The state of 24 Sussex Drive is an increasingly absurd embarrassment

[BeaverFever]

The state of 24 Sussex Drive is an increasingly absurd embarrassment

John Ibbitson

The prime minister’s official residence is in desperate straits. The house is uninhabitable: filled with asbestos, mould and dead rodents.

Successive prime ministers, fearing they would be accused of extravagance, refused to authorize needed repairs. Stephen Harper would not permit renovations when he was in office, because he didn’t want to be seen asking the taxpayer to finance lavish accommodations.

In 2015, with the house becoming unsafe, Justin Trudeau moved his family into Rideau Cottage on the grounds of Government House. But he also refused to authorize renovations to the house where he grew up.

Canadians should be proud of their national capital, and their democratic system of government. One of the symbols of that democracy is the residence of the prime minister. Letting the official residence decay does not speak well of us – the prime minister needs a proper place to live and to carry out their duties.

The National Capital Commission reports that it is about to undertake abatement procedures that are necessary regardless of what happens to the building, such as removing the asbestos and dead rodents. (Yes, yuck.)

After that, the NCC should be told to either carry on and demolish the house, or to carry on and fix it. Either way, it’s time to decide.

….

Regardless, it’s going to cost $40-million, give or take, and the longer the government waits, the higher the cost will be.

Everyone knows what needs to be done. The Prime Minister needs to appoint a panel of apolitical specialists to examine options and come up a recommended solution. Perhaps former governor-general David Johnston could – just kidding!

To further protect against accusations of conflict of interest, all political parties could agree that no prime minister will inhabit any new or refurbished residence for 10 years. It will take at least that long to decide and execute a plan.

…There are any number of possibilities. But what matters is ending the inertia. Let’s get this done.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-24-sussex-drive-prime-minister/?login=true

Edited April 11, 2023 by BeaverFever

[BeaverFever]

24 Sussex, dilapidated MP offices, the RCAF’s VIP fleet of CC-150 Polaris and CC-144 Challenger aircraft… it’s ridiculous how the routine upkeep of these things get politicized. The property management of residences of the PM, GG and Opposition Leader should be placed under an arm’s length agency so that their proper upkeep and maintenance isn’t politicized to the point that they fall into disgraceful disrepair 

[WestCanMan]

$40M.

That's $3,333/sq ft on a 12,000 sq ft house.

They can tear it down and build ten 12,000 sq ft houses for that much money (at $333/sq ft)

That 3K sq ft home comes in at $288/sq ft, and TO isn't any less expensive than Ott. 

I wonder how many bids they looked at....

Edited April 11, 2023 by WestCanMan

[TreeBeard]

Just now, WestCanMan said:

$40M.

That's $3,333/sq ft on a 12,000 sq ft house.

They can tear it down and build ten 12,000 sq ft houses for that much money (at $333/sq ft)

That 3K sq ft home comes in at $288/sq ft, and TO isn't any less expensive than Ott. 

I wonder how many bids they looked at....

You don’t think we should save historic buildings?

[Aristides]

1 minute ago, TreeBeard said:

You don’t think we should save historic buildings?

The historical value of the building is the issue. As it is the same age as Confederation, built between 1866 and 1868. I would say it is considerable. 

How much do you value your history? 

[herbie]

Tear it down and rebuild it in the same style. It's a national embarrassment that it's fallen apart so bad, more so that the official PMs residence got this way over cheap beancounter politics.

Imagine rats in the walls of #10 Downing or the White House!

[Aristides]

Just now, herbie said:

Tear it down and rebuild it in the same style. It's a national embarrassment that it's fallen apart so bad, more so that the official PMs residence got this way over cheap beancounter politics.

Imagine rats in the walls of #10 Downing or the White House!

If you go to London, you will see Victorian and Edwardian buildings being replaced by new construction but the front facade is retained. They will support the front while they demolish what is behind it and build new. That must be horrendously expensive but they value their history enough to do it. 

