Lionel Njeukam breathes a sigh of relief because, for the time being, at least his house will not be turned into rubble.
Njeukam is one of several residents of a low-rise apartment building on Nepean Street that is expected to be demolished so developers Glenview Homes and Taggart Management can use the land for a surface-level parking lot for a new tower. mixed use of 27 floors.
The plan for the tower, which would be built in an existing adjacent car park, was opposed by both residents of the building and members of the community.
On Thursday, the city’s town planning commission voted in favor of approving the new tower, but also postponing the demolition request so that more can be discussed.
“This is a temporary relief,” said Njeukam, 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 demolish it, we could be paying a lot more in a few years.”
Lionel Njeukam, a resident of Nepean Street, lower right, addresses the Ottawa Planning Committee on July 7, 2022 on a proposal to demolish the low-rise building where he lives. (City of Ottawa / YouTube)
“Only postpone” issue
The developers ’plans offer a similar rent for two nearby buildings over the next five years, a package that Njeukam acknowledged is“ generous ”.
And while some residents have signed up, Njeukam told CBC Radio’s All In A Day that it doesn’t really address the basic problem of the affordable housing deficit.
“The problem is only being postponed. In five years, when they stop matching the price below the … average market rates, what will we do? We will have to pay between $ 800 and $ 1,000 more for rent.” , has said. dit.
“We can’t afford it right now. I’m not sure we’ll be able to afford it in five years.”
The new development would include 25 units that meet the definition of affordable housing, but Njeukam said he does not believe they are truly affordable for many low-income families.
All in one day 10:17 The fate of Nepean Street 142 will hang a little longer
We spoke to a resident who had been waiting to find out if his house would be demolished or not
No parking, no tower: developer
Glenview Homes chairman Mark Shabinsky told the planning committee on Thursday that the decision before them was simple.
“The tower will not move forward unless we have control of our car park next door. It is not a threat, it is simply a commercial reality that we are dealing with,” he said.
“And although our hope and our efforts so far have been for this development to continue, because we believe it is a victory for all involved, at the end of the day, if it does not continue, we are satisfied with the status quo.”
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney said putting a 27-story tower on top of an existing parking lot was a good way to create density, but tearing down affordable houses on Nepean Street to build a new lot made no sense.
“If we continue down this road, people will live in their cars. We will need parking lots,” McKenney said. “People will have to park their cars there, because that’s where they’ll have to live.”
The town planning committee will again discuss possible demolition at the next August meeting.