Bank Street Tenants Confront Smart Living Properties to say No to Mass Eviction
Bank Street Tenants Confront Smart Living Properties to say No to Mass Eviction
By Emily Miller Tenants facing mass eviction from a heritage building in downtown Ottawa marched to their landlord’s office on Sept. 10. Residents are demanding that Smart Living Properties (SLP) drop the N13 eviction notices and meet with tenants. Thirty tenants and supporters organizing under the ...
The article doesn't really go into details of what the developer has planned.
I have to assume they are looking to demolish the block and build something higher than 3 floors with a bunch more units?
It's unfortunate if the developer isn't offering any options for tenants to move back into the new building.
This doesn't feel like a renoviction though.
Hi, Leveller staff here!
You're right the article didn't go into the plans. Some details have been omitted since the Bank Block discussion has been going on for a few months, and this article focused on the rallies that took place last week. Plans were proposed as far back as December 28, 2022, and there's been a few articles by other newsmedia, including The Fulcrum, CTV, OBJ, CBC, and CHUO.
The editorial we published at the same time as this article mentions "Smart Living plans to demolish the entire block and build a 9-storey building with around 263 units which will not be affordable." During the rally, a few tenants and supporters spoke that not only will these units not be affordable, they'll be significantly smaller. One of the site plans submitted to the city does look like 240 units will be single bedrooms or bachelors.
The tenants received a relocation and assistance plan, which includes 1. being given listings of rental units in the neighbourhood, 2. an allowance for moving, and 3. assistance with referrals, translations and tenants' needs as requested. What tenants spoke about in the media and at rallies before, is that there are no affordable rental units to move to as this is a pattern among developers and landlords in Ottawa and throughout Ontario.