Alayne McGregor
The Orange Art Gallery, which has occupied a heritage building on the west edge of Centretown for the last decade, is facing eviction by the end of the year – with no other tenant scheduled to move in.
Gallery co-owner Jim Hollander told The BUZZ that he was told by District Realty about eight months ago that there would be no renewal when his lease expired at the end of 2023. He said the only reason he was given was that they “wanted to see the building empty. They don’t want to negotiate a new deal.”
“That was their way of kicking us out. They had no plans to rent it to someone else because we have a right to match that (offer). So they just wanted us out.”
He said they had had no previous disputes with the landlord: “We’ve had a good relationship the whole time.”
The building at 290 City Centre Avenue was empty and in “complete disrepair” when the gallery moved in in 2013, he said; they did substantial renovations, including opening up the ceiling, replacing the flooring, and adding air conditioning and an outside deck.
Hollander suspected the building would stay empty, and the ultimate goal was to tear it down and redevelop the area.
The gallery, which exhibits and sells works by many local visual artists, also runs art classes and private functions like weddings and birthday parties. Pre-pandemic, it ran a regular concert series.
Hollander said they had mostly recovered from the financial effects of closures during the pandemic. “Things are a lot better now. It seems to pay the bills and provide a little bit of a profit as well.” The business is viable and could continue in this building, he said.
The gallery has asked for public support, and is currently displaying two large sheets of paper containing signatures and messages of support. “A tremendous number of people have put down their names and comments. It’s been overwhelming.”
However, “I don’t know really what we can do, because they own the building. At the end, it’s the landlord’s decision.”
He said they hadn’t yet received their official notice to vacate, which would have to come by October 1, but they have been told not to take on any new events for 2024. He estimated the gallery had turned down more than 100 events for 2024 and 2025. They have yet to start looking for a new location.
David Flemming, the chair of Heritage Ottawa’s advocacy committee, said that the building at 290 City Centre is on the city’s Heritage Register, which gives it a small amount of protection (see the story by Robert Smythe on page 3.)
He said the group has contacted city staff to try to have the 90-year-old building considered for heritage designation more quickly, and preferably by the end of 2023. Designation under the Ontario Heritage Act would make it more difficult to demolish.