ACO Media Release, 24 Sussex Dr.

AUTHOR: Architectural Conservancy Ontario

DATE: September 5, 2023

ACO's response to recent developments regarding 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawa

NEWS DESCRIPTION:

September 5, 2023

Media Release

The Architectural Conservancy Ontario (ACO) supports the effort by Historic Ottawa Development Inc. (HODI) regarding 24 Sussex Drive, our historic Prime Minister’s residence. Clearly this building is run down, neglected by a plethora of governments for many years. Not one leader in the recent past had the stomach to spend money on their own residence. Would this have been the case at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? In case you don’t recognize the address, this is the White House. Why is it, that in Canada we are so reticent to preserve our heritage?

“HODI is a non-profit organization that includes noted architects, conservationists and project managers with a track record of saving heritage properties from demolition” reports John Paul Tasker in the article entitled, “Battle over 24 Sussex’s future heats up with a new plan to save run-down residence” a CBC report.

ACO recently communicated with Marc Denhez, the President of HODI who reported that his team have a proposal to save 24 Sussex Drive. They just want an opportunity to meet with the Procurement Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. HODI is asking that detailed documents that outline the costs to restore the building and improve security, be made public. Ken Grafton, a project manager for HODI, says, “The historic value of the home is very high. Think of all the world leaders that have been through there. It’d be ridiculous to demolish that. The government can’t be that callous.”

Mark Brandt, a senior conservation architect at Trace, an Ottawa firm that has worked on historic retrofits such as Parliament’s Hill East Block, believes also that the building can be saved and an addition could be added. Brandt believes that the security issues “can be mitigated.” Brandt who is also a Past President at HODI has drafted an unsolicited proposal to preserve the building.

ACO would like to see the National Capital Commission seriously undertake an investigation into the restoration of this iconic building and work with HODI in a transparent fashion to preserve this aspect of Canadian history. So much history has been lost already. Let’s not add another one to the list.

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS: (Adobe PDFs)

• ACO Media Release, 24 Sussex Drive.pdf