Ottawa Construction News staff writer

New home sales in Ottawa remained effectively stagnant in October as uncertainty regarding federal tax rebates kept many potential buyers on the sidelines.

The latest report from the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) and PMA Brethour Realty Group shows builders sold 288 new homes last month. While this represents a nominal increase of one unit over September’s 287 sales, it marks a significant 25.2 per cent decline compared to the 385 homes sold in October 2024.

Year-to-date figures also trail last year’s pace. A total of 2,940 new homes were sold through the first 10 months of 2025, roughly 3.4 per cent below the 3,045 recorded during the same period in 2024.

Industry officials point to hesitation among consumers, particularly first-time buyers, as the primary driver of the sluggish market.

“Caution remains the dominant theme in the new-home market,”  GOHBA executive director Jason Burggraaf said in a Nov. 20 statement. “Until there’s clarity on the timing of the GST rebate, many first-time buyers are opting to wait.”

While overall volume was flat, the composition of sales shifted significantly in October. Single-family homes saw a surge in popularity, capturing 45 per cent of the market share. This surge brought the category nearly level with townhomes, which maintained their traditional lead with 48 per cent of sales.

Geographically, development continues to be heavily concentrated in Ottawa’s south end, which accounted for 46 per cent of all new home sales in October. The west end followed with 25 per cent of the market, while the east end captured 22 per cent.

Central Ottawa remained the quietest sector for new construction, representing just seven per cent of sales activity.

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Ottawa Construction News staff write

Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) has awarded the design contract for the second phase of Gladstone Village, a major residential development set to transform a significant portion of the city’s downtown core, to Hobin Architecture.

The Ottawa-based firm will design the next stage of the eight-acre community, which is situated adjacent to the Corso Italia LRT Station. Phase 2 is slated to include up to 975 new affordable homes across three buildings on a 2.41-acre section of the site.

The project is part of a broader master plan for Gladstone Village, bounded by Somerset Street, the O-Train Trillium Line, Preston Street and Oak Street. Once complete, the entire development is expected to deliver more than 1,300 affordable homes, aligning with the City of Ottawa’s 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan.

“Hobin Architecture brings a combination of experience and creativity needed to deliver buildings that are functional, sustainable, and welcoming,” Cliff Youdale, OCH’s chief development officer, said in a statement.. “Their thoughtful design approach will help create homes and shared spaces that foster community connection and contribute to a vibrant, inclusive neighbourhood.”

Hobin Architecture previously worked with OCH on the first phase of the nearby Mosaïq Ottawa development, which received an Award of Excellence at the 2023 City of Ottawa Urban Design Awards.

Barry Hobin, the firm’s principal, described the new contract as an opportunity to shape a high-impact development in the city.

“We are excited to bring thoughtful, innovative design to a vibrant, inclusive community that will transform downtown living and create a lasting positive impact for residents and the city,” Hobin said.

The Gladstone Village development is designed to be a transit-oriented community, leveraging its proximity to the O-Train line to support sustainable urban living. OCH, the city’s largest community housing provider, currently manages a portfolio of approximately 15,500 homes serving 33,000 tenants.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Construction has begun on what the Ontario government says will be the largest battery energy storage facility in Canadian history, a project planned for a 30-acre site north of Dobbie Road in Edwardsburgh Cardinal.

The Skyview 2 Battery Energy Storage System is expected to create up to 300 jobs during construction. Once completed in 2027, the lithium-ion facility is designed to store electricity from Ontario’s grid during lower-demand periods and return it to the system when demand peaks. Its projected output would be enough to power nearly 400,000 homes.

The project is being developed by Potentia Renewables Inc. in partnership with the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation. Engineering, procurement, and construction services, including delivery of the battery units, are being handled by e-STORAGE, a subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., while Barton Malow Company has been named the construction contractor.

“In partnership with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, this project will support hundreds of jobs during construction and secure Ontario’s affordable, reliable and clean energy supply,” said Premier Doug Ford.

With electricity demand forecast to rise significantly by 2050, the province says the facility will play a role in supporting grid reliability as Ontario adds new generation and storage.

Chief Greg Sarazin of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation said the partnership demonstrates the economic benefits of including First Nations as full participants in energy development.

Construction is expected to continue through 2027.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Merkley Supply Ltd., a fixture in Ottawa’s construction industry for more than a century, has pledged to match community donations to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation up to $1 million to support the development of the new hospital campus.

