---
title: "Old Ottawa South building slated for demolition, 50 to 60 tenants face eviction by summer 2027"
description: "A developer plans to tear down a 23-unit building at 551 Riverdale Ave. and replace it with 92 units. Tenants got notice in August. The City has no bylaw yet to protect them in demolition cases."
canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/ottawa-2026/news/old-ottawa-south-riverdale-tenants-displacement-november-2026"
last_updated: "2026-11-12T14:41:35.925Z"
---

A developer plans to tear down a 23-unit building at 551 Riverdale Ave. in Old Ottawa South and replace it with a 92-unit, four-storey building. About 50 to 60 long-term tenants received eviction notices in August 2026 and must leave by summer 2027. CBC reported the story on November 11, 2026.

The developer, JSS Riverdale Holdings Inc., says the building has reached the end of its useful life and that key parts of its structure are actively failing. The company is offering to help tenants find other places to live, cover moving costs, and give current tenants first choice of units in the new building. These are the developer's own offers, and the City has no current bylaw requiring them.

One of the tenants facing eviction is Linda Thom, who won Olympic gold for Canada in 25-metre pistol shooting at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. She has lived at 551 Riverdale since 1975. CBC reported her reaction: "It was quite a kick in the stomach."

## Why Ottawa's tenant protection bylaw does not apply here

Ottawa City Council passed an anti-renovictions bylaw in July 2026. It requires landlords to get a city licence within one week of issuing an eviction notice connected to renovations. The bylaw was designed to stop landlords from pushing tenants out to do cosmetic work and then raising rents.

The bylaw does not cover demolition. When a landlord plans to tear a building down entirely, tenants have no protection under it. The building at 551 Riverdale is a demolition case.

## What comes next

City staff are reviewing a demolition-control bylaw. The review is looking at models used in Toronto and Vancouver, where similar rules are in place. Staff recommendations are expected in early 2027. The developer's application is also expected to go before the planning and housing committee in early 2027.

[Shawn Menard](/on/ottawa-2026/candidates/shawn-menard), the councillor for Capital Ward, which covers Old Ottawa South, listed support for tenants at 551 Riverdale Ave. as a specific campaign commitment. His campaign page named the building directly. His promise to keep speaking out for these tenants is in the [tracker](/on/ottawa-2026/tracker#promise-tenants-facing-demoviction).

Residents who want to speak to this plan can contact Councillor Menard's office. When the application comes before the planning and housing committee in early 2027, the City will post the meeting date on its planning portal. That hearing is an opportunity to submit comments or speak.

## Sitemap

See the full [sitemap](/on/ottawa-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.