Public Consultation on the Ottawa Hospital Site Review - Final Report. November 4, 2016.

 Comments

• Please do not break up the Central Experimental Farm. As the Nation's Capital we should have a "Central Park" and the Farm is the only land that is not yet developed.
• Don't touch the farm. Ottawa has the Central Experimental Farm, which is an invaluable green and agricultural space located inside the urban core. It is unique. What other urban centre wouldn't wish to have such a treasure?
• The Experimental Farm research benefits all Canadians, both farmers and consumers. The hospital should not be built on the Farm.
• The hospital should not be built on the land of the Central Experimental Farm. It is very valuable land used for research that has served the local and distant farming communities for over 150 years and developed some of the most important crops for Canada.
• Placing the new facility on the Central Experimental Farm site is not acceptable. It will destroy important research facilities and greenspace.  (From: page 31/53).

Disadvantages of the Sir John Carling site

• Irreversible impact on the experimental fields and shelterbelts, views and cultural landscape elements identified as having national significance as part of the Central Experimental Farm National Historic Site.
• Impact on cultural heritage due to intrusion into boundary of CEFNHS, proximity to Rideau Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site, and presence of heritage buildings. (The buildings that are slated for demolition are the Dominion Observatory, South Azimuth and surrounding astrophysical landmarks, the vacant William Saunders building and the K.W. Neatby and Oilseed Research Buildings.) The Ontario government saved the Booth Barn during the 1990's.
• Site topography and configuration could create design challenges. (From: NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, November 2016, pages 30 and 31/256.)

Site 11: Carling Avenue (east)

Site 11 centres on the former site of the Sir John Carling Building towards the northeastern edge of the Central Experimental Farm. However, its boundaries were modified to exclude existing buildings including the Dominion Observatory, creating an irregularly shaped parcel.

Savecfbrockcliffe - the Dominion Observatory and South Azimuth will be demolished:

1.) The hospital does not want irregularly shaped parcels of land.

 2.) "On this site we have at least 24 buildings including Buildings 1 to 9, the Natural Resources Campus including the Dominion Observatory. Extensive demolition or relocation of buildings is required for the new build to proceed."

3.)  Maple Drive is being restricted to emergency vehicles, there will be at least 100 emergency vehicle trips a day. The Natural Resources campus is clustered around Maple Drive.

4.) The South Azimuth is being removed because it will interfere with the widening of Maple Drive.

5.)  The NCC and Public Services and Procurement Canada have the power to remove the designations National Interest Land Mass, National Historic Site of Canada, Classified Federal Heritage Building and Recognized Federal Heritage Building.

6.)  The Dominion Observatory is part of the Parliamentary Precinct; properties on or near the Precinct cannot be any taller than the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. As I said before, an Ottawa City Councillor predicted 20 years ago that "Carling Avenue will be a wall of condos." 

• Land Area: 20 hectares/50 acres
• Owner: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada, National Capital Commission
• National Interest Land Mass Status: Yes
• Existing Land Use: Federal Facilities/Employment, Informal Greenspace, Parking
• Long term planned use: Federal Facilities/Employment, Greenspace. (From: NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, November 2016, page 27/256.)