1.8 Lowertown

1.8.1 Vision

Residential Predominance

It is envisioned that Lowertown will evolve, over time, into an attractive pedestrian-oriented predominantly residential urban village neighbourhood, with a significant heritage component.

With housing remaining as the predominant use, the Lowertown will feature a mix of uses within heritage and sensitively designed newer buildings, which respect the character and scale of nearby heritage buildings. Under utilized and vacant sites will infill, consolidating and revitalizing the neighbourhood. This trend to intensification will also include much needed community-serving uses which will support housing and help to create a sense of neighbourhood for the area. With its pedestrian orientation, residents of Lowertown will support, and enjoy convenient access to the shopping, entertainment and employment opportunities offered by the nearby ByWard Market, Rideau/Congress Centre and Rideau Street areas.

The Scale

The scale of development in the northern part of the Lowertown will be predominantly low profile, respecting individual heritage buildings and the scale and texture of traditional lot development patterns in the area. Some attractive medium to higher profile buildings will develop within the southern part of the Lowertown, between the south side of York Street and Rideau Street, and along its eastern edge. This will create a transition to the high profile commercial node envisioned at the east end of Rideau Street, and an edge along King Edward Avenue, which will frame this future gateway and Lowertown.

Mixed Uses

Predominantly residential uses will be provided within Lowertown, including the residential-only enclave along Clarence Street, while a compatible mix of residential, commercial and street-level retail uses will evolve in the areas to the south and east, and along arterial roads. More vibrant activity, such as popular entertainment uses and restaurants, will be focused at street-level in the southerly area, providing a sense of vitality and an area of transition to similar uses in the ByWard Market and Rideau Street areas.

A limited number of neighbourhood commercial uses will exist at grade on Cumberland, Murray and St. Patrick Streets, mainly in heritage buildings, offering a mix of quiet pedestrian-oriented uses serving primarily local needs and providing opportunities for neighbours to meet. Uses which have a wider community focus, such as a grocery store, will be oriented mainly south of York Street on Cumberland.

York Street

York Street will serve as an important pedestrian promenade and entrance way to the ByWard Market, with distinctive streetscaping in keeping with its historic context. This attractive streetscape will particularly be oriented to the needs of the Lowertown as it passes through the neighbourhood, with area residents taking full advantage of casual seating and landscaped areas.

Support Facilities Community Amenities

Lowertown will continue to serve as a model of community support and integration. A relatively high level of social service facilities and housing which serve the needs of small households will be maintained and protected. However, facilities and amenities will also be established which serve the needs of, and promote interaction among the entire community. For example, small green landscaped open spaces and gathering places, like courtyards and pocket parks, will provide community meeting places for casual interaction and organized events.

Street Environment

The area's harsh street environment will soften through abundant tree planting and streetscape improvements which respect heritage resources in the area, stemming from a growing sense of neighbourhood identity and pride, and a conscious effort to preserve and enhance the urban forest. Secure, inviting, pedestrian corridors will result, creating a sense of cohesiveness with neighbouring areas. In particular, efforts will focus on improving pedestrian safety and access across King Edward Avenue, thus reuniting the Lowertown community, along with significant enhancement of the street and reforestation along the boulevard. In addition, the Waller Street mall pedestrian link to Rideau Street will be animated and connected to pedestrian corridors in Lowertown. Striking public views, such as those of St. Brigid's Church and the Parliament Buildings, will be maintained and enhanced.

Traffic Calming

The livability of the area will be enhanced through traffic calming measures which discourage inappropriate traffic movement within the predominantly residential part of the neighbourhood, thus reducing carbon emissions, and promoting an enjoyable pedestrian and cycling environment.

A concerted effort will also be made to ensure adequate safety and security in the area, particularly in the public environment.

Integrated Developments

Along suitable edges of the area, a limited number of sensitively integrated mixed-use developments with short-term parking facilities may develop which also support adjacent areas while traffic impacts are controlled.

As exciting redevelopment and environmental improvements are introduced, and a social framework established, Lowertown will come to be regarded as an ultimate neighbourhood for a variety of residents.

1.8.2 Objectives

Predominantly Residential Neighbourhood

    1. To encourage the evolution of the Lowertown as designated on Schedule B - Central Areas Character Areas and Theme Streets, as a distinct, predominantly residential, pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood, which contributes to the vitality of the Central Area.

Protect Heritage

    1. To protect and enhance the heritage character and features of the area and ensure sensitive new development.

Improve Livability

    1. To improve the livability of the Lowertown and permit the provision of social services in the area.

1.8.3 Policies

Residential Emphasis

    1. City Council shall permit predominantly residential uses within Lowertown, as well as limited commercial uses while having regard to the following criteria:
      1. residential only along Clarence Street with the exception of mixed-use development at 138-140 Clarence Street;]
      2. limited pedestrian-oriented neighbourhood commercial uses at-grade on Cumberland, Murray, and St. Patrick Streets, especially in heritage buildings which serve primarily local needs and do not attract large volumes of vehicular traffic, such as confectioneries, personal and business services and small stores;
      3. predominantly residential mixed use development on the eastern edge of Lowertown;
      4. mix of uses in the southern part of Lowertown, featuring residential uses, and more vibrant commercial uses at grade, such as retail, restaurant and entertainment uses, which provide an appropriate transition to similar uses in the ByWard Market and Rideau Street areas; and
      5. public and institutional uses, especially in heritage buildings, which serve neighbourhood needs, and where appropriate, wider needs.

