Heritage status for problem-plagued church could cost millions, pastor says

A Baptist congregation in Ottawa is warning that it could lose out on millions if its problem-plagued downtown church is granted heritage designation.

The Église Évangélique Baptiste d'Ottawa is a century-old red-brick church on King Edward Avenue, steps away from the Shepherds of Good Hope emergency shelter. Senior pastor Guy Pierre-Canel said the growing congregation wants to move and has been trying to sell the property for about 12 years.

It hasn't been easy.

"The surroundings, the environment, is such that nobody in their right mind would move a congregation to this area," Pierre-Canel told a meeting of council's built heritage committee Monday.

Pastor Guy Pierre-Canel spoke during a meeting of the city's built heritage committee on Monday. (Jean-Sébastien Marier/CBC)

Church leaders described what it's like worshiping in the midst of rampant drug use, social disorder and crime. The congregation has witnessed assaults, a knife attack and an arson.

"The problems are such that they've reached an unbearable level," Pierre-Canel explained. "Last Easter, we had somebody literally burn a car, set a van on fire during one of our services."

He said two people died of overdoses right on the church's doorstep.

Designation another burden, real estate agent says

The church has been working with the neighbouring property — currently a tombstone shop — to find a developer for the site.

Real estate agent Jane Kirchmann, who represents that property owner, said the site could host a student residence or an affordable housing project with mixed-use retail to breathe new life into the neighbourhood.

But she said the project would have to clear so many hurdles: complex zoning, poor market conditions, "extreme safety challenges" and "a humanitarian crisis unfolding daily" in the area.

Church leaders say social problems in the area have increased 'exponentially,' outpacing their ability to cope. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

In her view, heritage designation would add another burden that could sink any chance at a deal.

"This should be a thriving area of the city, and a heritage designation is just going to create further stagnation on a very challenged site that is at the centre of the homelessness and substance abuse crisis," said Kirchmann.

Pierre-Canel said the congregation was hoping to sell the property for somewhere between $2 million and $3 million. But he said he's hearing from his real estate agent that the property may have next to no value if it gets heritage status.

"We're here to say to the city, in clear terms, that this designation has impacts, has a $2-million impact for us, which is unbearable," he said.

Church has 'unusual' history

But city staff say the church has significant heritage value. Lesley Collins, the city's program manager for heritage planning, said the Gothic Revival building helps tell the story of the emergence of French Baptists in Ottawa.

The church was originally built in 1904, but significant additions were added between 1919 and 1920.

The church's senior pastor says the roof is crumbling and the building suffers from water infiltration. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

"When the church expanded they actually picked up the old church, moved it to the south of the site and then added onto it, which is very unusual in that time period," she said.

Collins said there are several examples of successful redevelop projects that preserved features of heritage churches including St. Charles on Beechwood Avenue.

She noted that the city has $25,000 grants that can help maintain heritage properties, and even bigger incentives for redevelopment.

"There are lots of opportunities for flexibility here," Collins said.

Crumbling roof, water damage, asbestos

But Pierre-Canel called a $25,000 grant a "drop in the bucket" given the problems plaguing the church.

"The roof is falling apart. There's only two parking spots," he said. "We have water infiltration in the basement, asbestos issues. It's no longer safe for our people to be there."

The congregation has already found an alternative location, according to Gordon Belyea, another church leader who came to committee.

He said the congregation will move no matter what happens, but fears being stuck with a second property they can't afford to maintain.

The addition to Église Évangélique Baptiste d’Ottawa was constructed in 1919 to 1920. (Jean Delisle/CBC)

"We're going. The Lord has opened this door, but it will make it immeasurably harder where it doesn't need to be," he said, adding that the result could be another crumbling "eyesore" in Lowertown.

"It will be fairly impossible to maintain two facilities," Pierre-Canel added. "This facility will become like St. Brigid's down the road."

The city cannot take financial considerations into account under the Ontario Heritage Act, according to Collins, who noted that new provincial heritage rules are pushing the city to move fast to designate properties.

"Given the timelines and the changes that we have in the legislation, we have to recommend that council proceed at this time," she said. "We're very hopeful that a creative solution will come around for this property."

The built heritage committee voted in favour of heritage designation, with only the area councillor, Rideau-Vanier's Stéphanie Plante, opposing. It will now go to council for a final decision.