LHIN approves hospital garage

$12.5M structure would provide 750 parking spaces

The Ottawa Hospital is looking to build a new multi-storey parking garage on its Civic campus to give visitors better access to the hospital.

The Local Health Integration Network approved the proposal Wednesday at its monthly meeting. It will now go the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

The estimated $12.5-million cost of the project will be covered by capital funding from the hospital, which anticipates raising the money within four years from parking fees and with earnings after that to be funnelled into patient care.

It currently costs $13 a day to park at the hospital.

Eric Partington, the hospital’s acting senior director of health system accountability, said the garage will replace an existing surface lot on Ruskin Avenue across from the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. It will not only replace the existing 260 spaces but will add another 490 parking spots.

The garage will be built of precast-concrete that fits together “like Lego” he said.

Partington said the plan was approved by the city last month. The hospital will sign a 16-year lease with the city, with three possible five-year extensions. At the end of the lease, the site is to be returned to its current state.

Last June, the hospital sent out invitations to the residents of about 100 houses in the area.

There were some concerns about the project, including the facade of the garage, the landscaping and increased traffic volume in the neighbourhood, said Partington. The hospital is now seeking representatives from the local community association for future input sessions.

Chantale LeClerc, the LHIN’s chief executive, said it was hard to predict how long it would take the ministry to respond to the proposal, and when the project could begin.