Report to/Rapport au :

Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee

Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique

15 October 2007 / le 15 octobre 2007

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers,

Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe,

Planning, Transit and the Environment/Urbanisme, Transport en commun et Environnement

Contact Person/Personne ressource : Michael Murr, Manager/Gestionnaire,

Strategic Initiative and Business Planning/Initiative stratégique et planification opérationnelle

(613) 580-2424 x 25195, Michael.Murr@ottawa.ca

College / Collège (8)

Ref N°: ACS2007-PTE-DCM-0003

SUBJECT:	CITY OF OTTAWA SUPPORT FOR THE ALGONQUIN PROJECT CONCEPT FOR THE CENTRE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION TRADE AND BUILDING SCIENCES AND THE HEALTH SCIENCES EDUCATIONAL FACILITY

OBJET :	APPUI DE LA VILLE D'OTTAWA AU PROJET CONCEPTUEL DU COLLÈGE ALGONQUIN D'UN CENTRE DES MÉTIERS DU BÂTIMENT ET DES SCIENCES DE LA CONSTRUCTION ET D'UNE INSTALLATION D'ENSEIGNEMENT DES SCIENCES DE LA SANTÉ

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee recommend Council:

1. Support Algonquin College’s development concept for a Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and Health Sciences Education Facility (“the Algonquin Project”), as further described in this report, by instructing staff to prepare a letter to be sent to the federal and provincial governments under the Mayor’s signature indicating the City’s support for, and commitment to, the Algonquin Project and requesting that they provide their respective funding contributions set out in the report entitled: ”Algonquin College Strategic Academic Expansion, A Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and An Expanded Facility for Health Sciences Training” dated August 8, 2007;

2. Direct staff to include $5M (gross) in the 2008 Budget for the design and construction of a Pedestrian Bridge between Baseline Station and Algonquin College as a priority project, subject to further approval by Council of a satisfactory cost sharing formula that will address the design, construction and maintenance of the bridge in an Agreement between the City and the College;

3. Direct staff to hold in reserve and to ultimately make available for development as part of the Project for $1.00 each, two parcels of land abutting Baseline Station with a total area of approximately 1.62 hectares (4 acres) in the locations designated on the City’s Centrepointe Town Centre Concept Plan (attached to this report as Document 1) for potential college facilities, together with air rights over Baseline Station between these two parcels of land subject to further Council approval of an Agreement between the City and College prior to the land transfers that will address all relevant issues (e.g. site plan requirements, senior level government funding, environmental and transit objectives, etc.); and

4. Direct staff to work with Algonquin College to explore development opportunities for other academic/institutional uses within the Centrepointe Town Centre area as part of the Centrepointe Town Centre development planning process.

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des services organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil :

1. D’appuyer le concept d’aménagement (décrit dans le présent rapport) proposé par le Collège Algonquin pour un centre des métiers du bâtiment et des sciences de la construction ainsi qu’une installation d’enseignement des sciences de la santé (« le projet Algonquin ») en chargeant le personnel municipal de rédiger une lettre qui sera signée par le maire et envoyée aux gouvernements fédéral et provincial afin de confirmer l’appui de la Ville au projet Algonquin et son engagement envers celui‑ci et de demander que les ordres de gouvernement supérieurs fournissent leur part respective du financement indiquée dans le rapport en date du 8 août 2007 intitulé Algonquin College Strategic Academic Expansion, A Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and An Expanded Facility for Health Sciences Training (Agrandissement stratégique du Collège Algonquin : centre des métiers du bâtiment et des sciences de la construction, et expansion de l’installation d’enseignement des sciences de la santé);

2. De charger le personnel municipal d’inclure un montant (brut) de 5 millions de dollars dans le budget de 2008 pour la conception et la construction d’une passerelle pour piétons entre la station Baseline et le Collège Algonquin, à titre de projet prioritaire et sous réserve de l’approbation par le Conseil d’une entente satisfaisante de partage des coûts de conception, de construction et d’entretien de cette passerelle, entente qui lierait la Ville et le Collège;

3. De charger le personnel de réserver, en vue de les céder pour la somme de 1 $ chacune, deux parcelles de terrain d’une superficie totale d’environ 1,62 hectare (4 acres) destinées à la réalisation du projet, lesquelles sont attenantes à la station Baseline et localisées dans le plan conceptuel du centre d’activité de Centrepointe (le document 1 ci-annexé), aux fins d’éventuelles installations du Collège, ainsi que les droits de propriété du dessus de la station Baseline entre les deux parcelles, sous réserve de l’approbation préalable par le Conseil d’une entente conclue entre le Collège et la Ville pour définir toutes les modalités pertinentes, notamment les exigences relatives au plan d’implantation, le financement alloué par les ordres de gouvernement supérieur, les questions de nature environnementale, les objectifs en matière de transport en commun, etc.; et

4. De charger le personnel municipal, dans le cadre du processus de planification du centre d’activité de Centrepointe, de travailler avec le Collège Algonquin pour étudier des possibilités d’aménagement autres que scolaires ou institutionnelles à l’intérieur du secteur du centre d’activité de Centrepointe.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Assumptions and Analysis:

It is widely recognized that Canada's changing demographics - a falling birth rate, an aging population and a baby boom generation about to retire - will result in a critical shortage of skilled workers in key sectors of the economy in the coming years. Some of this need will be met by the certification and re-skilling of foreign-trained construction and health sector workers.

Algonquin College’s Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and the new Health Sciences Education Facility is a major new $104M initiative that will modernize the Construction Industry and Health Sciences education facilities at Algonquin’s Woodroffe Campus while increasing the overall capacity of the College by more than 2,600 student spaces over the next five years. These regional assets will significantly ameliorate the pent-up demands and critical need for skilled workers in the construction industry and health care and other strategic growth areas serving the Ottawa area and Eastern Ontario.

