Proposal calls for restaurant, food store in former Vanier church

A proposal to put a restaurant and food store within the former St. Charles church in Vanier, and surround the heritage building with housing units, will go before Ottawa's planning committee on November 8.

The Archdiocese made $4 million when it sold the building to Linebox Studio Inc. in 2013.

• Former Saint-Charles church sold by Archdiocese of Ottawa

Now, the architecture firmLinebox Studio Inc., along with property developer ModBox, is seeking a zoning changeto turn the nearly century old church building and its lot into a mixed-use development on Beechwood Avenue.

The church once housed theOrder of JacquesCartier, a French-speaking secret-society.

Now, the developer proposes thatresidents in the Vanier andNew Edinburgh areas will shop there for food or dine in a new restaurant.

The church has heritage designation, so the plan is to restore it and keep the church and its belfry as the focal points on the site. The rectory behind will be torn down.

The proposal also calls for a c-shaped,eight-storeyaddition with 55 residential units, including townhouses at ground level and apartment-style units on upper floors. The residentswould use an automated parking system that stacks vehicles.

Future plans also include a farmers' market, coffee shop,outdoor patios and open public space.

"We are happy to see the protection of the church and new activation for the main street," saidCoun. Mathieu Fleuryin comments submitted for the staff report.

Seventy people attended a public meeting about the proposal back in May, and Fleury notedthat concerns remain about the eight-storeymass of buildings that would be built across from two-storey homes on Barrette Street.