Federal government looking to turn these 22 Ottawa properties into housing
The Government of Canada has added more properties onto its list of federal properties it is hoping to turn into new homes.
The Canada Public Land Bank, launched on Sunday, features 56 federal properties across Canada, including 22 in the city of Ottawa, that have been identified as being able to support housing.
The new plan is to offer most of the properties for long-term lease, not a one-time sale, to keep the lands in public hands and ensure housing built on them remains affordable.
The current list includes properties in 28 municipalities in seven provinces but will grow over time through an ongoing review of underused or vacant federal land and buildings.
The government is seeking feedback and consultations for 21 properties in Ottawa and has moved into the development phase for the site of Wateridge Village, the former home of Canadian Forces Base Rockcliffe. The government announced in November that federal properties on that site will be repurposed into 307 homes.
A new interactive map launched by the federal government includes five properties in Tunney's Pasture, two in Centretown and four in the Confederation Heights campus in Ottawa's south end that were all former government offices or commercial centres.
The current list on the new public lands mapping tool are:
- Five properties at Tunney's Pasture at 10 Columbine Dr.; 100 Chardon Dr.; 50 Columbine Dr.; 70 Columbine Dr; and a building at Frederick Banting, Colombine, and Tunney’s Pasture driveways
- The Jackson Building at 122 Bank St.
- L'Esplanade Laurier at 171-181 Bank St.
- 552 Booth St. in The Glebe Annex
- Edward Drake Building (former CBC building) at 1500 Bronson Ave.
- 2670 Riverside Dr. in Hogs Back
- Sir Charles Tupper Building 2720 Riverside Dr.
- 875 Heron Rd. in Alta Vista
- Federal Study Centre at 1495 Heron Road
- National Defence Medical Centre at 1745 Alta Vista Drive
- Five sites at 470 Tremblay Rd. near St. Laurent Shopping Centre
- 599 Tremblay Rd. near St. Laurent Shopping Centre
- Former CFB Rockcliffe site at 370 Codd's Rd. and 800 Winisik St.
- Former CFB Rockcliffe site at Tawadina Road and Wanaki Road
Public Service and Procurement Canada was being directed to reduce its office portfolio by 50 per cent in April's federal budget as it looks to cut costs under the hybrid work model for public servants. Repurposing unused public lands is part of a strategy the government hopes will address the high costs and limited availability of housing across the country.
Over 50 per cent of the federal government's office portfolio is within the national capital region.
The federal government signed a transfer agreement with the Government of Quebec in June to develop a new 600-bed hospital at the site of the Asticou Centre in Gatineau.
The Graham Spry Building at 250 Lanark Street was also transferred to the City of Ottawa this year to repurpose the site into a temporary warming centre during the winter months.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
PSPC says it has over six million sq. m. of office space, with an estimated 50 per cent of the space underused or vacant.
The 56 properties listed in the Canada Public Land Bank represent total of 305 hectares of land, according to the government. PSPC says the Canada Public Land Bank's list of sellable properties will grow regularly in the coming months, along with further details on listed properties.
"Under the new plan, we will partner with the housing sector and communities to build homes on every site suitable for housing across the federal portfolio. Wherever possible, we will do it with a novel long-term lease, not a one-time sale, to ensure every site has affordable housing and public land stays public," the government said in a news release on Sunday.
The City of Ottawa had been looking for ways to redevelop government properties. Converting office space into apartments was identified as one of the ways the city could reach its goal of 151,000 new homes by 2031.
The average rent of a one bedroom apartment in the capital in August was $2,015, which is up by 3.3 per cent since last year, and that of a two bedroom apartment is $2,506 – up by 6.3 per cent since 2023, according to Rentals.ca.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
2 dead, third in critical condition after attack in Kingston, Ont., suspect arrested
Two people are dead and a third suffered life-threatening injuries following an attack at an encampment in Kingston, Ont., Thursday. A suspect has been arrested following a multi-hour standoff.
B.C. will scrap carbon tax if feds remove requirement: Eby
British Columbia's premier says the province will end the consumer carbon tax if the federal government removes the legal requirement to have one.
Actor Chad McQueen, son of Steve McQueen, dies at 63
Chad McQueen, an actor known for his performances in the 'Karate Kid' movies and the son of the late actor and race car driver Steve McQueen, has died. He was 63.
Family of Sikh man speaks out against Toronto-area hospital after beard shaved
The family of a Sikh man from Brampton is seeking an apology, an explanation, and a promise to do better from the local hospital network after they say the facial hair of their loved one was removed without their consent.
Ottawa resident who tested positive for mosquito-borne virus dies, public health says
An Ottawa resident who died of a viral encephalitis this summer tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus eastern equine encephalitis (EEEV), the first human case of the virus in Ottawa.
Trump rules out another debate against Harris as her campaign announces US$47M haul in hours afterward
Donald Trump on Thursday ruled out another presidential debate against Kamala Harris as her campaign announced a massive fundraising haul in the hours after the two candidates met on stage.
'Keep your bags packed': Consul general grilled over $9M NYC condo purchase
After weeks of pressure, Canada's consul general Tom Clark is testifying on Thursday before a House of Commons committee about the purchase of his new official residence in New York that generated a lot of political attention over the summer.
N.B. premier's asylum seeker comments spark controversy
Claims from New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs that Ottawa wants to force the province to take in 4,600 asylum seekers are 'largely fictitious,' says federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller.
TIFF pauses screenings of documentary about Russian soldiers due to 'significant threats'
The Toronto Film Festival says it has been forced to pause the screenings of a documentary about Russian soldiers this weekend, citing 'significant threats to festival operations and public safety.'