The uncertain future of 529 Richmond Road.

 529 Richmond Road includes Rochester Field, Maplelawn Manor and the walled garden. "NCC looks to revive 'controversial' Rochester Field development through land bank. The federal government has added the site at 529 Richmond Road to the Canada Public Land Bank" by Catherine Morrison, Ottawa Citizen, November 19, 2024.

   The Maplelawn Manor is a Classified Federal Heritage Building. That means nothing. Plans were underway to demolish the former train station on Rideau Street before Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau intervened. Prime Minister Trudeau and astronomer Arthur Covington prevented the demolition of the Dominion Observatory in 1970. Now the Dominion Observatory is again threatened with destruction, by a medical centre---private vehicles will be banned from Maple Drive on the Experimental Farm. And a city of Ottawa councillor is hoping that the landmark will be saved. 

1989 - Maplelawn was designated a national historic site by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada because of: "The quality of the house, but more particularly because its gardens are the best preserved of the few known surviving examples of early 19th century walled gardens in Canada."

1994 - The City of Ottawa protected the house and gardens through the Ontario Heritage Act.

Directory of Federal Real Property

Structure Number: 145030

Custodian: National Capital Commission

Property Number: 01524---Rochester House and Gardens

Interest: Crown Owned

Condition: Fair

Construction Year: 1831

Floor Area: 406.51 sq. m.

Occupancy: Fully Occupied

Address: 529 Richmond Road

Municipality: Ottawa

Province/Territory: Ontario

Federal Electoral District: Ottawa Centre

Census Classification: Rural