KFC heading back to Bells Corners

New hotel also possible if council OKs tax grant designed to spur development

A new effort to spice up Bells Corners is being led by Mayor Jim Watson, Coun. Rick Chiarelli and Col. Sanders.

The finance and economic development committee on Tuesday approved two applications for community improvement plan grants, one which will grease the wheels for the return of KFC to the westOttawa community.

Bells Corners could also see a new hotel if council votes in favour of a second tax grant next week.

The municipal grants are designed to spur development in quiet commercial areas. The grants for Bells Corners, available for 10 years to successful applicants, offsets some of the increased property taxes that come with redeveloping the land.

First Bay Properties can get a $178,000 grant from the city for building at 2015 Robertson Rd. The city figures the project will eventually increase the property taxes by $237,409, so it will use some of that money to provide the grant to First Bay.

There’s an old restaurant building beside an existing Cash Money on the property and First Bay is hungry for more tenants.

The owner plans to have three units in the vacant building in its new configuration. One unit will be for a power sports accessories retailer Gear Head Canada, which will have eight to 10 employees, and another unit will be for KFC, with 10 to 15 employees. The third unit is still up for lease.

The construction value is estimated at $865,250.

“This application demonstrates the emerging rebound of Bells Corners,” Chiarelli, who represents the community, says in his written comments in a report. “KFC once led the exodus from the commercial area and now it is coming back.” That’s not all for Bells Corners. Colonnade Development, owner of the property at 300 Moodie Dr., is eligible to receive a $2,320,420 grant to build a hotel and restaurant. The company wants to build a six-storey, 124-room Hilton Garden Inn hotel and a separate commercial building housing a restaurant with a drive-thru. The project value is estimated at $20 million and the hotel would have about 100 to 110 employees, according to the city. The restaurant would have 40 to 50 employees.

Two existing single-storey buildings would be demolished. A thrift store, auto garage and auto parts distributor currently operate on the property.

The city figures it will receive more than $3 million in additional property taxes because of the land redevelopment. Colonnade’s grant would be funded from that extra tax revenue. It’s a perfect development, Chiarelli argues, because the hotel will serve the relocated Defence Department headquarters at the old Nortel campus, in addition to the numerous minor sports tournaments in the west end.

In 2016, city council selected Bells Corners as a priority area for economic development, following similar community improvement plans on Carling Avenue and in Orléans. When the Bells Corners initiative was approved, the city counted 468 businesses that had closed or moved out of the community over several decades, including major chain restaurants and Ikea.

The final sign-offs for the grants will be part council’s agenda on Oct. 11.