Developer gets approval to negotiate with City of Oshawa on use of downtown parking lot

Oshawa Council and Atria Developments have agreed to “enter into negotiations” to use the City parking lot south of Athol Street for an eight-storey, 143-unit project to be built above the former Canada Post building downtown.

Atria has been working with Council on providing parking for the building, as its location precludes building underground. A request to use the city lot across the street (between Celina Street and Albert Street) – and likely building a parking garage on top – was presented to the City earlier this year and is now officially on the table after negotiations got the go-ahead June 24.

Atria has hired renowned architectural firm Moriyama Teshima – company co-founder, the late Raymond Moriyama, created iconic buildings like the Ontario Science Centre, the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, the Toronto Reference Library and Ottawa’s Canadian War Museum – to fuse the striking former Oshawa Federal Building and Post Office (built between 1953-54 in the Art Moderne style) with contemporary loft interiors and a range of amenities “perfect for generation next.”

The eight-storey apartment building will be built on top of the existing two-storey former post office, with the building linked to the parking structure across the street.

Atria President Hans Jain, who has several projects on the go in the city, said the good relationship his firm has with staff and council had him optimistic of a deal being made.

“We hope it can be resolved,” Jain told INdurham, adding that in addition to retaining the façade, his company has also promised to preserve the large ‘Canada’ crest at the building’s entrance off Simcoe Street. “It’s a very special place.”

Oshawa Councillor Derek Giberson had hoped for a referral for the parking proposal “until substantial progress is advanced” on a downtown parking study but his amendment was shot down by a 5-2 vote. Approval for the City and Atria to “enter into negotiations” to use the parking lot (and likely build a parking tower) passed 6-1.

Atria Developments converted a building slated to be turned into a parking lot into Parkwoods Residences in 2007 – Oshawa’s first downtown condominium development in decades – the first of many projects it has been involved with in the city in the ensuing years.

The developers of record for both 12-storey 100 Bond (2017) and 19-storey 80 Bond (2022) which now tower over the city’s rapidly rising skyline, Atria has five projects on the go in Oshawa right now, with four in the city centre.