The principal goals of the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan (CIP) are:
- To integrate all Orléans related Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) into one single CIP for Orléans by combining and adding to the successful elements of both previous Orléans CIPs: the St. Joseph Blvd. CIP, and the Orléans CIP, thus removing redundancies and providing a more efficient CIP for Orleans; and
- To continue to address job creation needs and urban design goals that have been encouraged through the existing CIP programs, by encouraging rehabilitation of lands and buildings and also stimulating development on sites in Transit Oriented Development areas. The Integrated Orléans CIP would also incentivize property owners to create pedestrian friendly streets by providing sidewalkoriented active uses on the ground floors of redevelopment projects which will foster vibrant activity and breathe new life along the area’s main streets and pedestrian/cyclist thoroughfares including those streets that will provide access to the (four) 4 new LRT stations
The plan provides financial incentives for property owners to encourage investment in the redevelopment of properties that currently, or in the past have been developed. For eligible projects, these incentives will be in the form of “Tax Incentive Equivalent Grants (TIEGs),” based on the increase in the property’s contribution to municipal property taxes, resulting from the value created through re-development. After the taxes have been paid each year, and all other accounts with the City are in good standing, the City then reimburses the property owner a percentage of the increment in the municipal property tax each year for a period of up to10 years depending on which program element is applied for. The plan does not apply to greenfield development.
The Program includes three distinct program elements designed to stimulate, and support growth in specific areas as follows:
- St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program
- To stimulate private investment in property renewal and redevelopment and to attract new employment to the area. The program encourages buildings to be constructed adjacent to the street and supports a more vibrant “main street” experience. The program also promotes land use intensification, supports the establishment of mixed-use development, and improves site and built-form aesthetics.
- Employment Creation Incentive Program
- To stimulate private investment in property renewal and redevelopment and to attract new employment to the area. The program also promotes land use intensification and supports the establishment of mixed-use development.
- Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program
- To foster vibrant activity and breathe new life along the area’s main streets and pedestrian/cyclist thoroughfares including those streets that provide access to the four new LRT stations. To encourage development along streets that is conducive to walking, cycling, browsing, and lingering and represent an efficient way to explore the goods and services available in the area and present a wide variety of sidewalk-oriented uses.
Program Details
Documents and Resources:
- Eligibility Checklist
- Staff Report
- By-law 2021-284 A by-law to designate a part of the area covered by the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa as the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan Project Area
- By-law 2021-285 A by-law of the City of Ottawa to adopt the Integrated Orléans Community Improvement Plan. This by-law includes program details.
Program Elements
Applicants may only apply for one Integrated Orléans CIP Program element per redevelopment project. However, Integrated Orléans CIP grants may be combined with other CIP programs, including the Brownfields CIP provided that the total grant and grant commitments from all CIPs shall not exceed:
- For applications to the St. Joseph Boulevard Main Street Program, the City will reimburse successful applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) equal to seventy per cent (70%) of eligible construction costs, or one million dollars ($1,000,000) maximum; or eighty five per cent (85%) of eligible construction costs or one million dollars ($1,000,000) maximum, if three or more new affordable rental housing units are constructed. The City will provide a grant equivalent to thirty per cent (30%) of the Building Permit fee or forty per cent (40%) of the building permit fee if the project includes 3 or more affordable rental housing units (subject to the maximum total grants above.) The amount of redevelopment work undertaken on the property must result in a minimum increase of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in the assessed value of the property.
- For applications to the Employment Creation Incentive Program, the City will reimburse successful applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment. Equivalent Grant (TIEG) equal to a cumulative maximum grant of fifty per cent (50%) of eligible construction costs or five million dollars ($5,000,000), whichever is lower. The amount of redevelopment work undertaken on the property will result in a minimum increase of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in the assessed value of the property. Projects must generate a minimum of twenty (20) new permanent full-time jobs. Added jobs must be the result of new companies to the area and/or expansions of existing companies. A relocation of existing employment will not satisfy program criteria.
- For applications to the Pedestrian Friendly Streets Program, the City will reimburse successful applicants in the form of an annual Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) equal to the lesser of fifty dollars ($50) per square foot of ground floor area or two hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) maximum. All ground floor rental space in the redeveloped property must be exclusively comprised of sidewalk-oriented ground floor active uses. The amount of redevelopment work undertaken on the property and/or buildings shall result in a minimum increase of two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) in the assessed value of the property
City Council may discontinue any of the programs at any time but applicants with approved grants will continue to receive grant payments subject to meeting the general and program specific requirements.