The building of a high profile educational facility in the Centerpointe Town Centre (CTC) that would also integrate a transit station would be a great catalyst and potentially provide additional opportunities for achieving the other development components set out in the CTC Concept Plan. The development mandate of the CTC is the creation of a “sense of place” by integrating commercial, residential, institutional, and office uses through intensification and innovation.

The Pedestrian Bridge across Woodroffe Avenue is critical to solving the safety/operational issues related to Algonquin students and others crossing one of the busiest arterials in the City. The bridge will not only address these concerns but also provide for greater opportunity to increase ridership to the College as well as link several neighbourhoods (Algonquin, Ryan Farm, City-view and College Square) to Baseline Station and the Centrepointe Town Centre. The provision of the bridge is an essential element for implementing the Algonquin Project. As well, the bridge will play a significant role in the implementation of the City’s and the College’s Transportation Demand Management Strategies for this area, and facilitate the development of the Centrepointe Town Centre as envisioned by the CTC Concept Plan in a manner consistent with the City’s Guidelines for Transit Oriented Development.

The City has recognized operational needs for transit and roadway improvements in the vicinity of Baseline Station such as the pedestrian bridge, the transit station reconfiguration, the Navaho Drive extension, and the Baseline/Constellation intersection improvements. These operational improvements are a prerequisite for development of the Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC). The opportunity to have the Algonquin Project act as a catalyst for the CTC project further reinforces the need and priority for the City to plan, budget for, and undertake these transit and road improvements at the earliest opportunity.

Financial Implications:

Upon approval of this report, a capital project for the construction of the pedestrian bridge will be included in the 2008 draft capital budget subject to Council’s approval.

The Long Range Financial Plan identifies $4M in the 2011/12 timeframe for the design and construction of the Pedestrian Bridge between Baseline Station and the College. Subject to Council approval of this report, the decision will impact on the prioritization of projects for scheduled early implementation.

Subject to the conditions being met by Algonquin College as outlined in the recommendations, the project also includes a transfer of two parcels of City land with a total area of approximately 1.62 hectares (4 acres) to the College. This represents an estimated opportunity revenue loss to the City of $3.2 million.

The Algonquin Project is dependent on a series of operational improvements such as the pedestrian bridge and transit station reconfiguration/relocation. These are also prerequisites for the development of the Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC). Development planning considerations, together with the results of due diligence work undertaken to date, indicate that there are significant planning, transit and servicing issues associated with the CTC project. The resolution of these issues is likely to have significant timing and/or financial implications for both the City and the Algonquin Project. City will need to address this need in future LRFP budget submissions.

Public Consultation/Input:

The City’s Economic Strategy and Human Services Plan (Talent Plan), and the City’s Corporate Plan that support such initiatives were developed in consultation with the community.

Algonquin College consulted a large number of stakeholders, institutions and organizations. The development of the Construction Trades and Building Sciences enjoys the strong support of the Construction Industry (Ottawa Construction Association, Ottawa Carleton Home Builders Association, Interior Decorators, BOMA Building Owners and Operators Association, Unionized Construction Workers Support), the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, The National Research Council, District School Boards, and Algonquin’s Foundation Board.

The Centrepointe Town Centre Concept Plan was developed as the result of a series of five public workshops held between February 2006 and June 2007.

The Office of the Deputy City Manager for Planning, Transit and the Environment worked closely with the City’s Real Property Asset Management on this report.

RÉSUMÉ

Hypothèses et analyse :

Il est généralement reconnu que les changements démographiques au Canada – dénatalité, vieillissement de la population, génération du baby-boom à la veille de la retraite – entraîneront un pénurie critique de travailleurs qualifiés dans des secteurs clés de l'économie au cours des prochaines années. Cette situation pourra être en partie corrigée par la reconnaissance professionnelle et le recyclage des travailleurs de la construction et de la santé formés à l'étranger.

Le centre des métiers du bâtiment et des sciences de la construction et la nouvelle installation d'enseignement des sciences de la santé constituent un projet majeur de 104 M$ qui permettra au Collège Algonquin de moderniser ses installations d'enseignement dans ces domaines sur son campus Woodroffe, tout en augmentant de 2 600 places sa capacité d'accueil totale au cours des cinq prochaines années. Ces immobilisations d'utilité régionale résorberont une part appréciable de la demande accumulée et du besoin critique de travailleurs qualifiés dans les secteurs de la construction et des soins de santé ainsi que dans d'autres secteurs stratégiques de croissance dans la région d'Ottawa et dans l'Est de l'Ontario.

La présence d'une installation d'enseignement de premier plan au sein du centre d'activité de Centerpointe (CAC), comprenant une station de transport en commun, constituerait un excellent catalyseur du plan conceptuel du CAC et pourrait créer des possibilités supplémentaires pour réaliser d'autres composantes d'aménagement qui y sont proposées. Le mandat d'aménagement du CAC prescrit une « caractérisation du lieu » en amalgamant des utilisations commerciales, résidentielles, institutionnelles et administratives par la densification et l'innovation.

Une passerelle pour piétons enjambant l'avenue Woodroffe résoudra les problèmes opérationnels et sécuritaires critiques qui tiennent au nombre de personnes – étudiants d'Algonquin et autres – qui ont à traverser cette artère, l'une des plus achalandées de la ville. De plus, la passerelle améliorera les possibilités d'accroître le recours au transport en commun pour aller au Collège et créera un lien entre plusieurs quartiers (Algonquin, Ryan Farm, City-View et College Square), d'une part, et la station Baseline et le CAC, d'autre part. La passerelle est un élément essentiel de la mise en œuvre du projet Algonquin et, de plus, contribuera sensiblement à la mise en application des stratégies de gestion de la demande en transport de la Ville et du Collège pour ce secteur et facilitera le développement du CAC, tel qu'envisagé dans son plan conceptuel, d'une manière qui satisfait aux Lignes directrices sur l'aménagement axé sur le transport en commun adoptées par la Ville.

La Ville est consciente des divers besoins opérationnels liés au transport en commun et au réseau routier dans le voisinage de la station Baseline – construction de la passerelle pour piétons, reconfiguration de la station de transport en commun, prolongement de la promenade Navaho, améliorations à apporter à l'intersection Baseline-Constellation – auquel il faudra répondre en tant que condition préalable au développement du CAC. Le projet Algonquin agissant opportunément comme catalyseur du projet du CAC, le besoin et la priorité de planifier, de budgétiser et d'entreprendre ces travaux d'amélioration du transport en commun et du réseau routier le plus tôt possible s'imposent avec plus d'acuité à la Ville.

Répercussions financières

Advenant l'approbation du présent rapport, le projet de construction de la passerelle pour piétons sera inclus dans les prévisions préliminaires du budget des immobilisations de 2008 qui sera soumis à l'approbation du Conseil.

Le Plan financier à long terme prévoit une dépense de 4 M$ dans la période 2011-2012 pour la conception et la construction de la passerelle pour piétons entre la station Baseline et le Collège. L'approbation éventuelle du présent rapport par le Conseil influera sur la priorité accordée aux projets en vue d'une réalisation hâtive.

Dans le cas où le Collège Algonquin satisfait aux conditions exposées dans les recommandations ci-dessus, la projet comprend également la cession au Collège de deux parcelles de terrain appartenant à la Ville, d'une superficie totale d'environ 1,62 hectare (4 acres). Selon les estimations, cette cession représente une perte d'opportunité de revenu de 3,2 M$ pour la Ville.

Le projet Algonquin dépend d'une série d'améliorations opérationnelles, comme la construction de la passerelle et la reconfiguration ou le déplacement de la station de transport en commun, qui sont aussi des conditions préalables au développement du CAC. Les facteurs examinés dans la planification de l'aménagement, de même que les résultats des travaux de contrôle préalable effectués jusqu'à présent, indiquent que le projet du CAC comporte d'importants problèmes d'urbanisme, de transport en commun et de viabilisation. La résolution de ces problèmes aura vraisemblablement des répercussions temporelles ou financières considérables tant pour la Ville que pour le projet Algonquin. La Ville devra y répondre dans ses soumissions budgétaires dans le cadre du Plan financier à long terme.

Consultation publique / commentaires

La Stratégie économique d'Ottawa, le Plan des services à la personne (Plan de développement de la main-d'œuvre) et le Plan d'avenir pour la Ville d'Ottawa, qui favorisent de telles initiatives, ont été élaborés en consultation avec la communauté.

Le Collège Algonquin a consulté un grand nombre d'intervenants, d'institutions et d'organismes. La création du centre des métiers du bâtiment et des sciences de la construction bénéficie d'un solide soutien de la part de l'industrie de la construction (Association de la construction d'Ottawa, Association des constructeurs d'habitations d'Ottawa-Carleton, décorateurs d'intérieurs, BOMA, syndicats des métiers du bâtiment), de la Société canadienne d'hypothèques et de logement, du Conseil national de recherches, des conseils scolaires de district et de la Fondation du Collège Algonquin.

Le plan conceptuel du CAC a été élaboré à la suite d'une série de cinq ateliers publics tenus entre février 2006 et juin 2007.

Le bureau de la directrice municipale adjointe, Service de l'urbanisme, du transport en commun et de l'environnement, a collaboré de près avec la Direction de la gestion des biens immobiliers dans la préparation du présent rapport.

BACKGROUND

Algonquin Project

Algonquin College is one of the largest colleges in Ontario and the largest outside of the GTA serving 16,000 full-time post secondary students and 39,000 part-time students and, delivers 140 programs including 23 apprenticeship programs.

The College has established a high priority for, and is committed to, addressing two major training/educational demands that face Ontario society and in particular the Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa area today. These demands are based on the shortage of skilled construction and health care professionals.

The shortage of skilled construction professionals continues to have a negative effect on the construction industry and in particular on Ottawa’s pace of economic growth. In response to this strong community need, Algonquin College has decided to renew and expand its mandate for education and training for the construction industry, particularly in the areas of green building and sustainable development, by consolidating and expanding its Building Sciences and Construction Trades’ programs to provide for 600 new student spaces within the next three (3) years.

The Province also continues to face a significant health care challenge in its inability to meet the demand for nurses and health care professionals in the Ottawa area. The demand for nurses is 600 per year and the combined output of Ottawa University and Algonquin programs is only 100. Currently, applications exceed available seats by 10 to 1 in most programs. Five out of six health care professionals are trained in Colleges. In response to this deficit, Algonquin College will meet this need by creating 2000 new student spaces within the next five (5) years by expanding and clustering of its Health Sciences programs and facilities.

In order to meet these important needs, Algonquin College completed, in early 2007 a project concept plan for the creation of two initiatives: (1) a Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences (CCTBS) - a new facility that will bring together the full range of disciplines within the construction sector on approximately four acres of land in the south-east quadrant of its Woodroffe Campus; and (2) a Health Sciences and Strategic Academic Expansion project by a combination of retrofitting existing space and the construction of a new building on campus.

The two Algonquin Project initiatives will modernize the Construction Industry and Health Sciences education facilities at Algonquin’s Woodroffe Campus while increasing the overall capacity of the College by more than 2,600 student spaces over the next five years. These regional assets will significantly ameliorate the pent-up demands for skilled workers in the construction industry and health care and other strategic growth areas serving the Ottawa area and Eastern Ontario.

The implementation of the Algonquin Project relies on the strong public transit service to the Campus and the potential to promote the further use of public transit to accommodate the additional 2600 student spaces created by the project. Therefore, the College’s project concept plan does not provide for any additional on-site parking facilities on the College’s Woodroffe Campus lands and assumes that a pedestrian bridge link from Baseline Station will be constructed in the near future as an identified initiative of the City’s current Transportation Master Plan.

The Algonquin Project proposal is summarized as follows:

Ø $104M Project including construction of approximately 240,000 square feet of new building facilities

PHASE I

Ø $69M Phase I - construction related to the Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences (new building 160,000 square feet approx.)

Ø Creation of 600 new seats in the construction and building sciences disciplines

PHASE II

Ø $35M Phase II - construction related to Health Sciences and Strategic Expansion ($11M retrofit of existing space made available upon completion of CCTBS and $24M new building 80,000 square feet approx.)

Ø Creation of 2000 new seats in health care disciplines and other strategic growth areas

The College would like to complete and occupy at least one building by 2011.

Initial Request for City Support

On May 15, 2007 Algonquin College formally approached the City of Ottawa for support for the creation of the Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences (CCTBS).

On 23 May 2007, Council passed the following motion in support of the Algonquin College’s proposed CCTBS:

“That Council:

1. Endorse the concept of Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology creating The Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences pursuant to the Executive Summary attached hereto; and

2. Instruct the Mayor and the City Manager to explore ways and means of supporting this project and to make recommendations to Committee and Council in a timely manner.”

Current request for City Support

Subsequent to Council passing the motion, the College met with City staff and provided further details regarding the Algonquin Project concept plan and ideas on how the City might support this project.

As a result of discussions with the Ontario and Federal governments regarding a funding partnership for this project, the College is now anticipating that the $104M in total project costs will be funded as follows:

$35M of Federal support from funding envelopes in the process of being identified;
$35M from Provincial Ministries; and
$34M from Algonquin College - potentially derived from College reserves, borrowing, operation budgets and fund raising.

The Province has encouraged the College:

to search out revenue streams with the private sector using the Alternative Financing Procurement Model;
to engage in innovative/sustainable development (such as integrating the Algonquin Project facilities with existing campus and abutting development by developing the new facilities in a location that supports the College’s green building/sustainable development initiatives and optimizes the use of public transit; and
to secure City funding and support as a means to confirm local need and commitment.

In this regard, College staff has indicated that the College is interested in City support and commitment that would demonstrate to the senior levels of government their ability to ensure the provision of transit integrated development in a high profile location.

College staff also reiterated their involvement in, and support for, the City’s development planning process for the Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC) project (area bounded by Woodroffe, Baseline, Centrepointe and Tallwood). They have actively participated in the five (5) public workshops held between February 2006 and June 2007 that resulted in the creation of the Concept Plan for the CTC. They have noted that CTC Concept Plan, as illustrated in Document 1 of this report, includes features of great interest to them.

A Pedestrian Bridge linking Baseline Station and the existing College buildings on the east side of Woodroffe as one of the Key Initiatives of the Concept Plan, as illustrated in Document 2 of this report, and as currently identified in a draft memorandum of understanding between the College and the City and the provisions of the City’s current Transportation Master Plan; and

The possibility of future development potential, on the west side of Woodroffe, for Algonquin College facilities that abut both sides of, and integrate with, a relocated/reconfigured Baseline Bus Transit Station as one of Key Uses illustrated in Document 1 of this report.

As a result, College staff has now identified that, in addition to the City’s endorsement of the whole Algonquin Project, the preferred means of specific support from the City is as follows:

Implementation of the Pedestrian Bridge project by the City at the earliest possible opportunity;

Provision of seven (7) acres of land in two parcels, within the CTC, that can be interconnected above Baseline Station, as shown on Document 1 of this report, in order to satisfy the College’s immediate and medium term real estate needs, consisting of:

1) approximately two (2) acres in a block on the east side of a relocated/reconfigured transit station (area between the east side of the existing passenger platform and Woodroffe), and

2) five (5) acres in a block on the west side of a relocated/reconfigured transit station (area between the west side of a new passenger platform and the east side of a proposed new main street).

Of the five (5) acres, two (2) acres abutting the transit station are needed for the Algonquin Project while the other three acres would provide future development opportunities for the College. The College is proposing to work co-operatively with the City towards achieving mutually beneficial goals.

College staff has also advised that the College has not yet undertaken any preliminary planning/design work for developing all, or part, of the Algonquin Project within the CTC project area but is willing to do so on an expedited basis if the City indicates that the requested lands can be made available to the College

DISCUSSION

Recommendation #1 - City Support for the Algonquin Project

The creation of the Centre for Construction Trades and Building Science and Health Sciences Education Facility is consistent with the principles and strategic direction of the City’s Talent Plan (2003), a supporting plan of the Economic Strategy and Human Services Plan. The strategic directions of the Talent Plan include the enhancement of community capacity to address workforce opportunities and challenges; the support of sector-specific projects; and the support of skill development and recruitment initiatives.

The College is also responding to the environmental and material resource challenges of the coming decades that will require multi-disciplinary skill sets and inter-disciplinary collaboration leading to the construction of more sustainable buildings. This concern and preparedness is reflected in both the proposed building itself (LEED certified facility) and the curriculum and training programme focused on green building and sustainable development.

Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences (CCTBS)

The CCTBS component of the Algonquin project is based on a vision focused on collaboration across disciplines, consultation with the community, and the promotion of sustainable design principles throughout the construction sector. The proposed new facility will take a sustainability approach and address significant key training gaps by:

· Reducing the skilled trades shortage;

· Providing opportunities for re-skilling of current construction trades and building sciences workers in the use of new, efficient techniques and materials;

· Assessing and meeting the needs of foreign-trained construction sector workers;

· Increasing access to building sciences programs for more learners through a commitment to the region’s school boards in the Learning to 18 Strategy;

· Ensuring that new graduates, as technologists in the architecture, engineering or skilled trades disciplines are well-oriented to the multi-disciplinary nature of the construction workplace and ready to perform effectively upon entering the workplace; and

· Working with governments and industry partners to create a unique in Canada destination for applied research in construction methods, materials and technologies, and the study of construction industry issues including sustainability.

The CCTBS, through the building itself and the innovative programming it offers, will help to instil skills and a passion for sustainable design across the construction sector for apprentices, journeypersons, technicians, technologists, decorators, and designers. As an integrated learning and applied research environment housed in an innovative, environmentally efficient structure, the CCTBS, will produce workers and citizens who are advocates of green approaches to infrastructure and building operations.

Health Sciences Education Facility and Strategic Academic Expansion

Algonquin College is a recognized leader in Health and Community Studies education that includes accreditation for foreign trained nurses and health professionals and a collaborative BSCN (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) program with the University of Ottawa. The College is the Provincial hub of excellence for Operating Room education and has strong respiratory therapy, paramedic and advanced paramedic and recreation and fitness programs. The vision and strategic growth initiatives of Health Sciences education requires increased capacity for students.

The Health Sciences plan for new program facilities could include the following:

· Simulated Operating Theatre, Intensive Care and Critical Care Beds

· Video Conference Centre

· Biotechnology/Biology and Chemistry Cluster

· Emergency Room/Respiratory Therapy Cluster

· Nursing Labs

· Dental Cluster

· Wellness Cluster

The rationale to build these facilities is based on research including demographic analysis and labour requirements forecasting in the construction and health sectors. An Environmental Scan report prepared for the College by Market Research Corporation in 2006 states that there is an existing shortage of trade workers in Ottawa that will become worse in the future. The province continues to face a significant health care challenge in its inability to meet the demand for nurses in the Ottawa area.

The two initiatives will modernize the Construction Industry Trades facilities and Health Sciences facilities at Algonquin College while increasing the overall capacity of the College by more than 2,600 student spaces.

Staff have reviewed the CCTBS concept plan and the Alternative Financing and Procurement Delivery Approach for the whole Algonquin Project as well as met with Algonquin staff several times. Staff is satisfied that these plans are reasonable and in line with City priorities.

The building of a high profile educational facility in the Centerpointe Town Centre that would also integrate a transit station would be a great catalyst and potentially provide additional opportunities for achieving the other development components set out in the CTC Concept Plan. The development mandate of the CTC is the creation of a “sense of place” by integrating commercial, residential, institutional, and office uses through intensification and innovation.

As a result, City staff recommends that the City support Algonquin College’s concept for a Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and the Health Sciences Education Facility which together are the major components of the Algonquin Project, by instructing staff to prepare a letter to be sent to the federal and provincial governments under the Mayor’s signature indicating the City’s support for, and commitment to the Algonquin Project and requesting that they provide their respective funding contributions as set out in the report entitled: Algonquin College Strategic Academic Expansion, A Centre for Construction Trades and Building Sciences and An Expanded Facility for Health Sciences Training” dated August 8, 2007.

Recommendation #2 -Pedestrian Bridge Design and Implementation

The Pedestrian Bridge to link Algonquin College with the Baseline Transitway Station over Woodroffe Avenue, in the location shown on Document 2 of this report, has been envisioned in both College and City of Ottawa plans since 1999 including in the City’s current Transportation Master Plan. More recently the City and College staff formed a working group of professionals using Value Engineering to define a cost effective solution and have been working for several years to transition the bridge from concept to implementation resulting in a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that identifies preliminary costs as well as cost sharing aspects of the design, construction and maintenance.

The Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC) Concept Plan and the resulting due diligence process, currently underway, identifies and supports the pedestrian bridge in conjunction with expanded transit services as a Key Initiative of the CTC Concept Plan as shown on Document 2.

The portion of student trips to the College, using public transit is now approaching 50 per cent of all trips. Most of the public transit trips involve the use of Baseline Station and the resulting heavy volume of students crossing Woodroffe Ave creates significant safety and operational problems. The Pedestrian Bridge across Woodroffe Avenue is critical to solving the safety/operational issues related to Algonquin students and others crossing one of the busiest arterials in the City. The bridge will not only address these concerns but also provide for greater opportunity to increase ridership to the College as well as link several neighbourhoods (Algonquin, Ryan Farm, City-view and College Square) to Baseline Station and the Centrepointe Town Centre. The provision of the bridge is an essential element for implementing the Algonquin Project.

As well, the bridge will play a significant role in the implementation of the City’s and the College’s Transportation Demand Management Strategies for this area, and facilitate the development of the Centrepointe Town Centre as envisioned by the CTC Concept Plan in a manner consistent with the City’s Guidelines for Transit Oriented Development.

The design, delivery method and timing for implementation of the bridge project will be defined through discussions between City and College staff taking into account: the current College and Algonquin Project requirements; the City’s short-term and long-term requirements for modifications to the Baseline Station and the Southwest Transitway; and development activity of the Centrepointe Town Centre in its vicinity.

The expectation is that the project will be targeted for implementation as soon as possible and if feasible in the short term, the bridge be completed without having to wait for the final transit station and potential College building activity. It is proposed that the bridge connect to grade on the west side of Woodroffe via a temporary ramp.

Therefore, City staff is now recommending that a funding provision for the Pedestrian Bridge, in the estimated amount of $5M, be made by the City in 2008 to provide for a facility that meets both the College’s and City’s requirements. The $5M (gross) estimate is based on the complexity of the requirement involving an integrated facility and the potential need for vertical transportation (e.g. elevator).

The recommendation is subject to further approval by Council of a satisfactory cost sharing formula that will address the design, construction and maintenance of the bridge in an Agreement between the City and the College.

Recommendation #3 - City Support for Algonquin Project in Centrepointe Town Centre Project Area

As noted in the background section of this report, the development of the Algonquin Project is happening at a time when Algonquin College and the City of Ottawa are undertaking several other major planning initiatives.

The proposed Algonquin Project is an integral part of the ongoing review of the College’s Master Plan for the Woodroffe Campus. The objective is the identification of current and long-term needs for major demolition, intensification and redevelopment.

This work coincides with the City’s own work on the Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC) development plan and implementation strategy. This work includes a Concept Plan, as shown on Document 1 of this report, developed from the input of five public workshops and initial due diligence investigations. A local transportation master plan has been identified as a critical element of the CTC project. This plan must be consistent with the overall City Transportation Master Plan that is currently being updated as part of the current Official Plan review as well as the City’s evolving plans for expanding the rapid transit system.

The opportunity to build an integrated high profile facility on the Centrepointe Town Centre side surfaced as a consequence of the College’s own campus planning process and its participation in the City’s development planning process for the CTC. As a consequence, the College is now requesting that the City provide lands within the CTC project area for development by the College as part of the City’s support for the Algonquin Project. The College has identified two parcels of land with a total area of seven acres that straddle a reconfigured Baseline Transit Station.

The CTC project is still at a preliminary stage of development planning. Development planning considerations, together with the results of due diligence work undertaken to date, indicate that there are significant planning, transit and servicing issues associated with the CTC project. The resolution of these issues is likely to have significant timing and/or financial implications for both the City and College if all or part of the Algonquin Project is to occur within the CTC project area. These issues are addressed in more detail in Document 3 and include:

1. Compatibility of the timeframe for development of all, or part of, the Algonquin Project in the CTC project area with respect to the currently proposed target date set out for the Algonquin Project;

2. Degree to which the functional requirements of the Algonquin Project facilities (e.g. loading, vehicular access, building program etc.) can be accommodated on a site within the CTC project area;

3. Extent of additional project costs and funding implications for developing the Algonquin Project facilities, in a multi-storey urban form, adjacent to and over a reconfigured Baseline Station relative to developing the CCTBS component as a predominately one storey industrial type structure on four acres of the College’s own lands;

4. Degree of benefit to the Algonquin Project relative to securing a private sector partner, using the Alternative Financing Procurement Model, for implementing the project and integrating it with existing campus and abutting commercial development.

The two parcels identified by the College, together with the potential to develop air rights over the transit station, represent a total potential floor space area of approximately 450,000 square feet based on the proposed provisions of the City’s new Zoning By-law. The total floor space requirement for the proposed new buildings for the Algonquin Project could be accommodated in two blocks of two-acres each beside a reconfigured transit station and the air rights over the station. This amount/type of use would be consistent with the provisions of the CTC Concept Plan, as shown on Document 1 of this report. Therefore, the two-acre block and the most easterly two-acre portion of the five-acre block have the most potential for being developed with College facilities that integrate with the transit station.

Based on the proposed sale of another property in the CTC project area and the above recommendations, the lands being offered by the City to the College in support of the Algonquin project have an estimated market value of at least $800,000 per acre or approx. $3.2M if the College is able to proceed with the development of all of four acres.

For the reasons indicated above and in Document 3, the completion of the CTC development planning/due diligence work is a prerequisite to the land transfer and represents a milestone event that is not likely to occur until the latter part of 2009 at the earliest. Also, the ultimate availability of any land within the CTC project area, for development of Algonquin Project facilities, is subject to an internal circulation process for the disposal of surplus properties, the objective being the identification of any City program need for the land.

Any proposed development by the College on lands within the CTC project area, being offered to the College by the City, should take into account the City’s requirements with respect to this development as outlined below.

City Requirements for the Algonquin Project in CTC Project Area

1. Development planning for College facilities need to be coordinated and compatible with the City’s current planning processes with respect to preparing a local transportation master plan for the CTC; updating the City’s overall Transportation Master Plan; and carrying out any resulting EA processes related to transportation initiatives in the CTC project area;

2. The design of College facilities need to be based on a multi-storey urban form and will need to be compatible with the City’s Transit Oriented Development Guidelines. The building will need to provide for a public link, including vertical transportation elements, to the proposed Pedestrian Bridge connecting the existing College buildings and Baseline Station;

3. The costs to the City should be limited to only those land and building elements that are directly related to transportation elements, including the proposed Pedestrian Bridge approved as part of the City’s transportation planning and budget processes; and

4. Construction of College facilities must commence by no later than 31 December 2012.

College staff acknowledges that further planning work is required by both the College and the City to determine the feasibility of building all or part of the Algonquin Project within the CTC project area. The College has indicated its willingness, if the City is prepared to make land available in the CTC project area for the College, to undertake preliminary planning/design work for developing all, or part, of the Algonquin Project within the CTC project area on an expedited basis to determine whether its project requirements, as outlined in this report can be met.

If it can be shown through coordinated planning/due diligence work by the City and the College for their respective projects that the development of part, or all, of the Algonquin Project within the CTC project area is viable, this will be a great catalyst, and potentially provide additional opportunities, for achieving the other development components set out in the CTC Concept Plan and will also enhance the College’s opportunity to pursue an Alternative Financing Procurement Model with the private sector.

