Make Downtown Ottawa More Desirable

Identify and prioritize disposition of federal, provincial and municipal lands for affordable/supportive housing including leveraging proposals in the upcoming NCC Core Area Plan for housing development.

Identify alternative funding sources that would allow for flexibility on residential development charges to incentivize high-density residential development and purpose-built rental.

Pursue greater residential densities in parts of Downtown by reviewing development height restrictions.

Review population growth targets and milestones over the life of the Action Agenda.

Revise the Federal Disposal Policy to accelerate the release of assets in Downtown Ottawa.

Develop a federal incentives strategy to support office-to-residential conversions by piloting a candidate conversion project.

Identify models for adaptive re-use opportunities for federal buildings suitable for non-office uses such as new amenities, neighbourhood services, and destination uses.

Identify gaps in neighbourhood services and amenities using the City’s 15-min Neighbourhoods Baseline Study and the City’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan for the Centretown, ByWard Market and Lowertown neighbourhoods.

Allow flexibility of ground-floor space use in development and redevelopment proposals to support opportunities for commercial, retail, and neighbourhood services.

Revise the Zoning By-law to maximize flexibility for residential, institutional, commercial, light industrial, cultural and recreational/amenity uses throughout Downtown.

Leverage opportunities to create additional recreational opportunities on federal land and enhance public access and connectivity to Ottawa and Gatineau waterways.

Identify investment opportunities for destination-focused amenities in the Downtown core.