OTTAWA — Ottawa City Councillor Shawn Menard has reiterated his concerns over the proposed new Ottawa Civic Hospital campus near Dow’s Lake in the city and is rallying his constituents to make their voices heard.
The $2.8-billion DBFM project is in the second phase of a five-phase approvals process with selection of the preferred proponent expected to be completed next year. Construction is targeted to start in 2024 with a grand opening in 2028.
Menard’s latest newsletter, released Aug. 27, noted the proposal was originally set to go before the city’s planning committee in September but the schedule has been changed, with it now expected to be reviewed by the committee in October.
The proposal must also be approved by the National Capital Commission. The NCC is expected to review the plan in October, Menard said.
Menard previously stated, “It is clear that there is a desire to create a modern and forward-looking health care institution. However, it is also clear that insufficient consideration has been given to development from a city-building perspective, and that the needs of residents of this city have not been fully weighed and balanced against the inclinations of the hospital developers.”
Menard’s three primary concerns are: the destruction of important greenspace, the building of a four-storey parking garage above ground instead of below “as originally promised,” and an inadequate transportation plan.
“The city should not rubber-stamp this development at this location until the hospital provides a modern, thoughtful design proposal that eschews last-century thinking,” said Menard.
A hospital statement said that over the course of construction, the project will create an estimated 20,000 jobs.
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