[herbie]

Building a swimming pool/rec centre in BC that's gonna cost $90 million. Do you not think 24 Sussex drive is worth half the price of a public swimming pool?

[BeaverFever]

While the current building is old, apparently it is not architecturally significant. Its was built by an American lumber baron and is kind of an odd duck that is not very exemplary of any architectural styles or periods. Some even call it ugly 

 

IIRC, PMs have only been living there since the 1950s

[BeaverFever]

A lot of the added cost is going to come from all of the various security requirements, the fact that the building will also be used for official functions like hosting dignitaries and of course facilities for groundskeepers, housekeepers, etc 

[WestCanMan]

22 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:

You don’t think we should save historic buildings?

$40M just to end up with a polished version of this?

No thanks.

[WestCanMan]

29 minutes ago, herbie said:

Building a swimming pool/rec centre in BC that's gonna cost $90 million. Do you not think 24 Sussex drive is worth half the price of a public swimming pool?

Apparently the ACUCC was only $30M, unless I'm missing something, and they only completed that a few years ago. It also has a hockey rink, workout area and running track in it. 

https://www.aldergrovestar.com/news/only-in-aldergrove-rec-centre-nears-completion/

Quote

In addition, the almost $10 million grant from the federal government has enabled the Township to fast-track a number of substantial additions to the $30 million project, such as solar panels on the pool’s canopy that will augment the energy supply of such a major facility.

 

Granted, costs to build in Aldergrove would be lower than in Van or Victoria, and costs have gone up a lot lately, but $90M still seems steep to me. Where is that quote from?  

[BeaverFever]

19 minutes ago, WestCanMan said:

$40M just to end up with a polished version of this?

No thanks.

We could keep it as a spoooky haunted house and every Halloween JT jumps out from behind a bush and hands out free dental care while the conservative kids run away screaming 

[CdnFox]

16 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

We could keep it as a spoooky haunted house and every Halloween JT jumps out from behind a bush and hands out free dental care while the conservative kids run away screaming 

LOL - probably make enough charging admission  to fund the repairs

[CdnFox]

I am a firm believer in promoting our history and preserving it.

But this has just been left far too long.

To be considered to be a serious player on the world stage  you need a formal gov't residence. Its a place where emissaries from around the world can be received and entertained, it's integral to the management of the people's business.

It costs what it costs. We do trillions of dollars in trade with other countries, paying 40 mill for a place to host people is peanuts.

But the original is just too far gone. As much as i hate to say it - scrap it, build something really nice and properly built for the future now and then MAINTAIN it. You can make it look similar to the old one if you like, whatever but for god's sake, surely our national pride and the image we present to the world is worth a few lousy million dollars.

[WestCanMan]

23 minutes ago, BeaverFever said:

We could keep it as a spoooky haunted house and every Halloween JT jumps out from behind a bush and hands out free dental care while the conservative kids run away screaming 

Then he gets punched by a startled 8 yr old girl and they up in an all out brawl, she starts the lawnmower on him, RCMP charge in on horseback, Canada is suddenly cool. 

I like it. 

[I am Groot]

3 hours ago, Aristides said:

The historical value of the building is the issue. As it is the same age as Confederation, built between 1866 and 1868. I would say it is considerable. 

How much do you value your history? 

It's not that historic. It's only been used as a PM's home since 1951. And unlike the White House it is not an office or a place for entertaining. 

[I am Groot]

2 hours ago, herbie said:

Building a swimming pool/rec centre in BC that's gonna cost $90 million. Do you not think 24 Sussex drive is worth half the price of a public swimming pool?

No.

The most expensive homes in Ottawa generally go for maybe $5-$8m, and more than half the value of that is the land.

If you can build a huge, freaking house for a couple of million dollars (minus the land cost) why do you need $38m to build one for the PM?

[ExFlyer]

2 hours ago, CdnFox said:

I am a firm believer in promoting our history and preserving it.

But this has just been left far too long.

