A group of residents from the Accora Village rental community in west Ottawa are expressing concerns about the landlord’s redevelopment plans for their neighborhood. The community, home to over 8,000 residents residing in 1960s-era brick townhouses and apartment buildings near the Bayshore Shopping Centre, may undergo significant changes as the owner, Ferguslea Properties Limited, aims to construct a mix of low, medium, and high-rise units by 2050.
Situated between Carling Avenue, Bayshore Drive, Highway 417, and Holly Acres Road, Accora Village covers a substantial area. While the landlord has stated that there are no immediate challenges prompting the planning process and any major alterations are years away, residents are apprehensive.
Acorn, an advocacy group for affordable housing, arranged a rally on August 10 to seek more details about the redevelopment plans. During the demonstration, participants marched to Ferguslea Properties’ offices, urging the company to guarantee that tenants will not face unaffordable housing costs.
Ferguslea is in the process of creating a master plan for the community, incorporating feedback on design and planning concepts from the public. The proposed design involves introducing approximately 7,000 new housing units, along with parks, retail spaces, and infrastructure enhancements, to revitalize the neighborhood.
While Ferguslea emphasizes that the development will occur in phases over a 25-year period, replacing some of the existing townhomes, there is no set timeline for construction as the company still needs city approvals. Norma-Jean Quibell, a resident and Acorn member, expressed concerns over potential rent impacts due to the lack of clarity from Ferguslea.
The company envisions providing various housing options for tenants of different income levels and life stages. However, some residents, including Quibell, perceive the proposed units as resembling luxury condos based on initial designs. Despite revising the master plan based on tenant feedback, uncertainties remain regarding the timeline and communication with residents.
Valerie Heyerdahl, another resident and Acorn member, drew parallels between the Accora Village redevelopment and the mass eviction incident in Heron Gate, where low-income residents were displaced to make way for new developments. Concerns are raised regarding rent control laws on the existing townhomes and the potential impact of newer constructions on rental prices.
City Councilor Theresa Kavanagh emphasized the need to protect current tenants during the redevelopment process, highlighting the passing of an anti-renovictions bylaw in July. This bylaw aims to prevent unfair evictions and rent increases resulting from minor repairs or renovations. Kavanagh pledged to collaborate with the city to establish robust regulations safeguarding tenants in Accora Village.
