The Chateau Laurier and UNESCO.

 "In May 2019 the World Heritage Center, in accordance with paragraph 174 of Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention, contacted the State Party regarding information received on a proposed addition to the Chateau Laurier Hotel, a building which, together with the Canadian Parliament Buildings, frames the Ottawa Locks where the Rideau Canal meets the Ottawa River."

"Of concern was that the proposal included elements that could negatively impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. In June of 2019 the State Party provided comment:

Government of Canada comments:  "The Chateau Laurier Hotel is a privately-owned building. The proposal is for the construction of a seven-storey, 147 room addition to the rear of the building, overlooking Major's Hill Park. The proposed addition partially overlooks the Rideau Canal at Ottawa Locks, and is planned in a contemporary style, connecting to limited areas on the Chateau Laurier's east and west wings. The development retains the Chateau Laurier in its entirety and will be built on the site of the former parking garage. The Chateau Laurier parking garage existed at the time of the Rideau Canal's inscription on the World Heritage List on 2007. The proposed seven-storey addition is located in an area immediately adjacent to the Ottawa Locks, a highly significant and iconic component of the the property. The Ottawa Parliament Buildings and Chateau Laurier contribute significantly to the setting for the Ottawa Locks and one of the most significant views of the World Heritage property."

   "Parks Canada has, in the role of adjacent landowner, provided comments and input since 2015 on the proposal and application. As the Chateau Laurier Hotel is within the view-shed of the Ottawa Locks, feedback has been focused on compatibility of the proposed hotel addition with the historic setting of, and the visual impact to, the Ottawa Locks."

     " Evolutions to the proposed design reduced the height and increased the setback of the addition from the historic Chateau Laurier to support the prominence of the heritage building in the landscape; to minimize the visual impact on the approach to the locks from the Ottawa River, and to open up the view into the hotel's original rear courtyard and out to the Ottawa Locks and Parliament Hill."

   "On 27 June 2018, on recommendation from the City's Planning Committee conditionally approved the application to alter the Chateau Laurier building, advising that more work was required to make the addition more visually compatible with the existing hotel. On 13 June 2019, the City's Planning Committee approved the Site Plan control application. On 10 and 11 July 2019, the City Council upheld the heritage permit approval."

UNESCO Letter The construction of a proposed addition to the north side of the Chateau Laurier building adjacent to the Rideau Canal World Heritage property hold the potential to negatively affect the Outstanding Universal Value of the property. It is therefore essential that utmost care be taken in assessing potential impacts before any irrevocable decisions are made."---------------------------------------

Impact on NCC lands. "While the majority of the work will be situated within the existing Chateau Laurier property limits, there will be implications to the adjacent NCC lands and assets which surround the proposed addition to the north, east and west sides:

• Alterations to Mackenzie Avenue (Confederation Park.)
• Alterations to Major's Hill Park including hard and soft landscape.