(The proposed new development from Inverness Homes to be located at 1518-1526 Stittsville Main Street. Renderings and Site Plan provided by: Inverness Homes)
There is an unstoppable tide of change coming to Stittsville Main Street with new developments and businesses announcing their arrival. The newest development is slated for the recently cleared lot on Stittsville Main beside the Trans-Canada Trail with much consideration given to Stittsville’s past history. Stittsville developer, Inverness Homes, purchased the land at 1518-1526 Stittsville Main Street in 2019 and now have their plans in place for the build.
Local residents Kyle MacHutchon and Melissa Kruyne own Inverness Homes and have lived in Stittsville for 20 years – building their first home here in 2001. They have contemplated purchasing the property at 1518-1526 Stittsville Main for several years, making the decision to finally do so last fall.
Stittsville Central spoke with Kyle about the project. “Melissa and I wanted to create an atmosphere of Stittsville coming together. The vision is to avail The Station as a gathering place for locals and area, especially with its prime location beside the Trans-Canada Trail.” In line with the 15-minute neighbourhood, the couple are encouraging more pedestrians and bikes – less vehicle traffic – to Stittsville’s core. “It has always been Melissa’s dream to own a restaurant. We will own the restaurant, but not manage it as our children and other commitments wouldn’t allow for that, but her dream is becoming reality,” added Kyle.
Kyle is proud of the fact that the local railway history of the location and Bradley’s store is incorporated into the project, “we designed the building with the historical feeling of a train station, including the entrance with the focal point being the clock tower – history has also been incorporated into the build with the façade of red brick. We also salvaged the dated 1945 sign from the original building.”
The project will consist of the primary building featuring a restaurant and second floor office space facing Stittsville Main Street. A four-storey linear building, connected with a two-storey archway, will be tucked behind the primary building. The four-storey structure will consist of 33 one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as underground parking for tenants. Ample parking will be available for vehicles above ground, but Kyle emphasized that significant parking will be in place for bikes.
In an email, the project’s architect Malcolm Wildeboer, also a resident of Stittsville, provided his design brief, “In designing ‘The Station’ I felt the use of materials (primarily red clay brick) would lend a sense of memory and permanence to the revitalization of the village’s central precinct. We are very aware that ‘The Station’ is replacing the once, two-storey, redbrick “Bradley Store” circa 1870, a heritage property that was lost to a fire in 2013. As a resident of Stittsville, I was hopeful there would have been a way to salvage this brick building and when that was not deemed possible, I was pleased to be engaged by Stittsville developer, Inverness Homes, to design ‘The Station’. I see this as a tremendous opportunity to work with a local developer with a shared vision to create a meaningful architectural development in place of what was lost.” Malcolm has also designed projects such as: Alice’s Village Café, the Carp Commons Retirement Village, The Cheshire Cat and the West Carleton War Memorial.
Benjamin Clare, Senior Land Use Planner at McIntosh Perry, said, “we look forward to working with City staff through the course of the approvals process.” Kyle shared that the development plans have now been submitted to the City beginning the approval process with the Planning Department.
Councillor Glen Gower shared, “I like what I’ve seen so far, and I am really encouraged that Inverness wants to invest in the future of Stittsville Main Street – especially on this important piece of land at the centre of the historic district. The project also involves Stittsville architect Malcolm Wildeboer, who designed Alice’s Café in Carp. I’m looking forward to hearing feedback from the community once the development application is formally published later this month.
This new development will be an inviting attraction for residents to Stittsville Main Street – a true acknowledgement of our past history.
