental units.

Arcadis has been appointed as the lead architect and consultant for the project. Jan Steingahs, living practice group manager at Arcadis, noted that the site is being designed to integrate seamlessly with an adjacent half-acre park currently being developed by Canada Lands Company.

“We’re connecting to the park with our landscape on the site so it becomes a really holistic thing and it’s not an inward-looking site,” Steingahs told RENX.

The development is also expected to serve as a community hub, with plans for a 15,000-sq. ft. grocery store, additional retail space, and medical offices. A portion of the site, including one of the four towers, is currently in the process of being sold to an undisclosed buyer for a wellness-focused residence for seniors aged 55 and up.

While zoning for the site is already in place, Turn Group still requires site plan approval and necessary permits. Soil remediation is scheduled to begin this fall, with construction tentatively slated to start in the spring or summer of 2027.

The Carling Avenue acquisition is part of a larger $1.5-billion pipeline Turn Group is building across Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton. The company is already active in the capital with a separate nine-storey, 131-unit rental project at 255 Richmond Rd. in Westboro.

Mahmoud, who previously served as president of Cairo Development Ltd., indicated that the company is also eyeing another nearby site in Ottawa for a mixed-use project that could be 20 per cent larger than the Carling Avenue development.

“If you have the right opportunity and the math makes sense, and you bought it at a very good price, then everyone is interested,” Mahmoud said.

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Michael Lewis

Special to Ottawa Construction News

Ontario municipalities are reviewing fast-tracked provincial legislation that would remove their ability to impose mandatory green building standards and to incorporate climate and environmental goals in official plans.

A Toronto spokesperson said staff are assessing how provincial Bill 98, the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act tabled at the end of March by Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, would impact greenhouse gas emissions targets as well as energy costs for property owners.

Toronto in 2010 introduced a first-tier mandatory green standard for new developments, with subsequent standards to be voluntary initially. The program is a key plank of Toronto’s plan to make new buildings more resilient to climate-fuelled extreme weather while cutting back on emissions.

The standard requires new builds to retain stormwater to prevent flooding during heavy rainfall and to have enough tree canopy to help stave off extreme heat. It mandates improved park access and the application of window coatings for mid-to-high-rise buildings to mitigate against bird strikes.

It also requires buildings to meet annual emissions targets, pushing developers to consider low-carbon heating options such as heat pumps and install parking spots for bikes and electric vehicles.

But builders have argued that Toronto exceeded its authority in imposing the requirements, a view echoed by Bill 98 which aims to prevent municipalities from setting obligatory standards beyond what’s already required in the provincial building code.

“Council has not yet received legal advice on this point,” said Toronto Ward 11, University Rosedale Coun. Dianne Saxe when asked if the city can continue to impose mandatory green standards considering that the latest bill has already been ordered to second reading in the provincial Legislature.

She said the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Doug Ford is focused on “building cheaply now, regardless of the consequences.”

Saxe, who is also a member of Toronto’s infrastructure and environment committee, said the province is reluctant to improve the Ontario Building Code, and she has little faith in condominium developers’ willingness to adopt a green standard voluntarily.

“We know that few condo developers voluntarily build better buildings,” Saxe said in an email. “I am more optimistic about purpose-built rentals.

“When the builder has to pay long-term operating costs, they are much more likely to make the investments that reduce costs.”

At the Town of Halton Hills, meanwhile, staff are reviewing “the many legislative changes pouring out of Queens Park,” said Jane Fogal, a councillor and climate action advocate in the northeastern GTA community.

Halton Hills is among a small group of Ontario municipalities including Toronto, Mississauga and Hamilton that have imposed a mandatory green building standard, although at least a dozen have some sort of voluntary standard.

“It is safe to say that municipalities can encourage building above the OBC,” Fogal said.

The province says Bill 98 is aimed at accelerating housing construction, standardizing planning rules across municipalities and improving infrastructure and transit coordination.

“By making municipal enhanced design standards voluntary and reviewing site plan broadly we are helping to get shovels in the ground by improving project viability and lowering costs for homebuyers,” said housing ministry spokesperson Michael Minzak.

But critics say the proposal would make Ontario less resistant to climate change, expand the use of natural gas and saddle home and building owners with future retrofit costs.

