CBC NEWS - Historic cottages in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood are caught in a unique predicament: They have to be claimed for free and moved away from the site of a future condo, or be demolished.

The century-old homes on Bruyère Street and St Andrew Street, near King Edward Avenue, belonged to labourers, butchers and other workers in one of the city's oldest neighbourhoods, and one of them features ornate carvings by their original owners.

The former president of Heritage Ottawa and others are hoping someone steps up to save them, but anyone who wants to claim the free buildings will have to pay for the costs of moving them.

You can learn more by watching reporter Cory O'Kelly's CBC TV report in the video player above.