Aylmer heritage house to be demolished and replaced with two 5-unit buildings 

Sophie Demers

The house located at 17 rue du Centre is categorized by the city as having a “medium” heritage value. According to city documents, the matchstick style house was built in 1910 during the third expansion of Aylmer which took place between 1900 to 1950. At the time, there was a decrease in growth as much of the timber industry was moving to the Hull area. The land was previously used for lumber storage. The house got an expansion in later years and there are currently two units in the building.

An independent inspection of the house found that there are cracks in the foundation, issues with the roof, and wood rot. There is mold in the bathroom, issues with column support, uneven floors, and mold in the wooden structural elements of the house. The estimated restoration cost is $500,000.

The developers’ plan for the cleared land includes two three-storey buildings of five units each. All 10 units will be one-bedroom.

The Service de l’Urbanisme et du Développement Durable (SUDD) states that the project aligns with the city’s urban planning goals and is in favour of the demolition. The project is located within the Explorateurs village integration sector, meaning the project will be subjected to a planning and architectural integration program (PIIA). This means the municipal council must approve the plans before demolition and construction begin.

Anyone who is against the demolition must submit a written opposition to the city clerk's office within 10 days of the notice’s publication. The written opposition can be emailed to greffe@gatineau.ca. The demolition notice was published on August 5.

The Comité des Demandes de Démolition (CDD) will meet on August 19 at 4:30 pm in Salle Mont-Bleu at the Maison du Citoyen to approve the project. The meeting is open to the public to attend in person or online. To find the link to the meeting, visit the “Calendrier des reunions” page on the city’s website.

Within 30 days of the CDD’s meeting, individuals can request a review of the decision by the city council by contacting the clerk's office. A fee of $122.50 must be paid to make this request. Authorization to demolish the building will be suspended until the council's review is complete.