Ottawa Citizen, By Marie-Danielle Smith

A demolition permit has finally been issued for the semi-detached residential property owned by Claude Lauzon at 207-209 Murray St., according to Ottawa’s chief building official.

Arlene Grégoire told the mayor and members of city council Wednesday that demolition of the Lowertown property will facilitate the property’s redevelopment.

A building permit for the adjacent property at 287 Cumberland St., the former Our Lady School, has been applied for but has not yet been issued.

Once a building permit is issued, “work on preserving the heritage elements of the building can commence, along with the demolition of the remainder of the structure,” according to Grégoire.

A motion approved by city council July 8 had urged the city’s planning committee to ensure demolition of part of the school and the property at 207-209 Murray St. by Aug. 9, citing dangers to public safety because bricks were falling from the derelict buildings.

The motion also stated that Lauzon had provided Grégoire with an updated schedule of work that planned to complete demolition before winter.

Last October, the heritage committee approved a plan to preserve the south and west walls of the long-vacant school, which was constructed in 1904 and has been steadily deteriorating for years. The plan was a major result of ongoing legal battles between Lauzon and the city surrounding the properties.

The redevelopment is not Lauzon’s only project. He oversees the Claude Lauzon Group, which includes buildings throughout Lowertown, Vanier and New Edinburgh.

Lauzon was not available for comment on Wednesday.