Some residents living in the Accora Village rental community in west Ottawa are expressing concerns about the landlord’s redevelopment plans for their neighborhood in the upcoming decades, fearing potential displacement due to increased costs. The community, located near the Bayshore Shopping Centre, houses over 8,000 people in 1960s-era brick townhouses and apartment buildings. The owner, Ferguslea Properties Limited, is envisioning a transformation that includes constructing a mix of low, medium, and high-rise units by 2050.
Spanning the area between Carling Avenue, Bayshore Drive, Highway 417, and Holly Acres Road, Accora Village is the subject of this redevelopment initiative. While the landlord company, Ferguslea, stated that there are no immediate challenges prompting the planning process and significant changes are years away, residents remain apprehensive.
In response to these concerns, Acorn, an affordable housing advocacy group, organized a rally on August 10 to demand more transparency regarding the redevelopment plans. During the rally, participants, including Wren Walker, a resident of Accora Village, emphasized the importance of maintaining the current living conditions in the community.
The landlord, Ferguslea, is currently formulating a master plan for the area and actively seeking public feedback on design and planning concepts. The proposed design includes the addition of approximately 7,000 new housing units, along with parks, retail spaces, and infrastructure enhancements. The company plans to execute the development in phases over a 25-year period, replacing several townhomes within the community.
Despite the company’s reassurances that construction timelines are yet to be determined and city approvals will be required, residents like Norma-Jean Quibell remain concerned about potential rent impacts. Ferguslea aims to provide a diverse range of housing options to accommodate various income levels and lifestyles, but Quibell and others worry that the new units may lead to unaffordable rent increases.
Valerie Heyerdahl, another Accora Village resident and Acorn member, drew parallels between the redevelopment plans and the mass eviction case in Heron Gate, underscoring concerns about potential rent hikes and displacement. Ottawa city council recently passed an anti-renovictions bylaw to safeguard tenants from unfair evictions resulting from renovations or minor repairs.
Councilor Theresa Kavanagh emphasized the importance of protecting existing tenants during the redevelopment process and pledged to work on implementing stringent regulations to prevent unjust evictions in Accora Village.