The city has confirmed plans to demolish five aging houses on Bay Street, but the demolition details have yet to be determined.
The site is scheduled for development as a 15-storey condominium by Richcraft, an Ottawa home builder.
The permit to demolish the rundown houses now occupying the site has been approved but not yet issued.
“The city has approved. Now, it is up to Richcraft,” says Mouktar Abdillahi, a spokesperson for the city.
But the approval process is not fully completed, and is expected to take another four to six months, says Kevin Yemm, a Richcraft planner.
In 2007, the company received demolition approval from the city, but no permit was ever issued.
“We weren’t in that position, right then,” says Yemm. A billboard with the words ‘Lifestyle Condos Coming Soon’ has been standing on the site since 2005.
The Centretown Citizens Community Association (CCCA) says the demolition would be a good thing.
“It is time to the tear the buildings down. It has taken too long,” says Shawn Menard, president of the association.
But the CCCA disagreed with the plans for the redevelopment because Richcraft wants to build a high-rise condominium building.
“They need to respect the design in Bay Street,” says Menard.
Neighbourhood residents have been complaining that the five buildings are an eyesore, a fire hazard, and a haven for homeless people who are sleeping in the abandoned, animal infested buildings.
“We hope to start construction soon,” says Yemm.