Everyone was welcome to join in the festivities. There was a community BBQ, building tours, a photo booth, games and a local community business, the Merry Dairy, provided sweet treats. Ahead of the community garden planting ceremony – that included Figurr Partner Roberto Campos - there were speeches and appearances by Ottawa Mayor, Mark Sutcliffe, Councilor, Ariel Troster, Councilor Jeff Leiper, President of Cahdco, Graham Hussey, and Lorrie Marlow of the Mechanicsville Community Association. One of the most heartfelt and impactful speeches was given by Sarah Button, Executive Director of CCOC, who communicated the importance of this project for the organization, community, city and the almost fifty families who will call 159 Forward home. The evening was a celebration of the completion of the project and a wonderful welcome to the neighbourhood.
The goal of this project was to design a building that would be a showpiece for the CCOC, and the teams’ commitment to sustainability and affordability. Through Roberto’s leadership and working collaboratively with the community, McDonald Brothers Contractors, CCOC and Cahdco, ultimately led to the success of this project.
The building’s first tenants were welcomed home at the beginning of September. The team at Figurr wishes them all the best in their new home and community.
About the Project:
The 159 Forward Avenue Affordable Housing Project is a 49-unit, multi-family residential project for the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) and Cahdco. It is a prime example of a community-focused urban infill and provides much-needed affordable housing for the city. The building is designed to fit the needs of families in a growing neighbourhood and includes 100% universally accessible apartments and various barrier-free designed units. The 159 Forward Avenue Affordable Housing Project features eight visitor parking spaces, 49 bicycle parking spaces, greenspace, garden plots, and laundry facilities. It is also located 500 m from Tunney’s Pasture LRT station, making it a very walkable and transit-oriented urban infill project.
The project is designed to meet Passive House performance standards, which reduces the environmental impact of the building and strain on its energy consumption while also reducing monthly living costs for tenants. To further support the success of the tenants, a fully accessible rear yard amenity area offers access to community gardens, secured covered bike storage, and much-needed social spaces.
Project Photos: Naquib Hossain