By Liz MacKenzie
One of the most storied buildings in Lowertown, 209-211 Clarence – sadly a vacant eyesore since 2011 – went up in flames on January 5th. The fire was caused by a candle lit inside the building and knocked over by a trespasser.
Home of former Bytown mayor
The house was over 150 years old, dating from 1847. It was originally owned by Joseph Balzara Turgeon, city councilor for many years, Mayor of Bytown (1853-54) and the first francophone mayor in Ontario. In 1853, Turgeon petitioned the Province demanding city status for Bytown. He was refused, but in 1854, Mayor Friel’s petition was successful: the City of Ottawa was a reality.
Turgeon was a huge figure in the French-Canadian community. In 1852, after francophones were denied a place on the board of the Mechanic’s Institute, he founded the Institut canadien-français, a powerful cultural force in the city. As a school board trustee in 1855, he was instrumental in the formation of separate schools and a vigorous advocate for equal treatment of French teachers.
house at 209 Clarence Street
As Councillor in 1849, he was at the site of the Bloody Monday riot – the first major political riot in Bytown. The people of Lowertown, mainly French and Irish Reformers were preparing a welcome for Governor General Lord Elgin, who was visiting Bytown to search for a capital to replace Montreal. English Tories from Uppertown opposed Elgin and conflict boiled over. Turgeon addressed the crowd and was knocked over by a bystander. A stone was thrown and a riot ensued, leaving one man dead.
From 1897 to 1922, Joseph H. Laperriere and his descendants resided here. Laperriere was a banker, an insurance agent and a broker. Like Turgeon, he was an important figure in the francophone community, working with Turgeon on the affairs of the Institut canadien-français. Laperriere was the treasurer of Union St. Joseph, later the Union du Canada. He was a founding member of the French theatre troupe that still performs at the University of Ottawa.
Five years of scot-free neglect Fast forward to the “For Sale” sign that, in 2011, led me to book an appointment to tour the building with my husband. The large rooms were rented to students; the basement was supported on log joists with the bark still on. There was a huge kitchen – you could imagine lively gatherings of debaters, politicians, artists and actors. The vibe was irresistible.
Synercapital Developments bought the property, applied for demolition and proposed a glass box with 11 micro apartments, requiring 14 minor variances. A glass box with street level balconies was not deemed a good idea by a community experiencing significant homelessness; however, the developer got their approvals and, under threat of an OMB appeal, sat down with the community to devise a more appropriate building for the site.
Ever since, the house sat derelict, boarded up and neglected: a neighbourhood nuisance attracting drug deals and prostitution in the large rear yard. Requests for the number of police and bylaw calls went unanswered.
The building fell into disrepair; doors were not secure, the roof was failing, the front yard was strewn with garbage. Inevitably, on January 5th, 211 Clarence burned down.
Standards to protect vacant buildings were tightened in 2013; however, the boarding up of buildings is not enough. Regular surveillance is necessary, repeated police and bylaw calls should be charged back to owners and there should be a time limit on how long a boarded up property can be left to deteriorate. We have to do better to secure vacant buildings, and demand swift development. All other owners on this block maintain their buildings to a high standard, and one derelict building, vacant for years, degrades everyone else’s efforts.
Fire started by candle inside the building
The price for a vacant building fire can be very high. Firefighters are at risk – a firefighter was injured battling the two alarm fire – , neighbouring buildings and occupants are at risk, and if the fire is started by a person squatting in the vacant building, their life is at risk as well. In this case, the fire was caused by a lit candle that was knocked over by someone trespassing inside the building. There are many people experiencing homelessness on our streets and a vacant unsecured building can look like a winter haven, but the dangers of keeping warm with candles or fire indoors can be deadly. Please be vigilant and report any unsecured building to 311. If you see unusual behavior inside a building, call the police immediately. You could save a life.
One firefighter was injured in the fire caused by a candle at the abandoned 209 Clarence