OTTAWA, March 31, 2022 – Today, the City of Ottawa has posted a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) for the redevelopment of its prime property at 70 Clarence Street in the ByWard Market. The property currently houses six street-level retail stores and four levels of parking. The goal of the REOI is to generate inspiring redevelopment concepts, assess the timing of the initiative, and gauge the interest of potential partners in the project.
The ByWard Market is a major destination in Ottawa and a lively area containing one of the oldest public markets in Canada, a mix of land uses, nightlife, outdoor vendors, courtyards and quaint streetscapes, surrounded by a residential neighbourhood. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-envision and redevelop 70 Clarence Street into a destination to help reinforce the unique heritage character of the ByWard Market, potentially ignite a new phase of revitalization, and strengthen economic recovery efforts.
The 70 Clarence Street project is an initiative under the ByWard Market Public Realm Plan, which guides the evolution of the Market’s public spaces and provides a framework to coordinate investment opportunities. Ottawa City Council unanimously approved the plan in January 2021.
“The redevelopment of this central ByWard Market building is another opportunity to add a world-class destination in this great neighbourhood and make Ottawa an even greater city to visit and to live in.”
Mayor Jim Watson
Following the conclusion of the REOI process, City staff will present the findings to City Council and provide recommendations on next steps in the process. As this is the start of the project, there is no firm date for completion. Ideally, the City would like the redevelopment to be substantially completed for the ByWard Market’s 200th anniversary in 2027.
“Ottawa Tourism promotes the ByWard Market district as a must-see destination when visiting Ottawa and this redevelopment will make it an even stronger draw for visitors. We encourage proponents to think creatively about such a site and how it might offer versatile uses for the community, as well as leisure and business travellers, throughout the year,” said Michael Crockatt, President and CEO, Ottawa Tourism. “The opportunity presented here is an extremely rare chance to make a significant differentiating mark for Ottawa, to become an icon of our destination, and to take a place among Ottawa’s unique and defining destination attributes,” said Crockatt.
The REOI is now available through MERX (link is external) until May 10, 2022.
Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca
