Conceptual drawing of Phase One of the Omnicentre (more renderings below; click to enlarge)
In 1976, in response to challenges “to combat stereotyped urban development patterns favouring suburban shopping centres [and] concentrated commercial complexes in the core of Ottawa” (1976: 9), the City of Vanier launched plans to develop a renewed commercial core on Montreal Road to be anchored by the Vanier Omnicentre. Conceptual plans and drawings for Phase One and Two were completed in 1976 by Craig and Kohler, Architects, the same firm that designed Ottawa's Civic Centre at Landsdowne Park. The multi-use commercial complex was to be situated at the corner of Montreal Road and the Vanier Parkway.
Plans would involve clearing a three-block parcel of all buildings and structures, relocating residential tenants as required, and building a two-level underground parking facility. Phase One would hold Vanier¹s City Hall, complemented by shopping areas, office towers and a 200-room hotel with convention facilities. Phase Two would include four apartment buildings (connected by landscaped courtyards), an enlarged shopping area, a third office tower and a landscaped square around St. Margaret's Anglican Church.
Map of Vanier showing Omnicentre along Montreal Road and Vanier Parkway (click to enlarge)
Intended to stimulate development activity by the private sector on adjacent properties, funding for the Omnicentre itself was sought from the provincial Ministry of Housing¹s Downtown Revitalization Program. The entire project, comparable in size to one of the many federal complexes in Hull, may have had the opposite effect: the long-term plans called for the removal of Savard, Cyr and a portion of Cody Avenue, and the demolition of the Eastview Hotel, Gammon House and the Legion. In return, this complex, in the style of Phase IV of Place du Portage, would have changed the three narrow blocks (and subsequently the entire neighbourhood) beyond recognition.
Conceptual drawings of underground parking facility, ground floor building and landscape design and longitudinal rendering (click to enlarge):
Sources:
Drawings: Vanier, City of (1976) NIP Redevelopment Plan 1976, NIP Redevelopment
Area, Downtown Revitalization Plan (A Redevelopment Plan), Detailed
Development Scheme No. B1. October.
Map: VanierNow 2012; based on conceptual drawing found in NIP Redevelopment Plan and aerial photograph from Bing Maps (2012 Microsoft Corporation; Image by 3Di; 2012 Nokia; Accessed September 2012: http://www.bing.com/maps/)
