227 St. Patrick Street to be rebuilt, committee rules [Video]

Three heritage homes in Lowertown are set to be demolished and rebuilt.

The buildings on St. Patrick Street in Lowertown were constructed in the 1870s and are part of a heritage conservation district. Once a proud part of Ottawa’s history, they are now in a dilapidated state.

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“My clients kind of refer to this all the time. It’s a real eyesore,” says Joseph Gallarino, owner of Parlour Spatzio, a business across the street.

“They’re very unsafe, and you get squatters moving in,” Gallarino says. “Winter’s coming. They’ve got the electricity cut off. The gas line is cut off. So, guess how they’re going to keep warm. Put a fire, set the whole block on fire.”

The building at 227 St. Patrick St. and the homes attached to it have been falling apart for years. They …