“Wall of condos” being built with city subsidies
By Allen Brown
The feature story in the February 2024 edition of the Echo focused on city council’s approval of a new addition to the Andaz Hotel and an adjacent 22-storey residential rental building by Claridge Homes at 141 George Street. The article pointed out that the developer didn’t implement recommendations by the Ontario Municipal Board to address the project’s overwhelming “wall effect” along Dalhousie Street. In addition, calls by the Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) to reduce the massing of the tower and to step down its north end so as not to form a continuous high wall in the heart of Market were not adopted.
Construction is now underway. When completed, Dalhousie between George and York Streets will be overshadowed by a building almost four times the size of the Andaz Hotel and five stories taller.
The George Street project is one of five for which Claridge will receive about $35 million in property tax breaks from the city. In what Kanata North city councillor, Cathy Curry, called “the deal of the century” for developers, the city will reimburse Claridge with a portion of its property tax increase from the new buildings. In return, Claridge will set aside a percentage of the units to rent at below-market rates for a period of 20 years.
Photos above: Two views of the Andaz Hotel and the new residential project being built at 141 George Street. Not shown is the new addition to the Andaz Hotel now being built, which will continue the “condo wall” all the way to York Street. Renderings by Claridge Homes and Fotenn Planning + Design.
