9. Sale of Land to the embassy of the people’s republic
of china in canada – 517-519 st. patrick street
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That Council approve the sale of a parcel
of land, approximately 4,267 m2 (45,931 square
feet) in area, described as being part of Lots 3, 4, 5 and A, Plan 12134, part
of St. Andrew and Parliament Streets closed and part of the bed of the Rideau
River, subject to any easements that may be required, to The Embassy of the
People’s Republic of China in Canada, for the amount of $552,000 plus GST,
pursuant to an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.
Que le Conseil approuve la vente d’une parcelle de terrain d’une surface
approximative de 4 267 m2 (45 931 pieds carrés), décrite
comme faisant partie des lots 3, 4, 5 et A, Plan 12134, des rues St-Andrew et
Parliament fermées et du lit de la rivière Rideau, sous réserve de toute
servitude qui pourrait être requise, à l’Ambassade de la République populaire
de Chine au Canada pour la somme de 552 000 $, TPS en sus, conformément à
la convention d’achat-vente reçue.
1.
Chief
Corporate Services Officer’s report dated 27 January 2006
(ACS2006-CRS-RPM-0028).
2.
Extract
of Draft Minute, 21 February 2006.
Report to/Rapport au :
Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee
Comité des services organisationnels et du
développement économique
and Council / et au Conseil
Submitted by/Soumis par : Greg Geddes, Chief Corporate
Services Officer/
Chef des Services gènèraux
Contact Person/Personne ressource : Gordon
MacNair, Acting Manager, Real Estate Services, Real Property Asset Management/ Gestionnaire par intérim, Services
immobiliers, Gestion des biens immobiliers
(613)
580-2424 x 21217, Gordon.MacNair@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATION
That the Corporate Services and Economic Development Committee
recommend that Council approve the sale of a parcel of land, approximately
4,267 m2 (45,931 square feet) in
area, described as being part of Lots 3, 4, 5 and A, Plan 12134, part of St.
Andrew and Parliament Streets closed and part of the bed of the Rideau River,
subject to any easements that may be required, to The Embassy of the People’s
Republic of China in Canada, for the amount of $552,000 plus GST, pursuant to
an Agreement of Purchase and Sale that has been received.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
Que le Comité des services
organisationnels et du développement économique recommande au Conseil
d’approuver la vente d’une parcelle de terrain d’une surface approximative de 4
267 m2 (45 931 pieds carrés), décrite comme faisant partie
des lots 3, 4, 5 et A, Plan 12134, des rues St-Andrew et Parliament fermées et
du lit de la rivière Rideau, sous réserve de toute servitude qui pourrait être
requise, à l’Ambassade de la République populaire de Chine au Canada pour la
somme de 552 000 $, TPS en sus, conformément à la convention d’achat-vente
reçue.
BACKGROUND
The subject property was acquired by the former City of Ottawa in the 1960s and 1970s during the Lowertown East Redevelopment Plan for realignment of St. Patrick Street. In 1975, a portion of the residual lands from the St. Patrick Street realignment was leased to the Chinese Embassy for $1.00 in order not to landlock the property at 515 St. Patrick Street and to provide private access from the newly constructed realigned St. Patrick Street. In 1992, the former City of Ottawa Council approved that the property be declared surplus and offered for sale to the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada at market value.
Negotiations
with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Canada resulted in an
offer in the amount of $552,000 to purchase the subject parcel (Annex
“A”). The intended use of the property
is for the expansion of the existing parking for Embassy staff and
visitors. The zoning CG – Commercial
General, will allow the intended use for a portion of the property. The easterly portion of the property is
zoned EW - Waterway Corridor and a rezoning and site plan amendment, at the
expense of the Purchaser, would be required if the parking was expanded into
this area.
In accordance with policies approved by City Council on 14 November 2001, the availability of the property was circulated to all client City Departments, to determine if the parcel should be retained for a City mandated program. Consultation included the Housing Branch, Public Works and Services and Planning and Growth Management Services. The Environmental Management Group, within Planning and Growth Management Services, was consulted with respect to the Greenspace Master Plan and their comments are indicated under the Environmental Implications section of this report. Neither the Housing Branch nor any other City Department expressed interest in retaining the property.
The utility companies were also circulated and no requirements were indicated.
Advisory Committees were not circulated in this instance because the circulation predated the new circulation practices.
The ward Councillor has been made aware of the intent to sell the subject property and supports staff’s recommendation.
The Official Plan policy directs that the City make land available for affordable housing and give priority for the sale or lease of surplus City-owned property for this purpose.
Following Council’s approval, Real Property Asset Management and Legal Services Branches will finalize the transaction.
Sale of Land to the embassy of the people’s republic of china in canada – 517-519 st. patrick street
vente de terrain À
l’ambassade de la rÉpublique populaire de chine – 517-519, rue st-patrick
ACS2006-CRS-RPM-0028
Councillor
Jellett indicated he was not opposed to the sale of this land. However, he asked if staff, in cases such as
this, look at the option of leasing the land out (i.e. the City would retain
ownership). Steve Finnamore, Director,
Real Property Asset Management, advised the typical process for the
rationalization of surplus property looks at all methods of disposal (e.g.
leasing, direct sale, etc.). In this
case, the former City of Ottawa had leased this land to the Chinese Embassy and
then in 1992 declared the land surplus and directed it be sold to the Chinese
Embassy. This report follows through on
that commitment.
That the Corporate Services and Economic
Development Committee recommend that Council approve the sale of a parcel of
land, approximately 4,267 m2 (45,931 square feet) in area, described
as being part of Lots 3, 4, 5 and A, Plan 12134, part of St. Andrew and
Parliament Streets closed and part of the bed of the Rideau River, subject to
any easements that may be required, to The Embassy of the People’s Republic of
China in Canada, for the amount of $552,000 plus GST, pursuant to an Agreement
of Purchase and Sale that has been received.
CARRIED