Lowertown site tapped for new affordable housing
Old St. Patrick project caps Jo-Anne Poirier's stint as OCH chief executive
By Michelle Nash, Ottawa East News
Dec 26, 2013
After years of remaining vacant and boarded up, the city and Ottawa Community Housing revealed plans to build a sleek new multi-million dollar building on the site of a semi-detached home at the corner of Old St. Patrick Street.
Owned by Ottawa Community Housing, 454-456 Old St. Patrick will turn from a derelict home into a grey brick design that will welcome 10 families to the Lowertown east neighbourhood.
"By investing in safe, affordable and accessible housing we save money in healthcare, emergency services and the justice system," said Bay Coun. Mark Taylor, chairman of the community and protective services board.
The $2.53 million project is funded in part with a contribution of $1.3 million from the city's 10-year housing and homelessness plan.
"While most of Ottawa enjoys a good standard of living, it is important to remember the 140,000 that live below the poverty line," said Mayor Jim Watson. "These include children, the elderly and persons living with special needs. We must ensure that we are not balancing our books on the backs of society's most vulnerable and the City of Ottawa has shown that this can be done."
The semi-detached house currently on the property has remained vacant since a 2010 earthquake badly damaged the building's foundation.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury has consistently supported the proposal to build a 10-unit complex, adding more housing stock for the 10,000 people waiting for affordable units in the city.
Back in March 2012 when the community first learned of the 10-unit building proposal, the Lowertown Community Association's heritage committee disapproved of the loss of the old building.
"We need to work together, build something that respects the heritage," Nancy Miller Chenier, who leads the association's heritage committee, said at the time, adding the committee expressed a desire to keep the character of the home, retaining the facade of the house to keep the history of old homes in the neighbourhood alive.
The heritage committee has been working at compiling a list of older homes in the neighbourhood, all in an effort to save homes from being demolished.
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury said he was "very happy with the design."
"It fits in well with the surrounding neighbourhood and I know the new residents will appreciate everything Lowertown has to offer," he said. The event also offered an opportunity for city councillors to say goodbye to Ottawa Community Housing's outgoing chief executive officer Jo-Anne Poirier.
"During her tenure she has skilfully managed our $2 billion housing portfolio, set us on the path for long term financial sustainability and improved the quality of life for our 32,000 residents," Kanata North Coun. Marianne Wilkinson, chairwoman of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation. "She has left an indelible mark on our city and we are truly grateful."
Poirier, whose last day on the job was Dec. 19, said she will miss the community, staff and city council members she has worked alongside for the past six years.
"I felt OCH was in good shape and that we have very engaged tenants and a good board," Poirier said. "I am going to miss the people. I have made a lot of friends and what we have done collectively has made a difference."
Poirier has turned her attention to a new position at the Victorian Order of Nurses in the new year.
She said she does however wish to work closely with the organization in the future.
"I will be looking at strengthening the ties between community housing and home health care," Poirier said.
It has been a busy last two months for Poirier - in addition to the 10 units announced in December, the organization also made 27 units in the Carson Grove neighbourhood available in November.
"I find it very rewarding," Poirier said about the addition to OCH's ownership.
Aside from being a part of helping add affordable housing to the city's stock, a new smoke-free policy has been established for OCH buildings.
The organization provides housing to 32,000 residents in the city and the new policy will see new tenants sign a non-smoking policy on OCH property, and ask current tenants to voluntarily comply. "Over the years we have received more and more secondhand smoke complaints," Poirier said. "I am proud of the journey we have made on the consultation process. I think implementing the policy will take a long time, but I also think it is where the society is going."
Aside from second-hand smoke complaints, Poirier said OCH reviewed their fire statistics, and found that many of the fires that occurred in OCH homes were smoking related.
As part of the two-year consultation process, the organization released a survey, which 21 per cent of households responded to. The survey revealed that 69 per cent of its respondents supported a smoke-free living environment and 78 per cent said they do not smoke in their homes.
Poirier said getting all tenants to live in a smoke-free environment may be a long way off, but this policy is the start.
"We will have to look at it as we go," Poirier said. "I know they will remain to be open to suggestions."
http://www.ottawacommunitynews.com/news-...n-site-tapped-for-new-affordable-housing
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