The new legislation would also hit a green construction industry that Toronto says contributes $4.64 billion in annual GDP and employs more than 84,000 skilled workers across the province in areas including sustainable landscaping and green infrastructure.

Toronto communications advisor Kalinka Madej said more than 4,000 projects have met the Toronto standard, helping to avoid one million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

She added that over 230 projects have taken part in a voluntary program that refunds portions of development charges on projects that apply a green standard above the mandatory level.

Kirstin Jensen, vice-president of policy, advocacy and relationships at the Ontario Home Builders Association, said higher performance standards “are not something the building industry doesn’t want.

“It’s just that if they are mandatorily imposed it can be cost prohibitive.” The OHBA represents more than 4,000 member companies in the home building and renovations sector.

Jensen said voluntary standards are appropriate when financially viable for builders, suggesting that municipalities need to offer developers more incentives to voluntarily go green.

Incentives “can be financial but they can also be related to the speed at which an approval makes it through the system because time equates to costs,” she said.

Jensen agreed that a business case for sustainable building exists but said the standards are not viable in the current economy where builders are struggling to obtain financing to get projects started.

“A fraction of our builders has a business model where they build to a higher standard to active long-term cost savings after up-front investments,” with an added cost for buyers, she told Ontario Construction News.

“But ultimately, they should be voluntary standards when financially viable. We’re not saying don’t build better, but there’s a better way to go about it.”

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

A major mixed-use development at the intersection of Gladstone and Loretta avenues  in Ottawa is set to move forward after the City of Ottawa and CLV Group reached a settlement regarding a dispute over development fees and policy changes.

The agreement resolves a period of uncertainty for the project, which CLV Group had previously indicated could be in jeopardy following shifts in municipal policy. The settlement allows the developer to proceed with the high-rise project, which is positioned as a transit-oriented hub near the Trillium transit line and the new $2.4-billion Ottawa Hospital.

Central to the development is the preservation of the Standard Bread Building. Built in 1924, the heritage brick-clad concrete structure will be integrated into the new site and adapted for use as a “cultural hub,” featuring creative spaces for local artists.

The project site at 951 Gladstone Ave. and 145 Loretta Ave. N. is located near the boundaries of Hintonburg and Little Italy. The development plan includes high-rise residential towers and commercial space, designed to take advantage of the adjacent multi-use pathways and proximity to light rail transit.

City officials and representatives from CLV Group reached the agreement following discussions aimed at balancing growth-related infrastructure costs with the need for new housing inventory. While specific financial terms of the fee adjustment were not disclosed in the immediate settlement announcement, the deal ensures the project meets the city’s requirements for development charges while maintaining the developer’s economic viability for the site.

The Gladstone and Loretta development is part of a broader surge in construction activity in the area, including the nearby Gladstone Village subdivision by Ottawa Community Housing, which aims to add up to 1,100 residential units to the corridor.

CLV Group, led by chief executive Mike McGahan, has been active in the Ottawa market with several high-profile conversions and new builds. The company recently noted that policy refinements regarding the timing of development charge payments—which are now largely payable at the time of occupancy rather than building permit issuance for certain residential developments—have impacted the financial modeling of large-scale projects.

Construction timelines for the Gladstone and Loretta project are expected to be updated following the finalized agreement, with the site serving as a key piece of the city’s intensification strategy along major transit arteries.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

A landmark partnership between the City of Ottawa and the federal government’s new housing agency has cleared a major hurdle, paving the way for 3,000 new homes aimed at tackling the city’s affordability crisis.

In a joint meeting Fri. Apr. 10,  the Finance and Corporate Services Committee and the Planning and Housing Committee advanced an agreement with Build Canada Homes. The deal, first announced in late 2025, represents a total investment and contribution package valued at approximately $400 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, 2,000 homes will be constructed on surplus federal lands, while $150 million in federal funding will be directed to the city to accelerate 1,000 “shovel-ready” projects currently in Ottawa’s affordable housing pipeline.

The city’s contribution to the deal is valued at between $200 million and $245 million. This will be delivered through waived development fees, property tax exemptions for affordable units on federal lands, and a “tailored” approval process designed to fast-track construction.

“This agreement with the federal government through Build Canada Homes is another example of the city using every tool possible to drive transformational change and help get new homes built in the short term,” the city stated in a news release following the meeting.

