Court gives owners time to try to save Somerset House

A historic downtown Ottawa building that partially collapsed more than six weeks ago will not be demolished this week as the city ordered.

Acourt has ordered the city to delay the demolition of Somerset House at Bank and Somerset Streets, which partially collapsed on Oct. 19. The risk of further collapse has kept the intersection closed since then.

Lawyer David Dwoskin, who represents the owners and argued successfully for the court order, said the owners believe they only need one day to determine whether the 110-year-old brick building can be saved, and he expects to know its fate by Friday.

"We've asked the city to consider allowing the owners back in to do the one-day quick fix, which is to pour a quick-set concrete under one of the walls," he said Tuesday. "If that works, then we can stabilize the rest of the shell within about two weeks. If that doesn't work, the city can take the building down."

Dwoskin said the owners have so far put around $750,000 work into the building, which was originally a dry goods store and later became the Ritz Hotel and Tavern.

"I think it would be much cheaper for the owners to let it go," Dwoskin said. "They're in love with this building and really want to see it up there."

The owners of Somerset House don't think it's necessary to keep the intersection closed while the building and its fate remain up in the air, Dwoskin said. They believe a 15-metre perimeter around the building is enough to keep the public safe.

Dino Cardimone and other people who run nearby businesses said they are frustrated with the street closures and want a quick resolution.

"People see the barricades and they just don't want to park," said Cardimone, manager of Henry's Photo.

"Pedestrians see the fences and they don't want to come into the store and it's slowed down business quite a bit."

On Nov. 23, the City of Ottawa ordered the owners to demolish Somerset House. City officials said they feared ice and snow had further jeopardized the building's stability and it was only a matter of time before the building would collapse.

Last week, they announced that the demolition would begin on Dec. 4 or 5.