Committee approves Ottawa’s $45 million purchase of downtown hotel

The City of Ottawa is buying a former hotel at 377 O’Connor Street to turn it into transitional housing. The $45 million price tag is eligible to be covered by the federal government’s Interim Housing Assistance program. (Josh Pringle/CTV News Ottawa)

The City of Ottawa is proceeding with the $45 million purchase of a former hotel in downtown Ottawa to turn it into transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness.

Councillors on the finance and corporate services committee approved a plan to purchase the eight-storey former long-term stay hotel at 377 O’Connor Street, at Gladstone Avenue.

The federal government’s Interim Housing Assistance Program will cover 95 per cent of the $45 million cost to purchase the hotel.

“We, as staff, are very excited about this acquisition and what it will mean for our family shelter system,” Kale Brown, director of housing and homelessness services, told councillors.

Brown said the purchase of the building will provide the City of Ottawa with an “ongoing, sustainable solution that can be used for years to come.”

The Centretown Community Association told councillors the purchase is a “no-brainer.”

“This makes financial sense and it provides better quality of housing for families,” Mary Huang said.

The building has 128 apartment suites, including 74 studios, 51 one bedrooms, two two bedrooms, and one three-bedroom suite.

The city said there are several advantages for purchasing the building, including that it is turnkey ready and each unit is equipped with a full kitchen and a three-piece bathroom.

Staff say there were 500 families in overflow placements within Ottawa’s transitional housing in December and 30 additional families on a waitlist.

The building will undergo minor renovations to prepare for the arrival of families, including controlled access doors, ensuring room furnishings are “suitable to meet occupancy needs of families,” and converting some rooms into office and program.

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