The 2,000 units slated for federal land will follow a mixed-income model. According to the committee report, the targeted breakdown includes:

• 1,200 market-rate homes;
• 800 homes for moderate-income households and below;
• 200 “deeply affordable” homes for the city’s lowest-income residents within that 800-unit allocation.

The city noted that achieving “deep affordability” is typically difficult under standard market conditions and often requires the rent supplements supported by this mixed-income approach.

Build Canada Homes, which launched in September 2025, is a federal agency focused on growing the supply of mixed-income housing by leveraging public land and modern construction methods. This agreement is the first of its kind for a Canadian municipality.

City Council is scheduled to give final consideration to the committees’ recommendations on Wednesday, April 22. If approved, the partnership is expected to significantly advance Ottawa’s goal of becoming the most “housing-friendly” city in Canada.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) has announced the winners of its 2026 Design Excellence Awards and Service Awards, recognizing projects, practices and individuals that demonstrate innovation, sustainability and community impact.

The awards will be celebrated next month at the OAA Conference, Collaboration Powering Innovation, in the Waterloo Region.

The biennial Design Excellence Awards program highlights the work of Ontario architectural practices across a wide range of sectors and geographies. This year’s winners include projects spanning community centres, housing, academic and cultural facilities, and public spaces.

A jury selected 10 winning projects from 96 submissions, narrowing the field to 20 finalists. Entries were evaluated based on creativity, context, sustainability, good design and business practices, and long-term legacy. All submissions were also required to include Energy Use Intensity (EUI) metrics, reflecting the OAA’s emphasis on environmentally responsible design.

“The 2026 Design Excellence Awards showcase exciting examples of the quality work being performed by members of Ontario’s architecture profession, as well as the clear impact our built spaces can have on our communities,” said OAA president Lara McKendrick. “By mandating the submission of Energy Use Intensity metrics for all candidates, the OAA is pleased to actively advance climate stability and ensure sustainable design remains a core priority for the profession.”

The public can vote for a People’s Choice Award from among the winners, with online voting open until April 22.

The 2026 Design Excellence Award winners are:

• Angle of Repose (Algonquin Highlands, Ont.) by Reasonable Projects Inc.
• Beaverton Heights Modular Transitional Housing (Beaverton, Ont.) by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
• Carmen Corbasson Community Centre (Mississauga, Ont.) by Diamond Schmitt Architects
• Kìwekì Point (Ottawa, Ont.) by Janet Rosenberg & Studio Inc. and Patkau Architects Inc.
• Koffler Scientific Reserve (Toronto, Ont.) by Montgomery Sisam Architects Inc.
• Schwartz Reisman Innovation Campus, University of Toronto (Toronto, Ont.) by Weiss/Manfredi and Teeple Architects
• The Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum (Burnaby, B.C.) by Hariri Pontarini Architects and Iredale Architecture
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Headquarters (Toronto, Ont.) by Bucholz McEvoy Architects Ltd. and ZAS Architects Inc.
• Toronto Public Library – Bridlewood Branch (Toronto, Ont.) by Ken Fukushima Architecture in association with David Fujiwara Architect

The OAA regulates the practice of architecture in Ontario in the public interest and uses its awards program to promote the role of architecture in shaping communities across the province.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) marked its 75th anniversary during its Annual General Meeting last Wednesday (April 8), an event highlighted by robust financial results, industry awards, and a special proclamation from Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe.

The meeting, held at the Saint Elias Banquet Centre, brought together builders, developers, renovators, and industry partners for what GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf described as the largest AGM in recent history.

Mayor Sutcliffe opened his address by praising the association’s tremendous growth, noting that its membership has increased by 67 per cent since 2021. To honour the association’s long-standing impact on the city, Sutcliffe officially proclaimed April 8, as “Greater Ottawa Home Builders Association Day”.

“About 26% of all new multi-residential housing in Ontario is being built right here in Ottawa,” Sutcliffe said. “More than a quarter of all multi-residential is happening here in Ottawa, even though we represent 7% of the population in the province.”

