Ottawa tenants fear ‘demoviction’ attempt in proposed redevelopment

You may remember Linda Tom from her big win at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. She won Canada's first gold medal in those games. This is where she brought it home, a townhouse at 551 Riverdale Avenue. Got a lot of memories with this lovely lovely location. Tom is worried she'll be forced to move, leaving her home of more than five decades, her community, and the park that bears her name. All because a proposed redevelopment would knock down the existing 23 rent-controlled units and replace them with 92 units in a four-storey complex. When you see a developer's plans, there's no talk about people. It's all brick and mortar. and Coldest stone in the wintertime. The Tenants Association says about 60 people could be displaced if the project is approved. There's a lot of people with disabilities. its There's a lot of people who are retired who depend upon these spaces not only for their homes but for the community, for their doctors, for their appointments and everything that's around them. you. Ideally, these things aren't allowed to happen in the first place. Local Councillor Sean Menard has asked city staff to look at demoviction rules to protect tenants and this housing type. When you look at this spot we're losing affordable housing that's rent controlled now to put up smaller units with but much more expensive rent it doesn't help with affordability. For their part owners JSS Riverdale Holdings say the situation is more nuanced than a demoviction. They say the property is at the end of its serviceable life and that redevelopment will address aging infrastructure flood risk and add to the city's housing stock. They say if the project goes ahead They'll help tenants with alternative accommodation, subsidized moving costs and the right of first refusal on top of their legal obligations. Matthew Kupfer, CBC News, Ottawa.