Planning Committee

WHEREAS the Neighbourhood Revitalization and Redevelopment Program aims to improve the health, vibrancy and livability of low income neighbourhoods, AND WHEREAS the program will identify one neighbourhood to pilot this program based on specific criteria which should include opportunities for public/private partnerships, redevelopment of vacant lands and the potential to increase land values through zoning, AND WHEREAS the Albion-Heatherington community is a neighbourhood with considerable social pressures including a significantly higher number of social housing units, lower than average incomes, a population density that is almost double the city average, a higher than city average for single parent homes, a higher rate of recent immigrants, and a higher overall % of immigrants living in the community, AND WHEREAS the city currently owns a vacant 8 acre parcel of land in the community known as 1770 Heatherington Road, which would be an ideal initial site for redevelopment to support the program goals, AND WHEREAS Hydro Ottawa, a major land holder in the area, currently has an interest to divest a portion of their land and is willing to consider partnering in this project if Albion-Heatherington is the site selected, AND WHEREAS Council recently adopted an Amendment to the Official Plan which includes the re-designation of Walkley Road (from Heron Road to Bank St) as an Arterial Mainstreet, which would allow for increased density and land values to attract private partners, A