Sutcliffe also emphasized the city’s commitment to addressing homelessness and speeding up housing initiatives. The city has passed a motion to accelerate the construction of 550 supportive housing units, reducing the target timeline from 10 years to five years. Additionally, Sutcliffe shared that Ottawa is the first city in Canada to reach an agreement in principle with the new federal agency, Build Canada Homes, to construct 3,000 housing units, the majority of which will be affordable.

On the financial front, GOHBA is reporting its fifth consecutive year of financial growth and security. For the fiscal year ending Oct. 31, 2025, the association posted an operating net surplus of just over $168,000. This was driven almost exclusively by the success of GOHBA’s special events, which generated nearly $463,000 in net revenue.

The approved 2026 budget projects a stable membership base of 453 members and will hold membership fees at the same level as 2025. Recognizing the rapid growth of its event programming, the association has also invested in expanding its staff complement with a new permanent head of events.

The AGM also served as an occasion to honour members who have made exceptional contributions to the industry and the broader community, with over 30 nominations received this year.

The 2026 GOHBA Award winners are:

All-Star New Member Contributor: Mike Dambra from Dambra Flooring was honoured for his exceptional dedication and meaningful contributions within his first two years of involvement.

Philanthropy Award: Jenny Chen was recognized for her leadership, philanthropy, and commitment to inclusion that has strengthened both the industry and the community.

Outstanding Company Contribution: Reliance Holmes Heating and Cooling received the award for going above and beyond in advancing the industry, supporting employees, and demonstrating social responsibility.

Pillar of the Community: Candy King from Urbandale Construction was celebrated for her steadfast leadership and lasting impact over 22 years of building major Ottawa communities.

Visionary Leadership Award: Rosaline Hill, Principal Architect, Senior Planner, Development Consultant at RJH Architecture and Planning, was honoured for her significant impact in advocacy and residential infill, driving practical, solution-oriented improvements across the industry and the city.

Lifetime Achievement: Paul Scissons received this prestigious honour for his leadership, advocacy, and commitment to advancing professional renovation, notably through his work strengthening member engagement with Ottawa Renovates magazine for more than a decade.

Closing the formal business, Board chair Serge Desjardins reflected on the association’s recent successes, which included advocating for one of the largest housing tax breaks in recent history.

“Together, we have a responsibility to ensure that Ottawa remains a vibrant city where housing development meets the needs of our residents,” Desjardins said. Moving into 2026, the board plans to continue prioritizing member engagement, strategic planning, policy advocacy, and community impact.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

An Ottawa-based developer has submitted a proposal for a new six-storey retirement residence at the former CFB Rockcliffe, marking the latest expansion in the city’s booming seniors’ housing sector.

Lifestyles Group is seeking to build the 188-unit Wateridge Lifestyles structure within the Wateridge Village community, a 3.1-acre mixed-use development near the Canada Aviation and Space Museum. According to planning documents, the project represents the first phase of a multi-staged seniors’ development that is expected to eventually include two additional apartment buildings totaling 270 units.

Allan Jackson and Neel Chadha are partnering with Wit Lewandowski (president) and Devon Purcell, Chadha wrote in an email to Ontario Construction News, correcting an error on our part in the developer’s name.

The proposal comes as the retirement living industry in the capital experiences a surge in growth. Industry experts attribute the “retirement boom” to a rapidly aging demographic and a critical need for specialized housing options.

“The acquisitions (in the sector) are part of increased activity … being fuelled by an aging population,” an executive from a retirement living company recently told the Ottawa Business Journal regarding parallel trends in the region.

The proposed building is designed to offer a full “continuum of care,” ranging from independent living for active seniors to assisted living and a secure memory care unit for those with cognitive impairments. Amenities planned for the site include an indoor saltwater pool, a movie theatre, a commercial kitchen with a chef, in-house physiotherapy, and a hair salon.

The development also promises a unique healthcare perk: “Residents will be guaranteed access to a family doctor should it be needed,” according to a community newsletter from the Wateridge Village Community Association.

The project is situated on land being transformed by the Canada Lands Company in partnership with the Algonquins of Ontario. The Wateridge Village Secondary Plan envisions a “design-forward” community that honours the site’s military history and its indigenous heritage.

The CFB Rockcliffe application follows closely behind other major seniors’ projects in the city, including a recently proposed 224-bed expansion of the former Madonna Nursing Home in Orléans.