As a result, staff is now recommending that the City support the Algonquin Project by holding in reserve and to ultimately making available, for development as part of the project, two parcels of land abutting Baseline Station with a total area of approximately 1.62 hectares (4 acres) in the locations designated on the CTC Concept Plan for potential college facilities, as shown on Document 1 of this report together with air rights over Baseline Station between these two parcels of land subject to further approval of an Agreement between the City and Algonquin College prior to the land transfers that will address all relevant issues such as:

the development of a site plan consistent with the City’s objectives and requirements for the CTC Project;
the City receiving satisfactory written confirmation from Algonquin College that adequate funding including from senior levels of government for the construction of the Algonquin Project is in place; and
a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Algonquin College that will establish the principles for the increased use of transit by Algonquin students and staff with the goal to increase transit ridership and revenue, support the College’s and City’s environmental goals, and to reduce the need for driving and parking.

Algonquin College students and staff have access to the Ecopass program, which provides a discount over the price of 12 monthly passes. There are currently only 58 subscribers. With a staff of 1,100 and 16,000 full-time students there is room for improvement. A post-secondary student semester pass was introduced in January 2006. It was developed in conjunction with the students of the four main post-secondary institutions, including Algonquin College. This pass provides a 10 percent discount over the cost of four monthly student passes.

Ways will be developed to promote both these programs to increase transit ridership. These could include: distribution of marketing material, setting up photo ID sessions and additional discounts on incentives provided by the college.

Recommendation # 4 – City to work with Algonquin College to explore other development opportunities within the Centrepointe Town Centre area.

The most westerly three-acre portion, of the five-acre block identified by the College, is designated in the CTC Concept Plan for a mix of non-institutional uses (residential, office, main street retail). This is also the potential location for a centralized parking facility to replace a significant portion of the existing surface parking in the CTC project area as well as to meet the parking needs for any new development in this location.

Algonquin College, in conjunction with Infrastructure Ontario, is currently exploring RFI/RFQ/RFP methods to solicit innovative finance, development, design and build proposals from the private sector for the Algonquin Project. Once the City and College have sufficiently advanced the planning/due diligence work for their respective developments, there may also be further potential to have some, or all, of the proposed development of the City lands abutting both sides of the proposed new CTC main street (lands designated for mixed-use on the CTC Concept Plan) together with any identified City program needs/facilities in the Centrepointe area included in the College’s process to the potential benefit of both the City and College. If there proves to be demonstrated potential for a joint initiative between the City and College, a further report regarding that initiative would then be forwarded by staff for consideration by Committee and Council.

As well, City staff recommends that as part of the Centrepointe Town Centre development planning process, staff work with Algonquin College to explore development opportunities for other academic/institutional uses (other than the Algonquin Project made up of the Centre for the Construction Trade and Building Sciences and the Health Sciences Educational Facility) within the Centrepointe Town Centre area.

CONSULTATION

The City’s Economic Strategy and Human Services Plan (Talent Plan), and the City’s Corporate Plan that support such initiatives were developed in consultation with the community.

The Centrepointe Town Centre Concept Plan was developed as the result of a series of five public workshops held between February 2006 and June 2007.

The Office of the Deputy City Manager for Planning, Transit and the Environment worked closely with the City’s Real Property Asset Management on this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Upon approval of this report, a capital project for the construction of the pedestrian bridge will be included in the 2008 draft capital budget subject to Council approval.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 Centrepointe Town Centre – Concept Plan – Key Issues

Document 2 Centrepointe Town Centre – Concept Plan – Key Initiatives

Document 3 Centrepointe Town Centre – Development Considerations and Issues

DISPOSITION

The Planning, Transit and the Environment Department will prepare a letter to be sent to the Federal and Provincial governments under the Mayor’s signature indicating the City’s support.

The Planning, Transit and Environment Department will include the cost of the pedestrian bridge in the 2008 capital budget submission and work with Algonquin on the design of the pedestrian bridge and well as a cost sharing formula reflecting the realities of the Algonquin Project and the needs of the new Baseline Station.

The Transit Branch will initiate the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will establish the principles for the increased use of transit by Algonquin staff and students.

The Real Property Asset Management Branch (RPAM) will expedite the completion of the Centrepointe Town Centre Development Plan and will work with Algonquin College to ensure that the Plan allows for one of the Algonquin Project initiatives that will maximize the access to, and integration with the Baseline Transit Station. As well, RPAM will work with College staff to explore development opportunities for other academic/institutional uses within the Centrepointe Town Centre area.

DOCUMENT 1

CENTREPOINTE TOWN CENTRE – CONCEPT PLAN – KEY ISSUES

Updated Key Uses

DOCUMENT 2

CENTREPOINTE TOWN CENTRE – CONCEPT PLAN –

KEY INITIATIVES

DOCUMENT 3

CENTREPOINTE TOWN CENTRE – CONCEPT PLAN –

DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND ISSUES

CENTREPOINTE TOWN CENTRE

LANDS ABUTTING BASELINE STATION

DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS AND ISSUES

Centrepointe Objectives and Planning Process

The City’s mandate for the Centrepointe Town Centre is to develop and implement a strategy, which will see the development of City-owned lands at Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue, integrating 100 Constellation Crescent, Ben Franklin Place, vacant and transit lands to demonstrate the 20/20 Vision of creating a “sense of place”. The development will focus on the integration of commercial, residential and office uses through intensification and innovation.