To be considered to be a serious player on the world stage  you need a formal gov't residence. Its a place where emissaries from around the world can be received and entertained, it's integral to the management of the people's business.

It costs what it costs. We do trillions of dollars in trade with other countries, paying 40 mill for a place to host people is peanuts.

But the original is just too far gone. As much as i hate to say it - scrap it, build something really nice and properly built for the future now and then MAINTAIN it. You can make it look similar to the old one if you like, whatever but for god's sake, surely our national pride and the image we present to the world is worth a few lousy million dollars.

I have lived in Ottawa for 3 decades now.

This house has been the hot talk of every government since I have lived here and was talked about and studied by many governments before that.

The House needs total renovations but for some reason it has always been postponed, delayed, discusses, studied, reports written and has gotten worse by temporary fixed and otherwise neglect.

I think, as a heritage building, as a symbol of Canada it has to be refurbished to its intended splendour.

Yes, it will cost money but in the present times where we rename buildings, parks and even mountains, tear down statues and re-write history, lets keep this place as a symbol, good and bad..

[suds]

How much would it cost to turn the place into some type of tourist attraction (to keep the heritage people happy), and build a new PM's residence in another location? I've been in the residence a few times (mostly during the Mulroney era), and what I remember it for are all the wrong reasons. If it's not going to be used for anyone actually living there or for entertaining foreign dignitaries, then the costs should be drastically reduced.

[ExFlyer]

4 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

$40M.

That's $3,333/sq ft on a 12,000 sq ft house.

They can tear it down and build ten 12,000 sq ft houses for that much money (at $333/sq ft)

That 3K sq ft home comes in at $288/sq ft, and TO isn't any less expensive than Ott. 

I wonder how many bids they looked at....

You truly do not know the difference between new construction and renovation  let alone restoration of heritage buildings and grounds.  It is not only the house but the entire complex..

[Army Guy]

4 hours ago, WestCanMan said:

$40M.

That's $3,333/sq ft on a 12,000 sq ft house.

They can tear it down and build ten 12,000 sq ft houses for that much money (at $333/sq ft)

That 3K sq ft home comes in at $288/sq ft, and TO isn't any less expensive than Ott. 

I wonder how many bids they looked at....

Just the liberal ones....

[Army Guy]

This is just another example of the Liberals unable to get anything done, 40 million shit 200 million is a drop in the hat for this government. let's let the next government get the bad press for modernizing the PM residence or tearing it down...  or remaking it into a homeless shelter...anything let's just do something...

[BeaverFever]

3 hours ago, Army Guy said:

This is just another example of the Liberals unable to get anything done, 40 million shit 200 million is a drop in the hat for this government. let's let the next government get the bad press for modernizing the PM residence or tearing it down...  or remaking it into a homeless shelter...anything let's just do something...

The conservatives refused to touch it also why do you only make this about liberals? And we all know how conservatives would have howled if JT had spent as much as a penny on the place as I recall they tried to create controversy over the fact that he refused to move his family in. 

[BeaverFever]

4 hours ago, suds said:

How much would it cost to turn the place into some type of tourist attraction (to keep the heritage people happy), and build a new PM's residence in another location? I've been in the residence a few times (mostly during the Mulroney era), and what I remember it for are all the wrong reasons. If it's not going to be used for anyone actually living there or for entertaining foreign dignitaries, then the costs should be drastically reduced.

Sounds to me like the building is better off as tear-down. One of the links in the OP is to another story on the topic, which says:

 

Documents from the NCC say the rodent infestation at 24 Sussex is so severe that the walls, attic and basement are filled with carcasses and excrement.

The issues were first reported by the National Post, which obtained the documents through an access-to-information request.

The NCC has now published the documents and says the rodent problem is causing air-quality concerns. After 60 years of mounting repairs, the commission moved the final group of staff out of the building last year for health and safety reasons.

It says the rodent problem cannot be addressed until issues with the building’s exterior walls, foundation, roof and windows are fixed.

Edited April 12, 2023 by BeaverFever