Ottawa City Council has given the go-ahead for a private developer to proceed with ambitious plans to redevelop a low-income neighbourhood in the city’s south end.

The Heron Gate development proposed by developer Hazelview Investments calls for a community of more than 6,400 residential units that will include more than 500 units of affordable housing for a period of 15 years.

To proceed with the development, Hazelview required an amendment to Ottawa’s Official Plan. The vote passed by an 18-to-6 vote on September 8.

The approved amendment includes constructing multiple residential townhouses and apartment buildings ranging in heights of two to 25 storeys over the 21-hectare site during the next 20-25 years. When complete the area will be comprised of 1,305 existing units and 5,122 new residential units. The proposal also includes the development of a new municipal park, three privately owned parks, internal roads, pathways and linkages. 

Hazelview says the Heron Gate redevelopment will become Canada's first community to be modeled after the Conference Board of Canada's Community Wellbeing Framework.

"We would like to thank community members, Heron Gate residents, city staff, City Council, and other stakeholders who have helped us reach this major milestone together," said Michael Williams, Hazelview’s executive director real estate development. "We take this approval and our commitments to the Heron Gate community seriously and we will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure that we can keep this redevelopment moving forward."  

Part of the deal to get the development underway saw the developer sign a memorandum of understanding with the City of Ottawa, which includes a social framework that includes promises not to demolish occupied housing units, and to include a diverse mix of housing in the neighbourhood. Other elements speak to affordable housing, social enterprise and green space.

Hazelview says has already begun planning on how to implement many of these commitments. It is also working with the City of Ottawa and community members to finalize designs and begin construction for the first phase of development next year.

The developer has already invested more than $175 million in the Heron Gate community since taking over the property in 2012.

Featured image: Rendering of Hazelview Investments' proposed Heron Gate development. (Hazelview Investments)