{"id":15200,"date":"2023-04-08T21:11:24","date_gmt":"2023-04-09T04:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/once-prestigious-24-sussex-full-of-rodents-carcasses-national-capital-commission\/"},"modified":"2023-04-08T21:11:24","modified_gmt":"2023-04-09T04:11:24","slug":"once-prestigious-24-sussex-full-of-rodents-carcasses-national-capital-commission","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/once-prestigious-24-sussex-full-of-rodents-carcasses-national-capital-commission\/","title":{"rendered":"Once prestigious 24 Sussex full of rodents, carcasses: National Capital Commission"},"content":{"rendered":"

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OTTAWA \u2014 When a lumber baron first built a home for his wife at 24 Sussex Drive, he described it as a place of peace. Now, it has become a place of rodents.<\/p>\n

A rodent infestation in the official residence of Canada\u2019s prime minister is so severe that the walls, attic and basement are filled with carcasses and excrement, the National Capital Commission (NCC) details in internal documents.<\/p>\n

The issues were first reported by the National Post newspaper, which obtained the documents through access-to-information law. The commission has now published them.<\/p>\n

The rodent problem is a health hazard, but it cannot be addressed until issues with the building\u2019s exterior walls, foundation, roof and windows are fixed, the agency said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime, we use bait to control the situation, but that leaves us with excrements and carcasses between the walls and in attic and basement spaces,\u201d said a report dated June 23, 2022 regarding actions required to repair 24 Sussex Drive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis leads to real concerns with air quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The report also highlighted other areas of critical concern, including water damage, the flaking of walls, rusting pipes that would be \u201ccatastrophic\u201d should they collapse and electrical issues that resulted in the property being deemed a fire hazard.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf last summer\u2019s incident had occurred at night, with no one to report it, devastating and irreparable damage would have ensued,\u201d the report said in reference to an electrical spark incident.<\/p>\n

The agency also raised concerns following a garden party last year on the grounds of 24 Sussex, which was attended by 1,500 people and took place during a tornado warning.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a meteorological event would have occurred, human nature could have led to hundreds of guests rushing into this uninhabitable building, which is a risk we can\u2019t accept,\u201d the report said.<\/p>\n

All these concerns \u2013 the build-up of 60 years of mounting repairs \u2013 ultimately led to the commission moving the final group of eight staff out of the building last year for health and safety reasons.<\/p>\n

The commission is now focusing its work on decommissioning the residence as it waits for the federal government to make a decision on the future of 24 Sussex Drive, which would cost $37 million to repair.<\/p>\n

In previous reports, the commission said that \u201cdecades of underfunding\u201d and \u201ca lack of timely investment in the maintenance\u201d and preservation of the building led to the high cost of repair. New building codes, legislative requirements and heritage conservation measures have also driven up costs over the years.<\/p>\n

The property covers more than two hectares and includes a main building with 34 rooms, a pool house and two RCMP guard houses.<\/p>\n

The NCC is legislated to upkeep the grounds, which it views as a \u201cnational treasure.\u201d A dozen prime ministers lived there between 1951 to 2015, hosting significant events in Canada\u2019s history. Famous past guests include Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.<\/p>\n

Due to the building\u2019s deterioration, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family took up residence in Rideau Cottage on the nearby Rideau Hall grounds.<\/p>\n

The residence was first built in 1867 by lumber manufacturer Joseph Merrill Currier, and it was owned by several others before the federal government took it over in 1947.<\/p>\n

By 1943, many of Ottawa\u2019s larger residences were being purchased by foreign governments for embassy use. At that time, 24 Sussex remained the last privately owned property on the north side of Sussex Drive.<\/p>\n

The federal government wanted the home in order to control further development and fulfill the vision of a former architect who was involved with the building, the commission said in a report about the history of the grounds.<\/p>\n

The idea was that such a boulevard \u201cwould become famous over the world for its picturesque beauty and the magnificence and extent of its views,\u201d the report read.<\/p>\n

\u00a9 2023 The Canadian Press<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n