Ottawa Social Housing Could Undergo Revamp

Ottawa's main provider of social housing is planning a sweeping examination of its buildings, which could lead to changes for entire neighbourhoods.

The Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, which manages about 14,600 units of housing across the city, is investing in a $1.5 million study to plan repairs to the buildings over the next few years.

The cost of repairs to some buildings could warrant tearing them down and starting over again, says the chair of the corporation's board, Coun. Maria McRae.

The corporation's apartments on Caldwell Avenue might fit that category, said McRae. She says she'd welcome the chance to rebuild in a better way.

"I would never advocate a condition again where we build towers like that with hundreds and hundreds of units of social housing in them," said McRae.

I don't think that that's good for the tenants, and I don't think that's good for the surrounding community. I think it's much better to have a good social mix."

Social housing tenants would not lose their permanent spots as the result of changes prompted by the study.

The study is expected to finish in six months to a year.