The goal of the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) program is to ensure that properties don’t sit vacant and crumbling for eons, when they could be rented instead. This has been a problem in Ottawa, with investors buying up properties, evicting the tenants, then leaving them vacant and “composting”, sometimes for years. Champlain Park has not been immune to this sort of activity.
The City’s intention is good and, coupled with other ongoing initiatives, may well prevent unnecessary evictions and homelessness. I don’t like the negative option approach, but in an increasingly cash-strapped city, maybe it’s the most efficient approach for now? One hopes that Ottawa will, sooner rather than later, find a way to marry the tax data on principal residences, and the VUT program, so homeowners won’t have to, every year, re-declare their principal residences online.
Here’s an example of a house in Champlain Park that had been abandoned and left to crumble for about 20 years, in spite of repeated appeals to the City by neighbours and the Community Association. When the house was first abandoned, it could have been affordable housing for a young family. At last, the absentee owner sold the property to a family who built a new home on the property. (2014 photo from Google Maps Street View):
The attached text is excerpted from Jeff Leiper’s Kitchissippi Ward Newsletter. For an excellent synopsis of the impact on Ottawa of the changes made by the Province to the new Official Plan, please click on the link to Glen Gower’s assessment (highlighted). Continue reading “Ontario Changes the Planning Act and Ottawa’s Official Plan”→
The Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Debate on the topic of “Leadership for a Liveable Ottawa” will be on Monday October 17 at Horticultural Building at Landsdowne Park, with an online stream too. It’s organized by the Glebe Community Association and sponsored by FCA Ottawa (Federation of Community Associations). Our Champlain Park Community Association has contributed too. Here is a newer link to the details:
Ottawa Mayoral Candidate Debate on October 17 at Horticultural Bldg. Landsdowne Park organized by Glebe Community Association and sponsored by CAFES Ottawa (Federation of Community Associations). Champlain Park Community Association has contributed $100 to costs of funding the event. Here is the link to the details:
Community Associations for Environmental Sustainability (CAFES) and the People’s Official Plan (POP) have organised 3 free discussion panels with Mayoral candidates (in Barhaven, Kanata and Orleans) and one Mayoral all-candidates debate (in Centretown). You are welcome to click the following link to register: Eco-Debates: Ottawa Mayoral Race 2022
The Transitway will permanently close between Tunney’s Pasture and Dominion Stations to allow for construction of the Stage 2 O-Train extensions to Algonquin and Moodie Stations. The closures and bus detours will be implemented in phases starting Thursday, June 23, until Sunday, June 26. There will be temporary bus stop and station access adjustments at Tunney’s Pasture Station to accommodate the transition to the new detour routing. Customers travelling during the transition period should check octranspo.com for details on bus stop changes and detours.
Buses will travel on Scott Street.
At Westboro Station customers will use temporary bus platforms on Scott Street. The station roadway and building will be closed.
Routes 62 and 75 will provide service to a pair of stops on Scott Street at Island Park Drive. No other detoured bus routes will serve these stops.
At Dominion Station, customers will use new temporary bus platforms on the realigned temporary Transitway.
At Dominion, Westboro, Tunney’s Pasture and Iris stations, signage will help direct customers to the interim access points and bus stops, and OC Transpo staff will be on site over the first number of days to assist. For the latest detour information, visit octranspo.com/alerts.
Visit octranspo.com or call 613-560-5000 for more information about OC Transpo construction detours and summer service and schedules. You can also connect with OC Transpo through Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
![[Logo as used in Home Page and Elsewhere]](https://champlainpark.files.wordpress.com/2020/10/cropped-champlain-park-logo-emily-2020.08.06.jpg?w=104){kind=logo}
![[Abandoned house on Cowley in 2014]](https://champlainpark.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/20140000-248-cowley-abandoned-from-google-maps.jpeg)
![[Screen shot of the first page of the letter]](https://champlainpark.files.wordpress.com/2022/11/20221115-cpca-re-bill23.jpeg?w=863)
![[2022 Mayoral Debate Poster]](https://champlainpark.files.wordpress.com/2022/10/2022mayoraldebateposter.jpeg?w=863)
![[Mayoral Candidates Headshots and Debate Dates and Places]](https://champlainpark.files.wordpress.com/2022/08/mayoralcandidatesecodebate2022.jpeg)
Champlain Park Community 