Heritage Conservation and Enhancement

    1. City Council shall protect and enhance the heritage resources, character and features of Lowertown, and shall ensure sensitive development which respects the character and scale of nearby heritage buildings.

Profile of Development

    1. City Council shall permit infill development, in accordance with the following building profile criteria:
      1. predominantly low profile development within the northern part of Lowertown, which respects its heritage scale and character in accordance with Policy b) above; and
      2. medium, and where appropriate, limited high profile development in the eastern and southern parts of Lowertown, which creates an edge along King Edward Avenue and complements the high profile node in the vicinity of King Edward Avenue and Rideau Street.

Residential Design Criteria

    1. City Council shall take into account the design criteria identified in Ottawa Official Plan Section 2.5.1 and 3.6.6, and in particular as reflected below, when reviewing proposals for residential development within the Lowertown:
      1. treatment of the lower floors of high to medium profile buildings to create visual interest;
      2. setting back the upper storeys of high to medium profile buildings to create a human scale and minimize overpowering and overshadowing effects;
      3. where appropriate, providing a transition from lower profile to higher profile buildings, and vice versa;
      4. the creation of an identifiable entrance and a strong transition from the public right-of-way;
      5. minimizing sun, shadowing, and undesirable wind conditions at-grade;
      6. the provision of usable private and common outdoor landscaped amenity areas;
      7. the provision of adequate privacy and sunlight for residential units; and
      8. the provision of a tree planting corridor/area.

Heritage Sensitivity

    1. City Council shall ensure that regardless of profile, residential development respects, and is sensitive to nearby heritage buildings and maintains a sense of human scale.

Livability

    1. City Council shall ensure that the livability of Lowertown is improved by enhancing the pedestrian environment and/or through the provision of community-serving uses, through such measures as the following:
      1. Pedestrian Environment - identifying and enhancing pedestrian corridors and links with appropriate streetscaping treatment, including tree planting corridors and elements which complement the architectural context of abutting properties, particularly heritage sites;
      2. Animate Waller Street Mall - animating and enhancing the Waller Street mall pedestrian link and connecting it with pedestrian corridors in Lowertown;
      3. Community Uses - providing community and leisure facilities and open spaces such as social activity centres, sports facilities, rooftop terraces, and green pocket parks linked to pedestrian corridors; and
      4. Social Services - providing social services such as emergency shelters and drop-in centres.

Gateways and Distinctive Streets

    1. City Council shall ensure the revitalization and enhancement of gateways and distinctive streets in Lowertown; in particular, Council shall ensure that:
      1. King Edward Avenue - King Edward Avenue is developed as a boulevard and major gateway into the Central Area, with prominent streetscaping, secure and visible pedestrian crossings and strong visual links to Ottawa City Hall; and
      2. York Street - York Street is enhanced as a distinctive street and entrance to, and promenade through, the ByWard Market, while ensuring that where it passes through Lowertown, it is oriented to the needs of the neighbourhood, such as through the provision of pedestrian amenity space in keeping with Policy m) ii. below. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]
    2. City Council shall treat Dalhousie Street as a mainstreet with local and destination retail, services, restaurants and boutiques.

Parking

    1. City Council may permit, within mixed use development along suitable edges of the Village, sensitively integrated short-term public parking facilities which may also serve adjacent areas. Council shall ensure that traffic generated by such parking does not exceed the capacity of connecting roadways, and shall minimize potential vehicular impacts on nearby residential uses.

Traffic Calming

    1. City Council shall investigate the potential use of traffic calming methods in the Lowertown, particularly in the central part of the area, in order to improve the livability of the neighbourhood, in support of Policy f) above.

Views

    1. City Council shall protect and enhance significant public views. In particular, Council shall ensure that the York Street view corridor, and views of St. Brigid's Church and Parliament Hill are maintained. City council shall protect the views of the Parliament Buildings from two locations at Beechwood Cemetery, as identified in Annex 12 in Volume 1 of this plan. [Amendment 69, November 26, 2008]

Safety and Security

    1. City Council shall ensure the review of all development proposals and public improvements within the Lowertown to take into account appropriate safety and public security considerations, including adequate street lighting.

Targeted Strategies

    1. City Council shall consider undertaking the following targeted strategies (see Annex 10) to implement the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy:
      1. Eastern Market Re-Urbanization Area - an area plan for the Eastern Market Area (bounded by Dalhousie, St Patrick, King Edward and Rideau), to provide design guidance for future development and investment in the public realm, including streetscape improvements along Cumberland Street and a re-image of York and George Streets;
      2. Re-image York and George Streets - as part of the Eastern Market area plan, a York and George Streets streetscaping plan to help create a unique street-related open space image that emphasizes their key role in the re-urbanization of the Eastern Market area;
      3. Dalhousie as a Mainstreet - as part of the Eastern Market area plan, reinforcement of Dalhousie Street as a mainstreet, with: all new development fronting onto the street and maintaining the existing low-profile building scale; the removal of surface parking lots; and streetscape enhancements, including soft landscaping. [Amendment 24, May 25, 2005]
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