Lowertown Landlord Ordered to Complete Work on Crumbling Former Schoolhouse

Photo: Bryanna Bradley /  Ottawa Citizen

Friday, November 21, 2014

OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Matthew Pearson

The City of Ottawa has won a legal victory over Claude Lauzon, owner of a crumbling former schoolhouse in Lowertown.

Lauzon must now complete work to stabilize and protect the west and south walls and foundations of the building at 287 Cumberland St. and to demolish the remaining parts of the structure, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice confirmed in a Nov. 13 ruling. He also must secure the remainder of the site and remove barricades to enable the opening of roads and pedestrian sidewalks.

The court ordered that Lauzon carry out the work under the direction of structural engineer John Cooke and complete the demolition by Dec. 23.

Court has also ordered Lauzon to pay the city $140,000 in legal costs and expenses incurred in relation to the various orders made by the city’s chief building official’s office in regards to the building.

After the work is completed, traffic lanes that are presently barricaded will be reopened. However, the city says there will be a need for hoarding and protection along the north Murray Street sidewalk as the cage protecting the preserved walls will encroach into the sidewalk area. The encroachment will remain until the site is redeveloped.