HERITAGE OTTAWA

Heritage Ottawa was pleased to see yesterday's National Capital Commission announcement that it has begun the process of shutting down 24 Sussex Drive in order to begin preparing the building for long-overdue maintenance work anticipated to begin next Spring.

The NCC's website announcement states that the project will include 'the removal of obsolete systems, infrastructure and designated substances and preparing the asset for next steps". The proposed work to be undertaken includes the following: 

• Extensive recapitalization
• Abatement of hazardous materials
• Retention of certain heritage components
• Improvements to the building envelope
• Replacement of mechanical and electrical systems
• Construction of universally accessible entrances and washrooms

After decades of neglect this investment in an important National Historic Site of Canada can only be good news for the health of the building. The NCC makes no commitment to the future of the building, instead it briefly states that "the federal government will be assessing the future of the Prime Minister's residence."

The decision to invest in 24 Sussex Drive is timely. In June, the federal government enacted Bill C-23, Historic Places of Canada Act, which is making its way through Parliament, that among other things, aims to protect and conserve federally-owned national historic sites currently without any legislative protection.

After year's of practicing a form of "demolition by neglect" it's time for the federal government to get its Prime Ministerial house in order.

References:

Read more about 24 Sussex Drive on the NCC website.

24 Sussex deserves better than this, Globe and Mail, April 21, 2023

24 Sussex Drive closed as rodent carcasses fill the attic, CTV News, April 4, 2023

Interview with Heritage Ottawa's David Jeanes on CBC | The Current | November 21, 2022

It's Time to Get Moving on 24 Sussex Drive, Heritage Ottawa, 2019

National Capital Commission to Close 24 Sussex. CTV News November 17, 2022

Fate of the Prime Minister's Residence Up in the Air. Toronto Star November 18, 2022