The company and its CEO, Robert Merkley, will match public donations dollar-for-dollar from now until Dec. 31, 2025.

The initiative ties the construction supply company, which was founded over 125 years ago, directly to the future of the city’s healthcare infrastructure.

“True giving goes beyond writing a cheque,” Robert Merkley, who became the third-generation CEO of the company in 1982, said in a statement. “It’s about rolling up our sleeves, inspiring others, and leading by example. If we want world-class healthcare, research, and facilities, it’s up to us to make it happen — our community deserves it.”

This donation is the latest in a long history of philanthropic efforts by Merkley.

In 2003, he chaired the Legacy Campaign Committee, which raised $100 million for the Civic Campus Emergency Department, new equipment, and medical research. In 2010, he co-founded THE RIDE, a cycling fundraiser that has since raised more than $14 million for local cancer research.

Tim Kluke, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, called Merkley a “steadfast volunteer and supporter” for decades.

“When he’s committed to a project, he’s a force to be reckoned with, rallying the community and inspiring others to join him,” Kluke said. “We’re fortunate to have his support.”

Using a metaphor fitting for the construction industry, Merkley urged the community to join the effort.

“Every gift, every act of generosity, is a brick in the foundation of our future,” he said. “If we each do our part, we can create something that will stand strong for generations. So, let’s do it!”

You can donate at this link.

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By Mark Buckshon

Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. (GIP) has been retained by the City of Ottawa to construct the Laurier Avenue cycling modifications, a project with an approved budget of $7,236,000.

Work started recently on the project that is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2026.

The project’s primary objective is to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. The scope of work involves segregating the westbound cycling facilities from their current on-road alignment to a raised boulevard on the north side of Laurier Avenue. This modification will span from Queen Elizabeth Driveway to just west of Elgin Street.

Key features of the project include the construction of protected crossings at the Laurier Avenue and Elgin Street intersection and the reconfiguration of the on- and off-ramps from Laurier Avenue to Queen Elizabeth Drive.

The city’s design documents describe a “protected intersection” as a design intended to make crossings safer for vulnerable road users “by shortening crossing distances, reducing exposure, increasing visibility, and improving yielding behaviour by motor vehicle drivers.”

Design for the project is complete. Stantec is listed as the contract administrator and site inspector, with Donna Yates acting as contract administrator and Kevin May as senior site inspector.

Warren Perry is listed as the project manager for Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. The city’s project manager is Andrew Arseneault.

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By Mark Buckshon

Ottawa Construction News staff writer

I remember well Ottawa Construction News’ conception. In the early evening three and a half-decades ago, in a modest Smiths Falls hotel room, a flash of inspiration came to my mind. “Could Ottawa support a specialized monthly construction trade newspaper?”

A few days earlier, I had visited the then (to me) incredibly successful new Ottawa Construction Show. Dozens of exhibitors filled the halls of the Ottawa Convention Centre (now Rogers Centre Ottawa). I had a table out front to hand out my then-thriving (and new) newspaper for real estate agents and brokers, Ottawa Real Estate News (OREN). Across the hall, the previous publisher of Ottawa Business News was doing the same thing.

About 18 months earlier, when I launched OREN (which would wind down in 1993), several people told me that most publishing businesses fail within the first year. This sobering news didn’t deter me, but I realized I would need to start the business with absolutely no money or debt – and prove there was a market for the concept by launching the title without any capital. I solved the problem by setting a 25 per cent discount for prepayment, and inviting potential advertisers to give the idea a try for one issue.

Now, with one successful publication under my belt, I didn’t need to be so austere, but still needed to validate the market. Several advertisers signed on pre-publication, including (notably) Robert Merkley of Merkley Supply Ltd.

Some advertisers were ready to pay for colour. This wasn’t such an easy thing in 1989-1990. Film needed to be delivered to a special processing lab to generate acetate colour separations, which the printers needed to strip in by hand to set up the offset printing plates. A single image cost $150 to prepare – worth quite a bit more in 1990 dollars than today.

The new publication survived, though things weren’t always easy. Keeping costs as low as possible, I served as the newspaper’s primary writer/editor as well as salesperson, production co-ordinator and business owner. (We had contractors for design and graphics and a part time office administrator, but I was doing everything else.)

