Ottawa ‑ A report to be considered by the Finance and Economic Development Committee on December 3 and by City Council on December 11 recommends establishment of a new non-profit corporation to oversee the development and operation of an Innovation Centre at Bayview Yards and a roadmap that would see the first phase open as early as 2016.
Much like the Communitech Hub in Waterloo, or the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, Ottawa’s new Innovation Centre would provide a focal point for the entrepreneurship community in our city. If approved by Committee and Council, a board of directors for the new non-profit corporation will be selected and staff will proceed with preparing a lease agreement for the building and associated City-owned 0.8-hectare parcel of land at 7 Bayview Road.
Located at the intersection of the O-Train line and the future Confederation Line, the facility would become the new home for Invest Ottawa and include an expanded business incubation and acceleration centre, and other non-profit and government entrepreneurial support agencies, anchor tenants, and private service firms. The staff recommendations come after extensive consultations with stakeholders, experts and business leaders in Ottawa and internationally.
“As we build our city’s new economic engine, Ottawa needs a dynamic, world-class facility like this to foster innovation and support private sector job growth,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “This is a site that has tremendous potential for smart growth, especially as we expand our transit system in the coming years.”
The proposed Innovation Centre will be implemented through a cooperative effort between the City of Ottawa, the Province of Ontario, and the private sector. The City has committed to match the Province’s $15-million contribution with the use of the land and building associated with 7 Bayview Road, in-kind contributions of staff resources, waived municipal fees and development charges and funds to help support any temporary operating shortfalls through the startup phase.
“The Government of Ontario is proud to support this important economic development initiative through a $15-million investment,” said Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre. “This project will rejuvenate the Bayview Yards in our community, and will be a hub to support job creation in Ottawa and throughout Eastern Ontario.”
The Bayview Station District Community Design Plan, which was approved by Council on May 22, 2013, includes recognition of the City-owned building at 7 Bayview Yards as a heritage building. The 45,000-sq.-ft. facility is near a central transit node, within 800 metres of the planned Bayview LRT Station, at the intersection of the East-West Confederation Line and the North-South O-Train. Excellent transit access at this site places the proposed Innovation Centre within easy reach of Algonquin College, the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, Blair Station with connections to La Cité Collégiale, the ByWard Market, and the downtown core.
“This facility will be a great new amenity for the Mechanicsville community as it grows and as the Bayview Yards redevelops for the 21st century,” said Kitchissippi Ward Councillor Katherine Hobbs. “Setting a clear roadmap for this site is important as we continue to build an incredible new neighbourhood at Bayview Yards through its Community Design Plan.”
If the report’s recommendations are approved, a non-profit corporation would be formed with a board of directors that includes representation of City interests. The corporation would commission a detailed business and design plan that would require the approval of Committee and Council, followed by negotiation of a lease agreement and funding agreement.
The first phase of the proposal, renovation of the 7 Bayview Road building and adding 5,000 square feet to the 45,000-sq.-ft. structure, would commence in 2014. Occupancy of the first phase would be anticipated for the middle of 2016. The second phase, construction of an office building attached to Phase 1 up to a maximum of 180,000 sq. ft. in partnership between the non-profit corporation and private sector developers, would be planned in 2014 with construction commencing once a private sector development partner is found and anchor tenants commit to lease.
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