Update
After a brief hiatus to await confirmation on policy direction regarding the City’s Official Plan from the Province, the project to update the ByWard Market and Lowertown West Heritage Conservation Districts is being reactivated.
Heritage staff are working to incorporate comments received from stakeholders and members of the public over the last several months, in order to prepare updated versions of both draft Heritage Conservation District Plans.
Staff anticipate bringing forward the draft plans for consideration of the Built Heritage Committee and City Council in Fall 2024.
Upcoming engagement opportunities will be offered over the next several months. Please check below for more information on how to get involved.
Introduction
Lowertown is the oldest urban neighbourhood in Ottawa and has strong historical and social associations with the early development of ByTown, the construction of the Rideau Canal and Ottawa’s role as the national capital. It is a primarily residential neighbourhood with a mixed-use centre around the historic ByWard Market. The area contains two heritage conservation districts: the ByWard Market (designated in 1991) and Lowertown West (designated in 1994). The area was developed between 1820 and the early 20th century as a commercial hub in the city and residential sections to the north and east. It is one of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhoods that has strong historical and social associations with Ottawa’s role as the national capital.
Today, Lowertown’s built form continues to be mainly low density residential but uses are varied. There is a rich fabric of historic buildings throughout the neighbourhood both within the existing Heritage Conservation Districts and beyond. Over the past 20 years, there has been some redevelopment in Lowertown as the neighbourhood is desirable for its central location, amenities and character.
Why is the City undertaking the Lowertown West and ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District Update?
Both Heritage Conservation Districts were designated in the early 1990s and the building inventory and studies developed at the time of designation need review and updating to better align with current heritage planning practices and other City policies.
Further, the Ontario Heritage Act was amended in 2005 to require the adoption of a Heritage Conservation District Plan for all new Heritage Conservation Districts. In addition, municipalities may adopt Heritage Conservation District Plans by by-law for districts designated prior to 2005. The City of Ottawa has been working to adopt Heritage Conservation District Plans for all districts designated before 2005. This project will fulfill this priority for two pre-2005 Heritage Conservation Districts.
ByWard Market HCD
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District
What are the goals of the project?
The goals of the Lowertown West and ByWard Market Heritage Conservation Districts update are to:
- Update the heritage inventory of properties located within the Lowertown West and ByWard Market Heritage Conservation Districts
- Develop a Heritage Conservation District Plan for the existing Lowertown West and ByWard Market Heritage Conservation Districts
- Analyze the properties located outside the ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District, between Dalhousie Street, Rideau Street, King Edward Avenue and Murray Street to determine candidacy for Part IV designation
Phases 1 and 2
In January 2021, heritage staff began conducting background information on each district and gathering data on each property. In August 2021, photos were taken of each property in the Heritage Conservation Districts. Heritage staff, together with their heritage consultant and with feedback from the community association, have completed the review and evaluation of the properties located within the ByWard Market and Lowertown West Heritage Conservation Districts.
ByWard Market
ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District map [ PDF 352 KB ]
ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District draft inventory [ PDF 394 KB ]
Lowertown West
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District map [ PDF 219 KB ]
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District draft inventory [ PDF 743 KB ]
Draft Plans
Draft Heritage Conservation District Plans have been prepared for the ByWard Market and Lowertown West Heritage Conservation Districts.
ByWard Market
Lowertown West
Feedback will be considered and incorporated into the draft as appropriate, over the summer. Once finalized, the draft Heritage Conservation District plan is anticipated to be considered by the Built Heritage Committee and City Council later this fall. Owners will be contacted by mail in advance of those meetings to advise on meeting details and how to participate.
Comments can be provided to heritage@ottawa.ca.
Get involved
Previous public consultation
A virtual public meeting was held Tuesday, November 30, 2021, 6:30 pm
The purpose of this meeting was to outline the process for updating the Lowertown West and ByWard Market Heritage Conservation Districts with new Heritage Conservation District plans, provide property owners and residents the opportunity to comment on the cultural heritage value of the area, and to answer any questions the community may have about this project. There was a brief presentation by heritage planning staff on Zoom.
Drop-In Open House – ByWard Market Draft Heritage Conservation District Plan:
On June 1, 2023 the Heritage Planning Branch hosted a drop-in session to present a summary of the draft Heritage Conservation District plan for ByWard Market and provide property owners with the opportunity to review the plan’s proposed directions and guidance, and to ask questions of staff.
Presentation slides from the open house. [ PDF 863 KB ]
Drop-In Open House – Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District Draft Plan:
On June 27, 2023 the Heritage Planning Branch hosted a drop-in session to present a summary of the draft Heritage Conservation District plan for Lowertown West and provided property owners with the opportunity to review the plan’s proposed directions and guidance, and to ask questions of staff.
Presentation slides from the open house [ PDF 1.558 MB ]
Boards from the open house [ PDF 8.532 MB ]
Online Office Hours
If you were unable to attend the drop-in session, or you have property-specific questions, staff will be available to meet by arranging a time to meet virtually.
Please contact MacKenzie Kimm, Senior Heritage Planner at MacKenzie.Kimm@ottawa.ca to schedule a time.
ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District - As We Heard It Report Winter 2022
The City of Ottawa hosted a public information session on August 17, 2022, and collected feedback through an online survey until December 18 2022. 58 people participated in the online survey. A summary of the responses is included in the As We Heard It Report.
Lowertown West Heritage Conservation District - As We Heard It Report Winter 2022
The City of Ottawa hosted a public information session on August 14, 2022 and collected feedback through an online survey until December 18, 2022. 40 people participated in the online survey. A summary of the responses is included in the As We Heard It Report.
Next steps
The draft Heritage Conservation District Plans for both the ByWard Market and Lowertown West are expected to be considered by the Built Heritage Committee and City Council in Fall 2024. Property owners will be contacted by mail in advance of those meetings to advise on meeting details and how to participate.
For more information or to be added to the project mailing list to receive updates, please contact:
MacKenzie Kimm
Heritage Planner
613-580-2424, extension 15203