Tenants fighting proposed redevelopment in Centretown
As the City of Ottawa faces a housing shortage, there is controversy brewing in Centretown over a proposed redevelopment that many tenants say could leave them homeless.
"I have no idea where I would go there is nothing affordable or accessible to me in Centretown," said resident Julie Ivanoff.
Ivanoff has been living in her apartment at the corner of Bank and Lisgar streets for three years, but in October she received an eviction notice.
Property owner 211-231 Bank Street Holdings purchased the buildings on the block two years ago. The owner plans to build a new nine-storey building with 263 apartments and retail space on the bottom.
All of the tenants in the 27 apartments and the businesses on the block received eviction notices, but the project has yet to be approved by city council.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
"In that building right now there are long term tenants if they are evicted they will never be able to afford an apartment at the same rate," said Somerset Ward Coun. Ariel Troster.
Albert Bourjeili is the owner of Hairmosa, a staple on the block for more than 20 years. He recently relocated to Wellington Street.
"We did not receive any notice they were selling," Bourjeili said. "To be honest, the block needs help. It's too old. I spent, you can say, all my youth in that corner over there for 23 years. I'd like to see it better and hopefully, without anyone getting hurt."
The company and its development manager, Smart Living Properties, says the proposed project will revitalize the area, demolishing the current buildings but keeping the historic façade.
In a statement, Smart Living Properties says, "A generous and comprehensive relocation assistance package was offered to all tenants. Whereas the required payment by law is three months rent, the relocation package offered by the developer included up to 12 months rent compensation plus $500 moving service credit."
The proposed redevelopment has support from the Centretown Community Association but, at the same time, it points to the need for more affordable housing.
"We need more housing in general and we need affordable housing," said president Mary Huang.
"With the working from home, the north part of Centertown has been pretty empty, which leads to deterioration."
While it may be solving one problem, tenants like Ivanoff say it's creating another.
"In order to get people housed, you need to make sure that other people lose their homes? That doesn't make sense," said Ivanoff.
Seventeen tenants are currently fighting to stay.
"This is a big challenge to tackle because we want intensification, we want more people, but we don't only want people who can afford to pay thousands of dollars in rent," said Troster.
"I really think this developer can make good with their community by offering low cost units to the 17 households that are that are still in the building."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests about relationship with Prince Harry
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Ontario man devastated to learn $150,000 line of credit isn't insured after wife dies
An Ontario man found out that a line of credit he thought was insured actually isn't after his wife of 50 years died.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they're now named Scouting America
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Rape, terror and death at sea: How a boat carrying Rohingya children, women and men capsized
In March, Indonesian officials and local fishermen rescued 75 people from the overturned hull of a boat off the coast of Indonesia. Until now, little was known about why the boat capsized.
'A huge difference': These adults born in the '90s partnered with their parents to buy homes in Ontario
An Ontario woman said it would have been impossible to buy a house without her mother – an anecdote that animates the fact that over 17 per cent of Canadian homeowners born in the ‘90s own their property with their parents, according to a new report.
For their protection, immigrants critical of China and India call for speedy passage of Canada's foreign interference legislation
Canadian immigrants threatened by hostile regimes are urging parliamentarians to quickly pass the 'Countering Foreign Interference Act' so they can feel safe living in their adopted home.
How Drake and Kendrick Lamar's rap beef escalated within weeks
A long-simmering feud between hip-hop superstars Drake and Kendrick Lamar reached a boiling point in recent days as the pair traded increasingly personal insults on a succession of diss tracks. Here’s a quick overview of what’s behind the ongoing beef.