Battle over 24 Sussex's future heats up with a new plan to save run-down residence
CBC
As part of an effort to save 24 Sussex Drive for future prime ministers, a group of heritage-minded construction industry figures has come forward with a plan to restore the dilapidated residence.
Historic Ottawa Development Inc. (HODI) — a non-profit organization that includes noted architects, conservationists and project managers with a track record of saving heritage properties from demolition — says it can't stomach the idea of the 150-year-old building being abandoned as the prime minister's official residence.
HODI maintains the home has been at the centre of national political life for generations and shouldn't be relegated to the dustbin of history.
Marc Denhez is the president of HODI and and a past member of the official residences advisory committee at the National Capital Commission (NCC).
He said he believes reports of the home's state of decay have been exaggerated and the suggested price tag to fix the place is out of step with industry norms for a renovation project of this scale.
"We have a number of experts at our disposal and all of them unanimously have said the $36.6 million figure is for the birds," Denhez told CBC News.
A 2021 NCC report concluded the residence is in "critical" condition and estimated the cost to complete "deferred maintenance" at more than $36 million. The report set the home's "current replacement value" at $40.1 million.
"It can be done for a lot less money if you know how to kick the tires. And we have people who know how to kick tires," Denhez said.
He said the option of commandeering land in Ottawa's Rockcliffe Park for a new home — floated by government sources in a Radio-Canada story earlier this week — would be more expensive than fixing up the current Gothic Revival-style home to modern standards.
"Don't compare us to Jesus Christ. Compare us to the alternative and the alternative is kicking out park goers and putting a glass box in the middle of parkland," Denhez said.
"There's an apparent assumption that it's going to be so much more economical to snatch up parkland and start from scratch. We don't think that's true."
Denhez said it shouldn't take millions of dollars to clear out dead rats and squirrels in the walls. Remediation work to remove asbestos and replace outdated electric systems is already underway, he added.
Denhez said the prime minister doesn't require a lavish home with a designated space for large receptions.
He said that under Canada's Westminster system of parliamentary democracy, it's the King's representative who has most of the official hosting duties and Rideau Hall is already well equipped to handle such events.