Your city is building a lot of housing, but also a new Tim Hortons.
It's been a busy week for development permits in Ottawa, from what I'm seeing come across my desk. While everyone is talking about housing affordability — and oui, we *are* building more of it — there are some other interesting details that came through, like a new Tim Hortons drive-thru. The real story is never on the Hill — it’s always just off it.
### Your Building Permits and What They Mean
Let's talk about the money first. The city has issued a permit for a new two-storey detached dwelling in Ward 1, 865 Aviation Road, valued at a cool $2,066,986. That's a serious investment in residential expansion. But my personal favourite, because it’s so… Ottawa, is the $84,619 permit issued for interior alterations and recladding to a drive-thru window at the Tim Hortons on 780 Bancroft Drive in Ward 11. Because, of course, the drive-thru window is sacred.
Here's a quick look at some of the bigger permits:
* **New Home:** 865 Aviation Rd (Ward 1) — $2,066,986 for a new two-storey dwelling. * **Commercial Refresh:** 4701 Tahoe Blvd (Ward 3) — $568,320 for interior alterations on commercial floors. * **Industrial Upgrade:** 5900 Keaton Cres (Ward 5) — $1,556,164 for interior alterations with a new fire alarm system. * **Tim Hortons Drive-Thru:** 780 Bancroft Dr (Ward 11) — $84,619 for drive-thru recladding.
Meanwhile, on the development application front, there's a significant residential apartment building proposed for 1970 and 1980 Fowler Drive in Ward 8, currently in process. Also, a townhouse development in Ward 11, at 376, 390 Derry Rd W and 0 Oaktree Circle. It’s clear the push for more housing continues, even if it feels like a slow, bureaucratic ballet sometimes.
What does this mean for you, the residents? Well, more housing, eventually, which is a good thing for keeping our city accessible. But also, more convenience for your morning double-double. We’ll be watching these applications closely as they move through the system, because sometimes the devil is in the details, or, as we say in the public service, the "implementation phase."
Simone Okafor-Bouchard, MiTL Sports Desk, Ottawa. The morning crew talks about these numbers, and much more, every day. Find it at mornings.live.