Major construction begins on historic Somerset House in Ottawa

Work is finally underway at Somerset House, 17 years after the heritage building partially collapsed and sat vacant. CTV’s Tyler Fleming reports.

Major construction began Friday at Somerset House, the historic building in the heart of Ottawa’s Centretown neighbourhood.

The 129-year-old building at the corner of Somerset Street West and Bank Street has remained vacant since a partial collapse during renovations in 2007. The building, first erected in 1896, was a department store for the Crosby, Carruthers Company.

In 2023, council approved a plan to restore and stabilize the building and construct a three-store addition at the back. The plan is to build a mixed-use building with two commercial units at the ground and basement levels and 14 residential units.

• New plan to restore Ottawa’s Somerset House

In a post on Bluesky, Somerset coun. Ariel Troster said, “Major construction finally begins this week” at Somerset House.

“This marks a significant turning point for the heritage property, which lay dormant for 17 years after a structural collapse,” Troster said.

“The Somerset House project supports downtown revitalization, new rental housing, and the preservation of heritage properties—key Council objectives. The renewed Somerset House will preserve its historic façade, add 14 rental units, include ground-floor retail, and contribute to local parkland.”

Troster said with final approvals nearly complete for the project, cement pouring for the rear addition will begin on Friday.

“This project complements broader city investments in Bank Street’s public realm and community safety, rolling out this summer,” Troster said.

The councillor says council’s decision to provide development charge credits for designated heritage properties helped staff lead a “coordinated effort to rebuild trust with the property owner to find a path forward.”

Somerset House is owned by TKS Holdings.

“My understanding — this was before my time — was that the owner and the city were in a bit of a standstill. But I really have to give tons of credit to city staff, particularly in our heritage department. They’ve been working very, very diligently with the owner, and we finally have forward momentum,” Troster told CTV News Ottawa.

“There was a development application that was passed about 18 months ago, and now it looks like all the permits are in place and we will very soon see a renovated and revitalized Somerset House with the addition of 14 residential units,” Troster added. “People will actually be living there and there will be retail downstairs. It will maintain the facade, and hopefully it will not be the horrible eyesore that it’s been for 17 years.”

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says, “after 17 years as an eyesore, sitting empty in downtown Ottawa, Somerset House is finally on its way to a brighter future.”

“The redevelopment will create new rental homes in Centretown, support downtown revitalization, and preserve a heritage property.”

Nineteen orders have been issued under the Building Code Act for the property since 2007, and there were been 31 requests for service about the property since 2012, according to a city report in 2023.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Tyler Fleming