By Jessica Depatie
Change is welcome but the historic Somerset Cinema in the heart of Centretown will be missed, says John Curry, a member of the local architectural conservation advisory committee.
His comments came April 1, moments before the committee accepted a motion to recommend the demolition of two heritage buildings at the corner of Bank and Somerset streets.
This decision brings Larry Hartman, the owner of Hartman’s Your Independent Grocer, one step closer in his quest for expanding his grocery store.
He wants to turn the former Somerset Cinema and the adjacent McCord apartments buildings into expanded retail space.
Hartman announced his plans for the expansion three years ago.
He was told he would have to get permission from the City of Ottawa before he could use the two buildings protected by the provincial Heritage Act.
“It’s a very long process and there is a lot of paperwork,” says Hartman.
A 60-unit affordable housing apartment complex would then be built above the grocery store in association with the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation.
Councillor Elisabeth Arnold supports the project
She says though it is unfortunate that the buildings must be demolished, the positive outcomes outweigh the negative.
“It’s always a balance. It will bring affordable housing to the community, much needed affordable housing and on balance, it’s a good thing,” says Arnold.
Heritage planners with the City of Ottawa looked at the possibilities for renovating the cinema and McCord buildings as multi-level, loft retail space for the expanded grocery store but parking needs cannot be met with existing space.
Extensive underground parking will be needed to accommodate the new store and apartment complex.
In an attempt to preserve some of the heritage character from the existing site, steps will be taken to create a design which is sympathetic to existing building types and which re-establishes streetscape continuity, says Stuart Lazear, a heritage planner at the City of Ottawa.
The two main doorways of the McCord Apartments will be retained and incorporated as interior doorways in the apartment addition of the new building.
The proposed building will also borrow aesthetically-pleasing elements from the streetscape, such as the columns and cornice of the former Bank of Montreal that is already part of the Hartman’s store.
The Heritage Act protects all of Centretown and each heritage building in the district.
Every heritage building has received a rating, a consideration for City Council when examining applications to renovate or demolish the buildings.
The buildings are rated on a scale of one to four, one meaning the building holds the most heritage value, and four meaning the heritage value is negligible.
The Somerset Cinema, which was built over 50 years ago, has a rating of two.
The McCord building has a rating of four.
The Advisory Committees recommendation now sends the motion to the Planning and Development Committee.
It would then go to city council for final approval before the construction process can begin.
Arnold expects the motion will pass and says she has heard a lot of positive things about the project.