To date the, the development process included:

· Four (4) public workshops with the community and stakeholders held between February and June 2006. A "Recommended Concept Plan" was produced by the participants;

· A report detailing the workshop process;

· Initial “due diligence” analysis to support a viable development plan and implementation strategy from the “Recommended Concept Plan”;

· Based on input from the workshops, first priority in the “due diligence” process has been given to the transportation study, parking strategy, and hydro corridor components and a further workshop was held on 7 June 2007 to review the initial findings for these components;

· Uniform Developments & Leasing Ltd. has submitted a proposal for the development of the City owned lands adjacent to Uniform’s existing development at 117 Centrepointe that is consistent with the “Recommended Concept Plan”;

· City staff has worked collaboratively with Algonquin College staff with respect to the potential for development of College facilities adjacent to, and integrated with, the Baseline Transit Station consistent with the Centrepointe Town Centre Concept Plan.

Algonquin Project Related Considerations and Issues

Algonquin College is requesting that the City provide approximately seven (7) acres, in two parcels of city owned/controlled lands straddling the transitway (Baseline Station) in the Centrepointe Town Centre (CTC) area, as support for the Algonquin Project.

Development planning considerations and the results of due diligence work undertaken to date for the CTC, indicate that there are significant planning, transit and servicing issues associated with the lands in question, the resolution of which is likely to have significant timing and/or financial implications for both the City and College, if all or part of the Algonquin Project is to be constructed within the CTC. These considerations and issues are outlined as follows:

a) Two-Acre Block Related Considerations and Issues

(Area located between the east side of the existing passenger platform and Woodroffe)

§ The use of this two-acre block to develop of College facilities is consistent with the institutional uses shown on the Concept Plan for the CTC.

§ The creation of the two-acre block, as depicted in the CTC Concept Plan, is dependent upon the reconfiguration of the Baseline Transit Station from an existing centre platform station to a side platform station and the relocation of the existing multi-use public pathway further to the west of the existing transitway corridor, to accommodate a reconfigured station.

§ The feasibility and cost to reconfigure the station has not yet been determined since a transportation master plan for the CTC must be completed first and any resulting proposed transitway/station modifications, to accommodate development of the CTC, must be made consistent with the City’s overall Transportation Master Plan (currently being updated).

§ The completion of the CTC transportation master plan and the initial report for updating the City’s Transportation Master Plan are not likely to be completed earlier than the Fall of 2008.

§ The existing EA (Environmental Assessment) for the Baseline Station and the Southwest Transitway will then likely need to be amended accordingly which will likely require at least a further year to complete.

§ The development plan for the CTC will not only be required to include the permanent transitway and station design components but also provide for the ability to construct these components (e.g. transitway detour/temporary station platforms) which will require the preliminary design of these facilities to be completed.

§ The availability of this two-acre block for development by the College is subject to the City not having any other identified City program need for these lands (e.g. Centrepointe area currently identified as a potential location option for a new City Archives facility) or for the City to find an alternative location for the City’s identified program facility.

§ The development of this block for institutional uses is predicated on such development being linked to other development so that parking and loading facilities can be shared and so that on site parking/loading access directly from Woodroffe Avenue will be not necessary.

§ The College request assumes that the City, at its cost, will undertake the necessary reconfiguration of Baseline Station and the relocation of the multi-use pathway and that the block can be serviced from the existing utility plant/services in Woodroffe. These assumptions can be confirmed only when the development plan for the CTC is further advanced and the City has completed sufficient transportation master planning to establish the degree to which its budgets for transportation improvements can accommodate the City’s program/operational needs in this area.

b) Five-Acre Block Related Considerations and Issues

(Area between the west side of a reconfigured station and the east side of the proposed new main street)

§ The creation of the five-acre block is dependent not only upon Baseline Station being reconfigured but also on the proposed new main street for the CTC being constructed; municipal services/utility plant being installed and upon the City being able to eliminate existing surface parking lots in this location to provide the required development area and road allowance.

§ The CTC Concept Plan also requires the remainder of the parking facilities to become structured facilities rather than remain as surface parking.

§ The relocation of the Hydro Ottawa plant may also be required to build the new main street shown on the CTC Concept Plan but this is being further investigated.

§ Making the five-acre block available for development will have significant budget implications for the City unless the City has substantial revenue from the sale of lands in the CTC to reinvest in the required infrastructure and development is undertaken over time in conjunction with the implementation of a parking strategy/management plan.

§ The City does not currently own all of the land in the five-acre block since a portion of the site is part of the 100 Constellation property which is leased by the City; however, the City does have an option to purchase the property at the end of the lease term and developments rights to the property in the interim. Utilizing and transferring the development rights to all or part of this property will require the City to enter into further agreements with the owner and mortgagee of this property.

§ The development of an approximate two-acre parcel abutting the reconfigured Baseline Station is consistent with the CTC Concept Plan subject to the City not having any other City program need for these lands. However, the remainder of this block is designated, in the CTC Concept Plan, for a mix of non-institutional uses (residential, office, main street retail) and the potential location for a centralized parking facility to replace a significant portion of the existing surface parking in the CTC as well as meet the parking needs for the new development in this location.

§ The availability of even a two-acre portion of the five-acre block, for development by the College, is subject to the City not having any other identified City program need for these lands. Staff will need to report back on the results of the surplus lands circulation process.

Based on the considerations set out above, the development of the area between the new main street and Woodroffe Avenue and the potential development of Algonquin facilities adjacent to a reconfigured transit station have been considered in the CTC workshop process and were envisioned to be part of the later phases of the CTC project.

This approach was considered to be consistent with potential College needs. During the consultation/workshop process Algonquin College staff indicated that, while it is desirable to provide an opportunity for College facilities within the CTC, the College’s existing Master Plan did not set out any specific need in the near term for College facilities within the CTC.

Conclusion

The College’s proposed schedule to utilize all, or part, of these lands in the near future for the Algonquin Project may have to be revised unless the City and the College decides to carry out a significant amount of planning and design work in the short term to satisfactorily address the considerations and issues set out in (a) and (b) above.

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