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Ottawa Citizen

‘It's not too late': city councillor wants to stop Tewin expansion plans

A city councillor wants council to revisit its 2021 decision to bring Tewin lands into Ottawa's urban boundary, a move she says was rushed, costly and based on lack of consultation with indigenous communities. Article content Article content Coun. Theresa Kavanagh recently introduced a motion to reverse the 2021 decision that brought the Taggart Group and Algonquins of Ontario-led development into Ottawa. She later withdrew the motion, citing the absence of a representative from Osgoode ward, where the project will be built. Kavanagh said she would reintroduce the motion when the Osgoode seat is filled. Article content Article content Kavanagh said the development was originally rejected by city planning staff because it didn't meet the city's planning priorities and was too far away and isolated. Article content Article content 'The clay soil is usually problematic, and it would cost a lot of money to put in infrastructure and transit to such an area,' she said. Article content Tom Ledgley, coordinator at Horizon Ottawa, said that while more housing is needed in the city, Tewin is not the way to do it. Article content 'We definitely don't disagree that more housing needs to be built,' he said. 'But this is not a dense housing development. It's not happening near existing services. And there aren't really many strong promises about this being like deeply affordable housing.' Article content In a written statement by Taggart, they said that Tewin 'is being planned to evolve alongside new investments in public infrastructure, including roads, utilities, and transit.' Article content Article content 'As growth occurs, services and amenities will be phased in to support residents with access to employment, education, healthcare, and recreation, all within a walkable, transit-ready urban fabric.' Article content Article content The statement added that Tewin is in response to 'Ottawa's housing supply pressures.' Article content Kavanagh also raised concerns about how the project was framed as a partnership with First Nations. Article content 'This project claimed it was working in conjunction with First Nations. And it turned out that this was bogus,' she said. 'The true First Nations representatives were very angry and have always been opposed to Tewin.' Article content Article content The Tewin development is a joint venture between the Algonquins of Ontario (AOO) and the Taggart Group, a private Ottawa-based developer. When the project was first introduced, it was promoted by some councillors and city officials as an act of reconciliation, citing the involvement of the AOO.