It should be a no to Aga Khan Foundation

Rezoning in a cultural wasteland not a good idea, says Joanne Chianello,

The Global Centre for Pluralism is a fantastic idea. The brainchild of the Aga Khan Foundation — in partnership with the federal government — the three-yearold Ottawa-based research institute’s work helps societies build inclusive cultures, aiming to encourage “global knowledge exchange about living peaceably with diversity.” Who could argue with that? And so, when the federal government decided that the Aga Khan Foundation could take over a long-term lease for the vacated old war museum at 330 Sussex Drive, it seemed a win-win for all concerned.

His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan — who is the hereditary leader of the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims and whose wide interests include business, philanthropy and quasi-diplomatic work — is contributing at least $20 million to refurbish the centuryold structure, which needs extensive rehabilitation.

(The federal government transferred the building to the National Capital Commission, which then issued the Aga Khan Foundation a 99-year lease that runs out in 2106.)

Suddenly, however, the Aga Khan Foundation would like to rent out that part of the old museum as office space. As the Citizen’s David Reevely reported, the foundation is lobbying the city in hopes of getting the property rezoned from cultural — that includes uses such as a museum or a theatre or a school — to commercial.

The thinking is that the heritage property is about 50,000 square feet and the Global Centre for Pluralism doesn’t need that much space. At least not yet.

And in the meantime, the Aga Khan Foundation would like to rent out other parts of the building as office space. What should the city do? On the one hand, the city should strive to have good relations with the Aga Khan Foundation, a conscientious citizen of Ottawa. The Aga Khan Foundation supports a number of worthy causes: think peace, education, poverty reduction, architecture and microfinance. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat on Sussex Drive, the Aga Khan’s de facto embassy, is an elegantly designed building that won the Governor General’s Award for Architecture last year.

And the NCC — which has a good relationship with the foundation — has agreed to the commercial use in principle, although the zoning is solely within the city’s jurisdiction. Then there’s the compelling argument that it might be desirable to have any tenants — even commercial ones — rather than leave the building largely empty for years.

But there’s also a case to be made against allowing the rezoning.

For one thing, there’s a glut of office space in Ottawa, so the city would not be meeting any pressing demand by giving into the foundation’s request.

And the city shouldn’t give in to the old bait-and-switch, no matter who’s proposing it. While there’s no evidence that the Aga Khan Foundation had any intention of asking for a rezoning at the outset of its project, the city should be careful it doesn’t set a(nother) poor precedent. Can you imagine the outcry if a developer was making this request instead of the philanthropic (but still mighty wealthy) Aga Khan?

The biggest concern, however, is that of the slippery slope: if the city goes ahead with the rezoning, how can we be assured that the commercial tenants will move out in five or 10 years? Do we want this heritage site to become just another office building?

On its website, the Global Centre for Pluralism lauds the history of 330 Sussex, which housed both the archives and the war museum.

“Both institutions helped Canadians to preserve their histories and shared Canada’s story with the world,” states the “future home” section of the website. “By providing global access to the lessons of Canadian pluralism, the Centre will continue this tradition.”

That important role will not be accomplished by renting out offices.

The Aga Khan Foundation’s request can also be seen in the much broader context of the disappearing cultural life of the capital’s inner core. Sure, there’s still the National Gallery (for which we are all grateful), but what else that any level of government supports? So far, the city is botching the revitalization of Arts Court, which is home to the Ottawa Art Gallery, among others. Then there’s the sad, sad tale of the portrait gallery that never was.

And it’s not just so-called high culture that’s disappearing.

Movie theatres are moving out of the centre of town — the Empire Theatres will be closing at the World Exchange Plaza in a couple months. And the building’s owners are asking the city to allow the cinema space for something other than “entertainment,” which is what’s allowed now. (Thankfully we still have ByTowne Cinema on Rideau Street.)

So while there’s nothing particularly diabolical about the Aga Khan Foundation wanting to rent out some of its excess space, should the city rezone the heritage building cultural life in downtown Ottawa would take another hit, possibly permanently.

And there’s nothing particularly fantastic about that.