Lionel Njeukam breathes a sigh of relief that – at least for now – his home will not be reduced to rubble.
Njeukam is one of several residents of a low-rise apartment building on Nepean Street that is to be demolished so developers Glenview Homes and Taggart Management can use the land for surface parking for a new 27-storey mixed-use tower.
The plan for the tower, which would be built on top of an existing adjacent parking lot, was met with opposition from both the building’s residents and community members.
On Thursday, the city’s Planning Commission voted to approve the new tower, but to delay the demolition request so they could discuss it further.
“It’s a temporary relief,” said Neukam, who moved into the two-bedroom apartment with his family in early 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is an affordable building. We pay $1,200 a month. And if they tear it down, we might be paying a lot more in a few years.”
Nepean Street resident Lionel Njeukam, bottom right, addresses Ottawa’s planning committee on July 7, 2022, about a proposal to demolish the low-rise building where he lives. (City of Ottawa/YouTube)
Problem “just procrastinating”
The developers’ plans offer similar rent in two nearby buildings for the next five years, a package Njeukam acknowledged as “generous.”
And while some residents have signed up, Njeukam told CBC Radio’s All In A Day that it doesn’t really address the underlying problem of the affordable housing shortage.
“The problem is just being postponed. In five years, when they stop meeting the price below… average market rates, what are we going to do? We’re going to have to pay $800 to $1,000 more in rent,” he said.
“We can’t afford that right now. I’m not sure we’ll be able to afford it in five years.”
The new development will include 25 units that meet the definition of affordable housing, but Neukam said he doesn’t think they will really be affordable to many low-income families.
All in one day10:17 The fate of 142 Nepean Street will hang in the balance for a little while longer
We speak to a resident who was expecting to find out today whether or not his home will be demolished
No Parking, No Tower: Developer
Glenview Homes President Mark Shabinski told the planning committee Thursday that the decision before them was simple.
“The tower will not go ahead unless we control our parking lot next door. It’s not a threat, it’s just a commercial reality we face,” he said.
“And while our hopes and efforts thus far have been that this development will continue — because we believe it’s a win for everyone involved — ultimately, if it doesn’t continue, we’re happy with the status quo.” “
County Somerset. Catherine McKenney said putting a 27-storey tower over an existing car park was a good way to create density, but demolishing the affordable low-rise housing on Nepean Street to build a new plot made no sense.
“If we continue down this path, people will be living in their cars. We’re going to need parking lots,” McKenney said. “People will have to park their cars there because that’s where they’ll have to live.”
The Planning Commission will discuss the possible demolition again at its next meeting in August.
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