Minto Barrhaven proposal
The Ottawa suburb of Barrhaven has been growing quickly and steadily for the past several years, most noticeably since 2007, when the population was around 52,000. The city’s current population has swelled to around 131,000 and stands to increase by another 50,000 in the next ten years.
Now that the 4,000-plus RCMP employees will begin to settle in their new Barrhaven headquarters, the city is poised to benefit in many sectors including real estate, retail and food and beverage.
Current and potential residents of Barrhaven should brace themselves for a complete overhaul of city due to the rapid growth that is currently being masterminded on blueprints and in meeting rooms of city developers and officials.
The Minto Group is in the proposal stage of creating a downtown area for Barrhaven. The urban plan aims to develop a 12.6 hectare stretch of land near Riocan Drive for a dynamic and metropolitan-esque mixed-use project. The project will include, among other components, two parks, 15 four-storey blocks of stacked townhouses, 15 four-storey blocks of back-to-back townhouses, and a 12-storey apartment building comprising of 125 units.
The idea is for the 1,220 housing units was presented to the Barrhaven Business Improvement Area (BBIA) on September 11, with a proposed start date of June 2010. High hopes are pegged on the development, with current city retailers, food and beverage outlets and real estate companies on board for the expansion. The new retail spots that will be available are also a hot topic amongst business owners.
Andrea Steenbakkers, executive director of the BBIA said that local businesses “will appreciate the opportunity to buy their own space,” adding, “[the project] is going to have a real urban feel, people will be able to step out of their house into the street… like a marketplace.”
If you are looking to find out more information on this project or are searching for a new home, contact Chris Coveny at OttawaMove.com