Yesterday morning the City of Ottawa’s Planning Committee unanimously endorsed my proposed renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street. (Download the Planning Committee Agenda for April 22, 2014.) This is the third of four levels of approval in the City of Ottawa’s Heritage Permitting process. The first came from City Heritage Planners in their report concerning the project, issued a week before the Built … Read More
City of Ottawa Built Heritage Sub-Committee Approval
A City of Ottawa Heritage Permit application moves through a four stage process of review: (1) City Heritage Planners recommend to the (2) Built Heritage Sub-Committee who recommend to the (3) Planning Committee who recommend to (4) City Council whether or not they should: “Approve the application, subject to approval of minor variances by the Committee of Adjustment, per plans submitted by Vert Plan Design … Read More
Project Opposition
While picking up a coffee at my local Bridgehead, I also picked up a copy of the New Edinburgh News. Within its pages (April 2014, pages 4, 5 and 9) the NECA HDC revealed their opinion of my proposed renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street. I am disappointed that the NECA HDC did not choose to work with me … Read More
Moving Forward with Support
Over a month has passed since my meeting with the NECA HDC and I have yet to receive any feedback from the committee. (Having served on committees similar to the NECA HDC in the past, I am well aware of the challenges associated with relying upon volunteers to work at the pace of a professional organization.) Although I would have … Read More
Design Revisions and Continued Consultation
In the last 4 months planning and design for a renovation and addition to 205 Crichton Street have continued at a fervent pace. More than 30 editions of the project’s CAD (computer aided design) file have been produced, with the majority created since October 2013. Although consultation with the City of Ottawa heritage planning staff was begun in early 2012, … Read More
308 Fifth Avenue . Project Description
Renovation to the interior of the kitchen, dining room, master bedroom and washroom of an existing two story home built in 1920. Addition of a new master bedroom ensuite washroom, outdoor balcony, breakfast area, rear entry, mudroom, siting room and mechanical system. Project goals included: improving energy efficiency of mechanical system facilitating access to the basement creating additional indoor and outdoor living … Read More
Change: Decay or Dynamism?
“The only constant is change.“ (Heraclitus, philosopher, 540 – 480 BC) Over the course of the last two years my personal needs for a living space have changed. In March of 2012 my first daughter Everleigh was born. In March of 2014 my second daughter will join us. Although our current home in New Edinburgh will continue to provide us … Read More
Rideau Residences Building-Integrated Agriculture . Project Description
Having been a former railway siding, the potential for contamination was significant in the very limited growing area available at ground level around 279 Crichton Street. The desire to grow food within 10 metres of where it is consumed on a dense urban lot, was satisfied by elevating the garden to the roof top. The building below had been designed to support … Read More
Letter of Reference
VERT designed John and Lorie’s home in our second year of operation. (We have worked on over 50 projects since then.) It is very rewarding to know that they still love their home as much now as when they first saw the plans on paper. Although it has been several years since I worked on the original project, it was very nice to receive … Read More
3336 County Road 3, Lyndhurst . Project Description
New detached home certified to the passive house standard on a previously undeveloped property. Home has perfect southern exposure, overlooking the Gananoque River. The north wall is built into a hillside, providing protection against the winter cold from the foundation’s footings to the peak of the roof. Location: The project site is Parts 8, 9 & 10 of Lot 5, Concession … Read More