City planners are currently reviewing the site plan application. If approved, the residence will be located directly across from the future Kishkabika Park, serving as a cornerstone for the village’s residential core.

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In a move designed to protect the financial viability of new housing projects, Ottawa’s Planning and Housing Committee has approved a framework that implements “inclusionary zoning” while setting the initial requirement for affordable units at zero per cent.

The decision allows the city to check a box required for federal funding under the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) without immediately imposing new costs on developers that city staff warn could stall construction during an ongoing housing crisis.

Under the new framework, developers of large residential projects near major transit stations will eventually be required to set aside a portion of units as affordable. However, a mid-2025 housing market assessment for Ottawa concluded that current conditions make such mandates economically unfeasible.

“While the intent of the policy is to ensure that affordable units are being constructed near transit, the costs associated with inclusionary zoning are borne by increasing costs on market units,” a city release stated following the meeting. “In the context of high housing costs, inclusionary zoning could have the unintended consequence of rendering some transit-oriented developments unviable.”

By establishing the framework with a zero-per-cent “set-aside rate,” the city creates the legal infrastructure to mandate affordable units in the future without triggering an immediate slowdown in the current market.

The move was welcomed by industry advocates who have long argued that inclusionary zoning functions as a “tax on development” that ultimately raises prices for the other 90 to 95 per cent of units in a building.

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) has consistently urged the city to avoid policies that compromise project feasibility. Executive Director Jason Burggraaf has previously noted that “transformative changes” are needed to hit housing targets, emphasizing that “Ottawa has the opportunity to be an example of progressive leadership” by focusing on supply rather than adding regulatory hurdles.

The committee also moved to streamline the development process by making the Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) reporting more flexible. The committee approved removing the requirement for an associated UDRP report as part of a “completed” development application. Instead, recommendations will be posted online during the formal review process, a change aimed at preventing design discussions from delaying the start of the application clock.

Key technical details of the approved inclusionary zoning framework include:

• Affordability definition: Aligns with provincial standards—the lesser of average market rent or shelter costs for middle-income households for rentals, and 90 per cent of average market purchase price for ownership.
• Duration: Units must remain affordable for at least 25 years.
• Next Steps: The city plans to conduct a fresh housing market assessment and updated needs analysis by the second quarter of 2028 before considering an increase to the set-aside rate. Detailed implementation guidelines are expected by mid-2027.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The National Capital Commission has finalized a long-term lease agreement with Nesting Ground and Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) to transform a vacant 0.89-hectare federal site into a transit-oriented affordable housing hub.

The agreement provides a leasehold interest of up to 99 years for the property at 1460 Riverside Dr. and represents a foundational project under the federal Lands for Homes strategy. The development is being led by Nesting Ground in a strategic partnership with Windmill Developments and OCH.

The project is slated to deliver a minimum of 220 residential units near the Hurdman LRT station. Under the terms of the federal agreement, at least 30 per cent of the units must remain at below-market rents for the full century-long duration of the lease.

The site is currently zoned as Transit-Oriented Development, a designation that permits significant vertical density and eliminates traditional minimum parking requirements to encourage public transit use.

According to January 2026 filings with the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry, the construction scope includes soil remediation and site preparation on the vacant urban lot prior to excavation. Design specifications, guided by Nesting Ground’s sustainability focus and Windmill’s development expertise, are intended to meet or exceed federal net-zero ready standards. This includes high-performance building envelopes and integrated municipal servicing upgrades to support the high-density residential load.

While a final budget has not been publicly released, industry benchmarks for mid-to-high-rise construction in the Ottawa market place the estimated hard costs between $95 million and $120 million. The project is moving through a streamlined approvals process following a February 2026 framework agreement between the City of Ottawa and the NCC aimed at reducing planning delays.

Federal authorities and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation initiated a final project assessment earlier this year. The development team is currently finalizing the site plan for municipal submission. Major structural construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in late 2026, with a projected occupancy window for 2028.

By utilizing a 99-year lease rather than a land sale, the NCC ensures the property remains a public asset while providing the development partners with the long-term security required to secure low-interest financing through the federal Affordable Housing Fund.

The Riverside project is the first of 10 NCC properties listed in the Canada Public Land Bank, which federal officials estimate could eventually yield nearly 7,600 new units across the capital region.

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