General Update/Rumour Thread

[Ottawacurious]

Ashcroft Homes, one of Ottawa's leading developers, now in receivership
A Toronto-based receiver, KSV Restructuring Inc., now has control of Ashcroft’s extensive real estate portfolio in Ottawa.

Author of the article:Andrew Duffy
Published Feb 19, 2025

Ashcroft Homes, one of Ottawa's leading developers, now in receivership

One of Ottawa’s leading developers, the Ashcroft Homes Group, has been forced into receivership.

ottawacitizen.com

More Ashcroft news: 330 Gilmour is up for sale

Came across this site which is also interesting:

Planned Ruination: Demolition by Neglect in Ottawa

This short photo essay documents two cases of demolition-by-neglect, one a long-vacant former public building in Centretown, and the other, a row of tenant-occupied brick houses in Sandy Hill, now …

wasteheritageresearch.wordpress.com

Susan M. Ross
Redevelopment in limbo

330 Gilmour Street: A cherished backdrop to the urban scene?
330 Gilmour Street is the former Ottawa Public School Board Building which was built in three phases (1922, 1956 and 1963). In 2001 it was sold by the School Board to Ashcroft Homes and has stood empty for over 20 years. Ashcroft Homes initially proposed to demolish the entire building. The building was assessed as being of high heritage significance as part of the Centretown Heritage Conservation District Study. When demolition was refused, Ashcroft proposed a 9-storey seniors’ residence, keeping only the 1922 wing[10] The city approved this proposal, on the condition of lowering the new structure to seven storeys. These development restraints were contested by Ashcroft at the Ontario Municipal Board, and the project has gone no further[11]


Access prevented by signs, fences and boarding
Frayed but still intact character
Over the last few years, temporary fencing and boarding-up on an increasing number of windows and doors of all three wings of 330 Gilmore have in theory served to secure the building from the weather and intruders while also signalling the building’s vacant status. While proposals for possible future uses continue in student theses and local newspaper articles, worsening conditions make any reuse increasingly unlikely[12]

In my exterior photos from May 2024, deterioration might not seem so bad, apart from flaking paint and likely rotting of wood windows in need of repair and repainting. However, the interior video posted by Freaktography (2024) shows substantial water damage inside; the floors of some rooms are covered in moss or vegetation[13] This is likely from roof and/or plumbing leaks. That such damage is not typically visible from the street is a key issue in monitoring vacant sites and thus requires more than the inadequate exterior inspections that the city currently offers, to ensure that problems promptly addressed before decay sets in and spreads[14]

 

[J.OT13]

Aschroft has been a terrible landowner. They've left so many heritage buildings rot. I hope it's not too late to save this one and that the next owner gives a damn. Let's hope the Westboro Convent goes on the market soon as well.

 

[Ottawacurious]

Aschroft has been a terrible landowner. They've left so many heritage buildings rot. I hope it's not too late to save this one and that the next owner gives a damn. Let's hope the Westboro Convent goes on the market soon as well.

Westboro convent is on the market for some time now.

 

[Alex613]

At the last Built Heritage Committee, the City mentioned that the property (the Convent) has recently been sold and that the new owner has engaged an engineer to review the condition of the building. Apparently, the new owner is working collaboratively with heritage planning staff and building code services staff on the outstanding orders on the property. City anticipates a new development proposal for the site sometime in 2026. Leiper mentioned that he is optimistic. So that sounds promising, I think (and hope).

 

[Ottawacurious]

The upgraded hydro station on Riverdale/Main is progressing pretty rapidly. Looks like a giant bouncy castle!

View attachment 703320
Finished design will look like this

Taken a few days ago

 

[Marcus CLS]

Not sure what this means but I spotted from across the street through the window a person sitting at a desk talking on a phone inside the Choo communities/ former monocle sales office on Richmond Road. Someone from a receivership agency perhaps?

 

[Marcus CLS]

Extensive Renovations and minor additions have been going on for several months now at the Subaru Car dealership at Richmond Road and McRae in Westboro. I guess any chance of redevelopment here will not be happening any time soon including the car lot on the east side of McRae.

 

[Katimavid]

Extensive Renovations and minor additions have been going on for several months now at the Subaru Car dealership at Richmond Road and McRae in Westboro. I guess any chance of redevelopment here will not be happening any time soon including the car lot on the east side of McRae.

i had that same thought recently, other than 344 McCrae there is no other opportunity on the street for a while

 

[jay2028]

Did anyone watch the pre construction meeting for 25 Pickering if so did anything of note come out of it.

 

[btap]

Extensive Renovations and minor additions have been going on for several months now at the Subaru Car dealership at Richmond Road and McRae in Westboro. I guess any chance of redevelopment here will not be happening any time soon including the car lot on the east side of McRae.

I think it's the top Subaru dealership in all of Canada in terms of sales? Something like that. Hard to mess with a good thing, I guess.

 

[J.OT13]

Not sure what this means but I spotted from across the street through the window a person sitting at a desk talking on a phone inside the Choo communities/ former monocle sales office on Richmond Road. Someone from a receivership agency perhaps?

The Convent has been sold to a new owner that's actively working with the City to determine the condition of the structure. Could be related.

 

[sm4012]

Not sure if this has been answered somewhere else, but what's with the empty retail space in Icon? Seems like a pretty high exposure location, though im sure it's outrageously priced haha.

 

[hoggytime]

Not sure if this has been answered somewhere else, but what's with the empty retail space in Icon? Seems like a pretty high exposure location, though im sure it's outrageously priced haha.

Probably just a lack of foot traffic at the moment. The only time I see a notable amount of people going by is during the Tulip Festival. That will all change once the hospital is built.

 

[J.OT13]

Not sure if this has been answered somewhere else, but what's with the empty retail space in Icon? Seems like a pretty high exposure location, though im sure it's outrageously priced haha.

No clue. Potentially asking an outrageous price. We see that a lot, developers preferring to keep a retail space empty over renting at a more reasonable rate to fill it up.

Strange because Claridge is usefully good at finding retail tenants within a reasonable amount of time.

 

[J.OT13]

That lot wouldn't have gotten anything over 12 stories

Probably just a lack of foot traffic at the moment. The only time I see a notable amount of people going by is during the Tulip Festival. That will all change once the hospital is built.

Good point. It's at the end of the Preston strip on a prominent, but not particularly pleasant, corner. Yes, hopefully with the hospital, more densification east of Moon, and across the street, foot traffic will increase in that area.

If the City could rebuild Carling to allow bike lanes and bus lanes, it would help as well.