One of the biggest development proposals Orléans has seen is taking shape right next to Place d’Orléans. It’s worth paying attention to, both for what it would add and for the debate it’s started about parking.
What’s proposed
Toronto-based Forum Asset Management wants to build on two vacant lots just south of Highway 174, at 530 Brisebois Crescent and 265 Centrum Boulevard. That’s steps from the Shenkman Arts Centre and less than a kilometre from the new Place d’Orléans O-Train station. The plan includes:
- Four mixed-use towers of 30, 35, 40 and 30 storeys
- A nine-storey mid-rise residential building
- A three-storey community centre
- Ground-floor retail along Centrum Boulevard
- More than 1,500 homes in total
The parking question
Here’s the part that got people talking: the plan includes no parking for residents. It has 136 visitor spaces and 753 bike parking spaces. Ottawa no longer requires resident parking for buildings this close to rapid transit, and the idea is that people living here would rely on the O-Train, buses, bikes and walking.
That’s a big bet in a part of the city where most households still drive, and where the train hasn’t started running yet.
Where it stands
On August 19, 2026, the city’s Planning and Housing Committee sent the proposal back to city staff for more review, after the developer asked for more time to address concerns. Local councillor Matt Luloff (Orléans East-Cumberland) said the concerns were “particularly focused on parking, traffic and whether the infrastructure and transportation planning are adequate.”
Forum will now work with city staff on a revised plan before it goes back to committee, so the numbers above may well change.
What it could mean for Orléans
If it’s built, even in a revised form, this would bring real density and new retail to the Place d’Orléans area and push it further toward being a proper town centre around the LRT. For buyers, it would mean new condo supply in the east end. For homeowners in nearby neighbourhoods like Convent Glen and Queenswood Heights, it’s a sign of where investment is heading, alongside fair questions about traffic on St. Joseph and Jeanne d’Arc.
Proposals like this often change as they go through review, and I’ll post updates as this one moves forward. If you’re thinking about buying or selling nearby and want to talk through what it could mean for your street, reach out.
Source: This post is based on reporting by the Ottawa Business Journal (Mia Jensen, August 19, 2026) and CTV News Ottawa (March 3, 2026). Read the original articles for complete details.
Photo: Construction of Place d’Orléans Station, April 2022 by Reece Martin, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.