Wednesday, October 14, 2020

The impending decimation of the Parliamentary Precinct.

Apparently Public Works and the National Capital Commission are proceeding with plans to "modernize" Wellington Street property across from Parliament Hill, and the northern half of the Sparks Street Mall. "Many of the buildings on this block have gone beyond or are reaching the end of their life cycle." (NCC CONSENT AGENDA - 2020 - P221 - Capital Interests for Block 2 Site Redevelopment (Design Competition.) Tuesday October 6, 2020.) Eleven buildings are facing demolition and new ones will be constructed, notably on vacant land beside the former American Embassy:

Block 2. "Major overhaul in store for entire block facing Parliament Hill." CBC News, February 3, 2020.

Are you people insane. The Americans have tremendous respect for their monuments and institutions. The American government rarely permits new construction on land near the White House and Lafayette Park. An exception was made for the Canadian embassy on Pennsylvania Avenue.

I do not want to see my Maple Leaf Flag and Canada's Coat of Arms stripped from the Langevin Block, the former US Embassy or any other landmark on Wellington Street. Especially by foreign entities who won a design contest. 

A photograph I took of Princess Diana on Parliament Hill, June 21, 1983. The Langevin Block on 80 Wellington can be seen in the background.

My video "Government buildings on the Sparks Street Mall" is on YouTube. The properties that are facing demolition or facadism on the Mall are: the Bank of Nova Scotia; Bate; Birks; Blackburn; Booth; Brouse; Canada's Four Corners; Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce; Dover; Hope;Slater and Postal Station B.

Sparks Street is a Heritage Conservation District protected by Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. But federal heritage laws supersede provincial and municipal heritage laws.

Classified Federal Heritage Building and Recognized Federal Heritage Building definitions.

Senate Bill S-203 - An Act to Amend the National Capital Act will prevent the flattening and inappropriate alteration of properties in the Parliamentary Precinct, and new construction within 500 metres of landmarks will be banned:

Senate Bill S-203

"Her Majesty, by and with the consent of the Senate and the House of Commons, enacts as follows: building or work of national significance means

(a) the grounds in the City of Ottawa bounded by Wellington Street, the Rideau Canal, the Ottawa River and Kent Street, known as Parliament Hill, and any buildings or works located on those grounds;

(b) the Senate of Canada Building, located at 2 Rideau Street in the City of Ottawa;

(c) the building located at 1 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(d) the Victoria Building, located at 140 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(e) the Sir John A. Macdonald Building, located at 144 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(f) the Wellington Building, located at 180 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(g) the Confederation Building, located at 229 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(h) the Justice Building, located at 249 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(i) the Supreme Court of Canada Building, located at 301 Wellington Street in the City of Ottawa;

(j) any place that has been commemorated as a historic place under paragraph 3 (a) of the Historic Sites and Monuments Act.

(k) a national historic site as defined in subsection 2 (1) of the Parks Canada Agency Act.

(l) any prescribed building or work.

National Interest Land Mass.

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