Has anyone heard about Claridge's new phases to be built and completed by 2014? Apparently Phase III is going to be built where the National Bank is on Rideau St. and it will be even taller than Phase I and II! I would guess Phase IV would be where that Dworkin Furs building is. I'm trying to decide if this is good news or bad news for EM. They will definitely impact the views of any south-facing unit. Here is a sample rendering.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2442/3718516860_6555a01d41_o_d.jpg

Where did you hear about this Peter? I would be interested to look into it also.

Thanks.

I found this blur in a forum
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=140132&page=11

I guess we could go into the Claridge Plaza and ask them ourselves? A friend of mine gave me the information.

Apparently the sale of the land is not final (according to someone we spoke with in EM3 last night). When/if that goes through I would assume they would also need approval from the city to build more high-rise condo towers? I can't imagine the city would think it was a great idea to have 4 identical Claridge condo towers side by side on Rideau St.? The worst thing is that Claridge builds are usually cheap-looking and they don't really try to do anything interesting with their projects. I guess we should be happy we don't have something that looks like that condo at Lebreton Flats!

According to realtrack.com, Claridge bought 244 Rideau in Nov 2008.

244 Rideau Street was sold by JSM Corp (Ontario) Ltd. to Claridge Homes
(Plaza 3) Inc. for a consideration of $3,000,000 or $143/sf. It is
improved with a three-storey office building that was constructed in
approximately 1980. The building was reportedly only 33% occupied at the
time of sale.

The Claridge sales centre is telling everyone that Phase III/IV "sales" will begin next month, and that there will be two 30-level condo towers on this property. I went to city hall at lunch on Friday and found out that they haven't even applied for zoning on this property, so obviously this has to go through an approval process first. The guy said this is quite common, Claridge will gauge interest by telling everyone that they are ready to build, collect deposits, but include a contract that allows them to walk away with no penalty if they decide not to build (or it isn't approved). If anyone is concerned about this (south-facing should be!), we should watch for the proposal/approval process.

Looking at the drawings that have been posted at the link above, I find the proposed buildings have a much more slender and elegant proportions than the first two phases of the Claridge project, but I feel having four buildings of the same overall design in a row on Rideau would be too repetitive. Overall, it would probably be a net improvement for the neighborhood. If the project goes ahead at all, it will be interesting to see what height it ends up being. Often when builders are feeling the waters like this, they'll announce a height that's higher than they actualy expect to build. But who knows, since a lot of people are advocating for further intensification in Ottawa. The other good news it that it is not directly across from EM, but a block away.

I was in the Claridge sales centre yesterday, and the salesman told me Phases lll and lV are in the works, planned to be 24 stories high, phase lll planned to be completed in 2014.

This will block the south facing views of EM3. The only "good" news is, they are not both lined up on Rideau, but on Cumberland, so only Phase lll will be on Rideau, with Phase lV directly south of it. The Dworkin Furs building will not be touched by this project.

Hi everyone,

Here's the latest news we've been able to gather from various sources, about Claridge Plaza 3 and 4:

Their site plan application is currently working it's way through the City of Ottawa process. Here's the high level information:

• Their proposal is to build two 28 story residential buildings, both fronting on Cumberland between Rideau and Besserer
• The complex is proposed to have 450 residential units
• There are 348 parking spaces on 6.5 levels (deep basement means lots of blasting)
• Building entrances will be at corners (Rideau & Cumberland for Claridge 3, Besserer & Cumberland for Claridge 4)
• The existing National Bank building is slated for demolition. The Dworkin Furs building is unaffected.
• Documents related to the application can be seen on the City of Ottawa website here: http://app01.ottawa.ca/postingplans/appDetails.jsf?lang=en&appId=__7TWGOM

 

Other information gleaned from their sales representatives and others:

• Ground floor podium to include 7,925 sq ft of retail space.
• Amenities for residents to include pool, saunas, fitness facilities, private lounge and 3100 sq ft outdoor terrace
• Claridge 3, on the Rideau / Cumberland half of the site, plus the ground floor podium, is slated to be built first
• Claridge 3 is slated for occupancy in 2012 (but I'll be surprised if it happens that soon)
• Claridge 4 is slated for occupancy in 2016
• Residential units range from 440 square foot studios to 1415 square foot 2 bedroom + den penthouse
• Finishes are quite conservative, similar to Claridge 1 and 2.
• Residential unit prices are in the ballpark of $400/sq ft.
• Unit prices go up $1000 per floor, with additional premium for two penthouse levels, and other levels with terraces
• Parking spots are $30k each, available with any unit except all studios and certain 1 bedroom units below 10th floor
• There is parking access off both Cumberland and Besserer. It appears the final plan is for primary access to be off Besserer, with Cumberland access ultimately serving as loading bay only. However, when Claridge 3 is complete, but before Claridge 4 is complete, the Cumberland entrance would serve as main parking access

 

Note that at this early stage, all this information is subject to change. The site plan application with the City of Ottawa is currently listed as on-hold, which often means the developer is making some amendments, though not necessarily substantial ones.

 

They also now have a sales website for the Claridge 3, located here: http://claridgehomes.com/s/ottawa/condos/plaza3/

Lastly, here's an up-to-date picture of what they're proposing to build. This is a view from the Cumberland street side - ie the positioning of the two new towers is rotated 90 degrees from Claridge 1 and 2:

My overall impression: Very similar to Claridge 1 and 2, but more slender ( due to rectangular vs L-shaped footprint) and with the nice addition of more glass (although their website is showing floor-to-ceiling windows in the interior views of the "Jetter" model, we all know this may not be what's actually built).

All in all, it looks like the differences from phases 1 and 2 will be very minor if these are built as they're proposing.

"My overall impression: Very similar to Claridge 1 and 2, but more slender and with the nice addition of more glass." Illustrations are a kind of fiction. If this is what's going up, it will look exactly like towers I and II. I think it is a shame if the city allows two more identical towers to be built. It's not as if they are architectural jewels.

Yes, if built as proposed, they're definitely going to look very similar to the Claridge Plaza 1 and 2 buildings.

@jayant I agree. It is scandalous that one developer is able to get away with monopolizing so much prime real estate with monotonous buildings that don't add any diversity to a burgeoning neighbourhood that has yet to define its identity. If the "East Market" turns into Claridge-ville, it will be a detriment to this neighbourhood and its future growth as a unique and interesting place to live.

Word is that Claridge also purchased the Metro property on Rideau/Cumberland/George for a condo development. Does anyone know more about that?

Where did you hear that they purchased the Metro properly?

Brian: Don't hold your breath on getting more glass or for Phase III/IV being more slender. Phase I/II drawings looked much better on paper than reality as well. I'll bet they will look almost identical. Why the city would let them put up four condo designs like that is beyond me, to be blunt they're ugly. As a comparison, imagine Claridge Plaza Phase I and the Mondrian switching places. What a difference that would make. I actually read an article on canoe.ca last week on the best condo designs in Canada, and The Mondrian made the cut. Can't seem to find it now.

I was talking to someone from Urban Capital and they told me that Claridge is building a Phase5&6. This will take up the Fur place all the way to the Quality Inn. Again why is the city letter them do this crap ... I dunno. Welcome to Ottawa.

Perhaps if they have success with their Tribeca project, some of that will rub off into Phases 5 and 6. Wow, I feel for the Richcraft Galleria condos that face Besserer.

True, Richcraft Galleria will not be happy. I wonder if the Metro rumour and the Phase 5/6 on Dworkin Furs space is true though? If you believe everything you hear they are building on every lot in the market ;)

I feel for me facing those ugly buildings!!! It will block the sun and view for everyone facing south. I am also surprise the city is letting them tear down the fur place. Here's a model of Phase3&4

http://ottawacondos.blogspot.com/2009/11/update-claridge-plaza-3-now-on-sale.html

I heard the Metro rumor from 2 different realtors. One was representing a bank in a sale, and the other came from a wholly separate realtor. I agree with Peter above. Phase 3 and 4 are going to be just as ugly as 1&2. Those pictures are designed to sell unbuilt buildings.