Part 2: 580 Rideau Street – Azzi Medical and Professional Centre
By Ilona Horvath
At first sight, this building may appear to a casual observer to be a new development. However, residents living in and around Upper Rideau Street will attest that this is not the case. For some time they have been witnessing the reincarnation of a building located at the southwest corner of Rideau and Charlotte streets.
First, let’s take a short walk back in time! Rideau Street has a long history, dating back to the early 19th century. From the 1850s to the 1920s the north section of Upper Rideau Street between Cummings Bridge and Cobourg Street was home to health institutions such as the Carleton County General Protestant Hospital–known today as the Wallis House at 589 Rideau Street–and the Lady Stanley Institute for Trained Nurses. Over time, smaller private businesses were set up around those institutions on Rideau Street and nearby to provide supplementary medical services, pharmacies etc. The building at 580 Rideau is reminiscent of this epoch in Ottawa’s history as this site has been a location for drug stores for more than 80 years. Long-time neighbours may even remember the Molot family’s pharmacy, which occupied the main floor for over 35 years, until 1982. The complex had an imaging centre, doctors’ and other offices for medical services. The present five-storey building was constructed in 1954.
I talked to Mr. Toni Azzi, who has multiple interests in this building. He is a registered physiotherapist who owns and manages his business, the Ottawa-Carleton Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Center. He has rented space for his company here since 1995, and eventually purchased the whole building in 2017. He started the transformation/rehabilitation work about the same time as the construction of the neighbouring condominium development project—the controversial The Charlotte—and by now both projects are at the final stage. Maintaining and restoring the structure and updating the façade instead of demolishing and replacing it with a high-rise was a decision many in the neighbourhood appreciate. The building got a facelift and as it looks now it will improve the overall appearance of this section of Upper Rideau Street. The chosen new design elements will provide a better fit with the new condo development nearby, and the full interior has been adapted to today’s needs. And last but not least, having retained the original structure is overall positive for the environment and shows respect for the history of the neighbourhood.
There is a continued demand for medical services on both sides of Rideau Street, and in view of the unprecedented intensification in this area it will definitely increase. Toni’s physiotherapy center, which provided uninterrupted physiotherapy services throughout the construction, now occupies the full top floor. The Guardian Pharmacy just opened its doors to the public on the main floor, and soon others will follow: Align Massage Therapy; Abboud Optical, which provides eye exams, vision care and quality glasses; and Canadian Diagnostic Network, for X-rays, ultrasounds etc. Bio-test Laboratory Inc. will be soon open to business at this location. Discussions are ongoing with more service providers for a walk-in medical clinic, an audiology clinic and others.
The building will also accommodate other professional services, such as a professional dance studio.
The main entrance remains on Charlotte Street, where there is an amenities area. Current plans include a ground-floor coffee shop and possibly a restaurant, and there’s still space for rent for medical and professional services.
The medical centre has spacious surface parking to accommodate visitors, and a modern underground garage with 15 parking spots was added to the structure. The latter will be operated with a large elevator for cars: the first of its kind in Ottawa.
If you want to know more, take a walk and check out the building or visit: