A former high school in the city's west end will soon become the site of a new shopping centre.
Ottawa city council approved rezoning the former Laurentian High School at the corner of Baseline Road and Clyde Avenue on Wednesday, allowing the site to become a retail shopping location.
Smart Centres Canada has already spent $20 million to purchase the property from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
The company plans to redevelop the site into retail stores, with a limit of one big box store.
Residents who live in the area are concerned the retail centre will create increased traffic generated by shoppers.
Construction on the project is expected to start as early as next spring.