The new publication evolved through changing economic conditions, technologies and some business blunders. We learned, adapted and kept things going. In 2008, we built an early digital edition of the publication.

In 2016, with evolving technologies, we switched the publication to become a primarily digital magazine, and in 2019, with changes in the Ontario Construction Act, started the daily Ontario Construction News (which has, of course, the same OCN abbreviation). Last year, the business’s employees purchased the publishing business from me. I continue to help out as a part-time consultant/writer.

Several of our earliest advertisers are continuing to do business with both versions of OCN. There have certainly been changes in relationships and technologies, but I appreciate the foundations of a viable business are timeless. We need to ensure economic viability while serving the community, employees, contractors, and clients effectively and honourably.

Notably, the Ottawa Construction Show is long gone – but the annual Merkley Supply Ltd. (MSL) Show continues in March each year.

Other long-time advertisers (with their own histories as long as OCN) include AGF Steel Ottawa (formerly Raymond Rebar), Bellai Alliance, Boone Plumbing and Heating Supply Inc., Dufresne Piling Company; George W. Drummond Ltd., Goldie Mohr Ltd., Len Murray Supply Inc. and Regional Crane Rentals.

I’m confident that Ottawa Construction News, which started a half-lifetime earlier, will continue publishing for many more years under its current ownership.

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The October issue of Ottawa Construction News has been published.

You can view it in page turning software here.

Stories in the current issue include:

• Ottawa’s Development Review process faster before approval, but post-approval delays soar, city audit finds;
• Concept plan for 1,700 home Stittsville/Ottawa subdivision gains municipal approval;
• Ottawa mayor announces ‘most ambitious housing plan to cut red tape, speed up approvals;
• Supreme Court ends Ottawa’s legal fight over Kanata golf course, but community vows to continue battle;
• Ottawa municipal committee sets mortgage refinancing for $133 million community housing capital repairs;
• Ottawa municipal committee approves plan for $260 million St. Laurent Blvd. revitalization; and
• Kingston planning major Williamsville Street renewal in 2026.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

The Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association (GOHBA) has announced the return of its annual RenoTour Parade of Homes for 2025. The Oct. 19 event (10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.), which showcases the work of Ottawa’s top renovators and custom home builders, offers a unique opportunity for the public to tour exceptional home renovation projects and custom-built residences.

The tour is designed to connect homeowners with trusted professionals in the renovation industry. According to GOHBA, the event provides a platform for renovators to “turn their next project into their best marketing tool.”

“The RenoTour gives prospective clients the rare chance to walk through completed renovations in person,” GOHBA said in a statement on its website. “It’s an unmatched way to highlight quality, creativity, and attention to detail.”

Participating renovators and custom builders will have their work featured across a variety of media outlets, including Ottawa Renovates Magazine, All Things Home, and potentially the Ottawa Citizen. The event also includes a significant digital and social media campaign, with promotional materials shared across GOHBA’s platforms.

“We want to amplify the brands of our members,” the association stated. “Their company’s logo and work will be featured across print, digital, and event materials before, during, and after the tour.”

A premium visibility package is also available, offering a high-quality virtual tour of the project hosted on the GOHBA website for a minimum of one year. This provides “long-term exposure and a valuable sales tool” that can be repurposed by the builders.

The RenoTour is an initiative of GOHBA’s Renovators’ Council, which works to promote the RenoMark program, a code of conduct for renovator members. The tour aims to educate the public about the benefits of working with professional renovators.

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Ottawa Construction News staff writer

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe last Friday (Sept. 19) unveiled a sweeping Housing Action Plan aimed at overhauling city processes, which he described as the “most ambitious municipal housing plan in Canadian history.”

The plan introduces more than 50 distinct actions designed to make Ottawa the country’s most housing-friendly city by simplifying rules, lowering costs, and speeding up development approvals.

“Housing has become too expensive for too many,” Sutcliffe stated during a press conference. “With this plan, we’re moving from being part of the problem to being part of the solution. We are saying yes to housing.”

The move comes as the city grapples with a housing crisis that has seen the average resale home price jump by over 50 per cent and average rents rise by 30 per cent in the last six years, far outpacing income growth.

While City Council has approved over 60,000 new homes since the start of its term, Sutcliffe acknowledged that high interest rates, rising construction costs, and significant procedural roadblocks at City Hall have delayed many projects.

