Ottawa to demolish former Pretty Street Community Centre

The City of Ottawa will begin demolishing the former Pretty Street Community Centre building at 2 Pretty Street this month, with work expected to start in the last week of September, the city says.

Demolition is planned to run about two to three weeks, followed by site restoration and grading. The city says all work should be substantially complete by the end of October 2026.

Why the building is coming down

A 2022 building audit found the centre in “poor condition and nearing critical condition,” in large part because of a significant mould issue in the basement, according to the city.

The demolition prepares the site for future not-for-profit housing. Earlier this year, the city launched a process to select a not-for-profit housing provider to develop a low-rise rental apartment building on the property.

That development will require Site Plan Control approval, a planning process that includes public notification. The city says detailed plans for review will be made available when that stage arrives.

What to expect

The city says residents may see traffic delays, noise and dust during the work, which it describes as common for construction projects. The contractor will take every precaution to minimize interruptions to daily life.

For emergencies outside normal working hours, residents can call 3-1-1. General project questions go to city project manager Andrew Campbell at (613) 316-8205 or andrewm.campbell@ottawa.ca.

Construction-related questions go to contractor representative Paul Matergio of Concentric Associates at (613) 824-8900. Questions about the housing development planned for the site go to Cameron Hodgins at cameron.hodgins@ottawa.ca.