HERITAGE OTTAWA

On May 19, 2022 the Community and Protective Services Committee approved a City staff recommendation urging the creation of a long-overdue Vacant Property By-law. The recommended bylaw aims to hold property owners accountable for managing their vacant properties and to mitigate negative community impacts, such as property standards and maintenance violations, graffiti, and unauthorized access, among others.

According to the Report, the permit system will also provide staff with the tools to better identify problems with vacant buildings early on, which will help prevent "demolition by neglect" by addressing issues of deterioration or loss of heritage features before these properties are damaged beyond repair. 

Heritage Ottawa submitted a letter of support for this important bylaw and made a presentation to the Community and Protective Services Committee to encourage approval. 

"We have extensive experience with the difficulties in protecting vacant heritage buildings from 'demolition by neglect' and have lobbied City staff and elected representatives with some success, such as the creation of the Mayor's Heritage Matters Task Force," stated Linda Hoad, director of Heritage Ottawa.

Implications for Heritage Buildings

Heritage Ottawa particularly appreciates the special consideration given to heritage properties city-wide, including heritage properties in rural areas. There are currently 36 properties on the Vacant Building List that are designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. 

The proposed Vacant Property By-law would apply to the buildings on the City's Heritage Watch List. Created in 2016 it currently has 33 properties listed, including Our Lady's School on Cumberland Street, Boyd Farmhouse in Stittsville and the Ottawa Board of Education Building on Gilmore Street. It would also apply to the multiple vacant buildings that have undergone repeated redevelopment applications without result, in some cases for years or even decades. Somerset House, owned by TKS Holdings, and the former Sisters of Visitation Convent on Richmond Road, owned by Ashcroft Developments, come immediately to mind.

The Vacant Property By-law is an important step towards better management of vacant buildings for Ottawa’s neighbourhoods, business areas, and particularly for our built heritage resources.

Heritage Ottawa urges City Council to approve this important by-law.