Alayne McGregor
Tenants in the low-rise, affordable apartment building at 142 Nepean Street got a temporary reprieve in July, as city staff look for an alternative to turning that building into a parking lot.
The city Planning Committee decided to defer until August 25 a decision on demolishing the building. Councillor Shawn Menard moved deferral because “there’s more creativity there to come” in terms of alternate solutions.
Developers Glenview Homes and Taggart Management want to use the land at 142 to 148 Nepean for a 30-spot surface-level parking lot, to replace the parking lot at 108 Nepean now used by a nearby office building. On the 108 Nepean parking lot, Glenview and Taggart will build a new 27-storey mixed-use tower. That project was approved by Planning Committee.
At the meeting, Glenview president Mark Shabinsky strongly insisted that Glenview’s office building must have control of “its own parking destiny,” and was not willing to rent spots in other lots instead of using 142-8 Nepean.
“The tower will not proceed unless we have control of our parking next door. It’s not a threat, it’s simply a commercial reality that we are dealing with.”
Somerset Ward Councillor Catherine McKenney disagreed. “To be held hostage, to say that if you don’t allow us to demolish this six-unit building for parking – for parking! – this building won’t go up, it just doesn’t hold true. We’ve got plenty of parking lots that could be used for these 30 spots. Do not take away people’s housing for a parking lot,” they said.
Councillor Jeff Leiper said the committee makes its decisions on the basis of good city planning, not private commercial considerations. “If the developer has not thoroughly beaten the bushes and been willing to take a little water with their wine in order to make their commercial arrangements work, I’d like them to know that there is the possibility that this committee may simply not approve this demolition.”
Tenant Lionel Njeukam told the committee that his two-bedroom apartment was affordable at $1200/month and close to work, school, and daily needs. His family and the other tenants “do not want to move.” He said the proposed demoviction was overwhelmingly stressful to his family.
While tenants have been promised nearby apartments at the same rent for the next five years, Njeukam expected they would then be forced out of Centretown because even “affordable” rents would be too high. “I honestly don’t know where we will go.”