City of Ottawa hit with $2M lawsuit over Somerset House collapse

The owner of a downtown heritage building that partially collapsed in October, resulting in the closure of a main intersection for eight weeks, is suing the City of Ottawa.

The city closed the intersection of Bank and Somerset streets after the partial collapse of Somerset House, a three-storey brick building on the southeast corner.

A statement of claim filed in Ontario Superior Court by T.K.S. Holdings Inc. on April 3 names both the city and its chief building officer, Arlene Grgoire.

The building's owner is seeking $2 million in damages, including $1.5 million to compensate for "unwarranted and unnecessary demolition" of part of the east side of the building at the "insistence and direction" of the city.

The statement of claim also alleges that the city delayed efforts by the owner to stabilize the building and closed the intersection unnecessarily, leading to lawsuits against the owner from businesses claiming they lost money as a result of the road closures.

The building partially collapsed on Oct. 19. The city subsequently closed the adjacent intersection over fears that it could collapse further. Nearby stores and restaurants said the closure caused a dramatic drop in their business.

The intersection reopened on Dec. 19. That was when the city and the owner finally reached an agreement that allowed the building to be stabilized after a long battle over whether the building could be safely repaired or needed to be torn down.

The city has estimated the cost of closing the streets at $264,000, mainly to pay for policing during the closure.