The Dominion Observatory.

The Observatory Campus will not be preserved when a medical centre is built on the Farm:

1.) The campus was part of a land agreement between the Ottawa Hospital Corporation and the government of Canada. However "...the boundaries of Site 11 were modified to exclude existing buildings including the Dominion Observatory, creating an irregularly shaped parcel." (From: NCC Federal Site Review for the New Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital, November 2016, page 24/256.) 

But the corporation does not want irregularly shaped parcels of land. Functional Operational Hospital Interests: Parcel shape-An irregular parcel shape "would require fundamental modifications. Rating-very poor." (NCC Federal Site Review...page 45/256.)

2.) The South Azimuth is facing demolition because Maple Drive has to be widened to provide an emergency vehicle route.

3.) Designation as a Classified Federal Heritage Building means nothing. The Gonzales Observatory at 302 Denison Road in Victoria BC was a classified property but it was sold off. "The building was given federal heritage protection in the 1980's, with the highest rating of classified federal heritage building. After a land use study of Gonzales in 1987 the federal Public Works department announced a plan to sell off most of the land to the north of the observatory for housing development and to sell the building itself and the land immediately surrounding it to the City of Victoria for $1."

"Both the Victoria and Oak Bay councils joined the Gonzales Hill Preservation Society in opposing this plan; a very important aspect of the protest was that the area provided habitat for quail and other birds, as well as some rare plant species. Eventually the entire property was sold to the Capital Regional District for $35,000 dollars and Gonzales Hill became a regional park." (Victoria Heritage Foundation.)

4.) A City of Ottawa politician is hoping that the Civic will preserve the property. But the medical centre recently demolished the Sir John Carling cafeteria annex that was designed by renowned Canadian architect Hart Massey. Why is the city involved in this (mis)adventure anyway, this is government of Canada property that is owned by the people of this country, and part of a major tourist venue. The federal Heritage Department is abdicating its responsibility to protect the Experimental Farm and the Rideau Canal. The government should be a gatekeeper, and not collaberating with entities that are ruining irreplaceable landmarks and landscapes- including 680 trees.