The mayor pointed directly to internal city issues, referencing a recent Auditor General’s report that found “bottlenecks and inconsistent expectations across City departments” have increased development review timelines.

“We have to own our part of the problem,” Sutcliffe said. He described frustrations from homebuilders who face multiple rounds of comments, are asked for information too early in the process, and get stuck due to disagreements between city departments.

“When months and months are added to the process, that increases costs substantially,” he said.

The plan’s five pillars

The Housing Action Plan is built on recommendations from the Housing Innovation Task Force, which Sutcliffe established earlier this year. The task force concluded that building homes in Ottawa has become “too slow, too expensive, and too complicated.”

The new plan is structured around five key themes:

1. Simplify and speed up approvals: This involves cutting red tape, ending unnecessary studies, and standardizing agreements to get shovel-ready projects moving faster
2. Build a pro-housing culture: The goal is to shift city staff from a process-oriented approach to a results-oriented one, giving them the authority to say “yes” to responsible development;
3. Lower costs and fees: The city will pause community benefit charges for five years, allow interest-free deferrals of development charges until later in the building process, and waive some fees for non-profit affordable housing projects;
4. Strengthen affordable housing development: This includes using public lands strategically and partnering with federal and provincial governments to scale up purpose-built affordable units. Sutcliffe noted he discussed this with the Prime Minister earlier in the month.
5. Unlock urban intensification: The plan will encourage more downtown residential development by improving the process for office-to-residential conversions and expanding permissions for “missing middle” housing, particularly near transit hubs.

Implementation and future steps

City Council is scheduled to vote on the plan’s recommendations on Oct. 8. If approved, 40 per cent of the actions will be implemented immediately. Another 40 per cent are slated for implementation within the current term of council, including a full review of the development approvals process and an examination of all municipal costs and fees.. The remaining recommendations will follow, which includes exploring the use of artificial intelligence to speed up the development process.

A major component of the strategy is the city’s new Zoning By-law, which will be considered by council in January. Sutcliffe touted it as the “most ambitious and pro-housing Zoning By-law in the City’s history.”  It will reduce the number of development standards in residential zones from 600 down to just 30, making it significantly easier and more permissive to build.

Despite the challenges, the city is already seeing progress. From 2022 to 2024, Ottawa recorded more than 28,000 housing starts, achieving 95 per cent of its target. Housing starts have increased more than 50 per cent this year compared to the same period in 2024, the highest growth rate among major Canadian cities.

“As long as I’m Mayor, I will keep fighting for more homes, for faster approvals, for less process and red tape, for stronger communities, and for more affordable housing,” Sutcliffe said.

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed the City of Ottawa’s application to appeal a lower court ruling, ending a multi-year legal battle and paving the way for the potential redevelopment of the Kanata Golf and Country Club. The decision was met with disappointment by community advocates who have vowed the fight is not over.

The country’s highest court, as is its custom, did not give reasons for its decision released last Thursday (Sept. 18). The ruling effectively upholds the Ontario Court of Appeal’s January 2025 decision, which found key parts of a 1981 agreement meant to preserve the area as a golf course were unenforceable. This concludes the litigation between the city and ClubLink Corporation ULC, the course owner that plans to build a 1,500-home community with partners Minto Communities and Richcraft Homes.

In a memo to city council, Interim City Solicitor Stuart Huxley confirmed the decision ends the legal challenge. However, he noted any future development would still be subject to approvals and must respect the city’s existing infrastructure on the lands. Huxley added that the city “is not prepared to alter any existing easements to permit the redevelopment to take place.”.

Community “Deeply disappointed”

The Kanata Greenspace Protection Coalition (KGPC), a local advocacy group, called the Supreme Court’s decision a disappointment.

“How can a municipality enter into a contract with any party to build, manage, or secure long-term assets or property if it can be violated at any time?” said KGPC Chair Barbara Ramsay in a media release. “It’s truly mind-boggling that the court won’t hear this case.”

Ramsay said that while the six-year legal fight to defend the original agreement has ended, “it is not the end of the road.”. The coalition will “continue to pursue every avenue” to stop the development.

The group argues the golf course is cherished greenspace that plays a crucial role in local stormwater management. Its development, the KGPC warns, could put the community at risk of “severe flooding” and pose a “serious public safety risk due to potential mercury contamination on the site.” The coalition thanked the City of Ottawa, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, and Kanata North Councillor Cathy Curry for their support.

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