City looks to buy church lands near Billings Bridge for supportive housing

The City of Ottawa has reached a tentative deal to purchase an $18.5-million property that would be turned into supportive housing.

In a staff report presented to the Finance and Corporate Services Committee, the City is calling it a “unique and rare opportunity” to buy lands that are close to transit, amenities and community services.

The lands, which are owned by the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall, include a seminary, residences and a vacant building at 1245 Kilborn Place, with the lot totalling 8.7 acres of land.

The property was most recently used for office space, and is part of the city’s strategy on transitional housing.

It’s expected that if approved, the property would undergo extensive renovations before anyone could move in, because the property isn’t in great condition.

“There’s extensive repairs that needs to take place,” said Alta Vista Councillor Marty Carr on Wake up with Rob Snow with guest host Derick Fage. “The boiler needs to get going, inadequate heating for the rooms, there’s some asbestos, not a lot actually there was a break-in in the building so lots of graffiti and stuff in the building, but the city was aware of this and is prepared to put the money in in order to restore the building.”

The current waitlist for supportive housing in Ottawa is close to 400 people, and a number of those are staying in the community shelter system and two physical distancing centres, Bernard Grandmaitre Arena in Vanier and Dempsey Community Centre in Alta Vista.

The purchase would need to be approved by committee, and then by council, and then the community would see extensive consultations.

You can listen to the full interview with Marty Carr below.