A 25-year face lift is in the works for Tunney’s Pasture.
The west-central Ottawa area, near the Sir John A. Macdonald Parkway, is home to about 20 federal government buildings.
The redevelopment plan includes building new government buildings on the site, but also adding about 600 residential units and office space to the area.
Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird made the announcement Monday morning.
“It has many strengths,” said Baird.
“Its access to the Parkway for employees at lunch hour. It's a major employment hub. Obviously if we can rejuvenate, make it a better quality of life for people in this part of two, for people who work here."
Katherine Hobbs, the city councilor for the area, said she’s pleased with the decision.
“To double the number of jobs here at Tunney's and to make this more integrated with the rest of the municipality is a good thing for the neighbourhood," Hobbs said.
Others agreed.
“[There is] a lot of empty real estate here. [It] could be better utilized,” said one person in the area.
The cost of the project has not been determined because plans are not finalized.
There will be public consultations before the final plan is sent to the National Capital Commission in 2013.
“We want to get away from the cold institutional feel that the pasture has now and develop more of a mixed use that would have eyes on the street. It would have people living in the community,” said John McBain.
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Norman Fetterley
