Ottawa ACORN tenants organize to fight back against another Smart Living Renoviction!
Posted May 3, 2023
45 ACORN members and tenants gathered outside the corner of Bank St and Nepean St to protest against another round of renovictions done by Smart Living.
Smart Living intends to redevelop the properties on an entire block of buildings on Bank St, Nepean St, and Lisgar St into a 9 story building with 297 residential units and 886 square metres of retail space. In line with Smart Living’s history of destroying affordable buildings by turning it into expensive student housing (as seen in Manor Village) the same will be done to these units, and tenants living at the property would be evicted en masse.
Members came out to show support for Bank St tenants to march down to Smart Living’s office to demand a meeting and fight for tenants’ rights to keep their affordable homes! Somerset Ward councillor Ariel Troster also came out to march in solidarity with tenants.
After knocking on Smart Living’s door and getting no response, members decided to call Smart Living in hopes to get in touch with a representative to demand a meeting. After a Smart Living rep picked up, tenants announced who they were and what they wanted, Smart Living quickly hung up the phone on their own tenants. SHAME!
Big thanks to new ACORN members and first time leaders Julie and Eric for leading the action!
Stay tuned for press from the Centretown Buzz!
