Historic buildings in Centretown may soon be eligible to receive funding from the city for something that’s often relegated to the bottom of a business owner’s to-do list: Beautification.
On Tuesday, Ottawa’s built heritage committee unveiled a $500,000 Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program. If approved by council, it could allow property owners of buildings along Bank and a small portion of Somerset Street to receive up to $75,000 for storefront upgrades.
This pilot comes as the systemic challenges of homelessness and open drug use in the area have been on the rise, and a very slow return to office for federal workers has changed the dynamics of the downtown neighbourhood. Although the amount of funding is relatively small, business owners say it signals a change in the city’s tone that could help revive Centretown’s pre-pandemic vibe.
“It does feel like there’s a big shift in, ‘Hey, let’s actually do something about this,’ and it’s extremely welcome from me,” said Jon Svazas, the owner and chef of Fauna, a locally sourced, high-end eatery that’s been operating at Bank and Frank streets for 11 years.
According to a report presented by city staff, the program has three main goals: heritage conservation, beautification and improved accessibility.
Centretown is a city-designated heritage conservation district, with many buildings along Bank Street ranked as contributing to the area’s heritage value. For these properties, the pilot could cover 75 per cent of eligible façade costs up to $75,000.
‘I don’t want to come off as being anti-unhoused because I’m not, but we need to stabilize the situation on the street while also trying to provide services for people, and that’s a hard balance. I’m just someone who does have compassion but also is trying to operate a business.’
— Jon Svazas, owner and chef, Fauna
“Façade improvements may sound cosmetic, but they are a ripple effect and are profound,” said SabriNa Lemay, executive director of the Centretown Business Improvement Area, at the June 10 committee meeting.
Also in Centretown, the start of redevelopment of the long-vacant, 129-year-old Somerset House made news last week. Somerset Coun. Ariel Troster says this pilot is a crucial step to prevent such vacancies.
The pilot “does recognize the fact that we have a lot of heritage buildings that are in really bad shape and that very often building owners either can’t afford to fix them up or are reticent to put the money in,” she said in an interview with Capital Current. “But it’s a priority for the city because those buildings really represent the character of Centretown and downtown Ottawa.”
‘I hope a lot of people participate’
The pilot program is aimed at improving the appearance of commercial storefronts, and Svazas, who has owned the building Fauna operates in for five years, hopes it could cover a restoration of the original, historic windows at the top of the structure.
“I hope it’s just easy to get the money, and I hope a lot of people participate because the downtown is important. If you don’t have a vibrant downtown, then what are the neighbouring neighbourhoods?” he said.
Svazas acknowledged the challenges of operating a business in Centretown in recent years, as well as the systemic social issues that can deter customers from his restaurant.
“I don’t want to come off as being anti-unhoused because I’m not, but we need to stabilize the situation on the street while also trying to provide services for people, and that’s a hard balance,” he said.
“I’m just someone who does have compassion but also is trying to operate a business.”
Although the finer details have not been finalized, Fauna will also participate in a pilot program called Street Seats this summer. The project will repurpose short sections of MacLaren, Frank and Florence streets adjacent to Bank Street into pedestrian-first spaces that encourage more foot traffic.
Lemay says the city is doing its due diligence to provide extra security and cleaning during the pilot.
Council will vote on the Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program on June 25. If approved, staff said funding applications would open immediately and operate on a first-come, first-serve basis.
