Oshawa City Council has declared the air rights and/or underground rights associated with the city-owned public parking lot (Lot 16) located on the south side of Athol Street East, between Celina Street and Albert Street, as potentially surplus to municipal requirements.
The city announced it will retain ownership of the 106 surface level parking spaces, but in the event council ultimately makes a decision to formally declare the air rights and/or underground rights associated with Lot 16 as surplus, development of the area beneath and/or above Lot 16 by a third party could occur, with the city retaining the existing number of public parking spaces on-site.
8-storey 143-apartment project
As noted in Report DS-21-150 dated September 8, 2021, Post Office LP (Atria Development) has submitted an application to amend Zoning By-law 60-94 (File: Z-2021-05) to develop the former Oshawa Federal Building and Post Office at 47 Simcoe Street South, directly west of Lot 16, for a new 8-storey, 143-unit apartment building, using the existing two-storey building as the base of the new structure, said a city statement.
The applicant has proposed that the parking required for this development be provided off-site at Lot 16. In the event the air rights and/or underground rights associated with Lot 16 are declared surplus to municipal needs, and the city consents to entering into an appropriate agreement with Post Office LP (Atria Development) to enable them to use the air rights and/or underground rights, an above-ground and/or underground parking structure could be developed above and/or below Lot 16 to provide the required parking for the proposed development of 47 Simcoe Street South, it said.
Accordingly, the city is seeking comments on the declaration of the air rights and/or underground rights associated with Lot 16 as potentially surplus to municipal requirements.
Some key details about Lot 16 are as follows:
Lot Area: Approximately 3,642 square metres (39,203 sqft)
Lot Frontage:
- Celina Street: ±61.0 metres (±200.13 ft.)
- Athol Street East: ±58.16 metres (±190.81 ft.)
- Albert Street: ±61.0 metres (±200.13 ft.)
Official Plan: Downtown Oshawa Urban Growth Centre (within the Downtown Main Central Area)
Zoning: CBD-B. T25 (Central Business District)
Existing Use: City-owned paved surface parking lot containing 106 public paid parking spaces. Lot 16 includes 2 parking spots plus a portion of the landscaped area adjacent to these parking spots for electric vehicle charging equipment and safety bollards.
Surrounding Land Uses:
- North: Athol Street East, beyond which are two (2) two-storey mixed-use buildings and a seven-storey apartment building.
- South: A privately owned surface parking lot fronting onto Albert Street and a two-and-a-half storey apartment building fronting onto Celina Street.
- East: Albert Street, beyond which is a five-storey office building and the Tribute Communities Centre.
- West: Celina Street, beyond which is the former Oshawa Federal Building and Post Office and a two-and-a-half storey commercial building (Lord Simcoe Place).
Deadline for Submission of Comments: April 14.