Hintonburg Pumphouse

We would like to thank everyone who participated in this phase of engagement. The City is now reviewing all of the feedback received. The final concept plan for the Hintonburg Pumphouse was presented to the Built Heritage Sub Committee who received and endorsed the recommended conservation approaches. Interested residents are encouraged to check back on this page for future updates.

Virtual Open House

On Thursday, June 8th, 2023, at 7 pm, City staff will host a virtual open house to present background information, analysis and recommended plans for the preservation of the heritage Hintonburg Pumphouse ruins and public facility enhancements to this waterfront City land. To register for this event please use the link below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwuc-ugqj4sHdPABUUKrsFvS7uVvo37tSqV

On-site Pop-up Event

Indigenous History: From time immemorial – Present

Chats Falls, Ottawa River, Charles Ramus Forrest, 1822, National Gallery of Canada Few factors have influenced the development of Ottawa more than its namesake river, the Ottawa River, or the Kichi Sibi (“Great River”). Historically an important trade highway, it has heritage value derived from its traditional use by the Algonquin Anishinabe and other Indigenous peoples, for its natural and geological history, and for the early settlement of Hull and Bytown, and the industrial and then recreational development along its shores."

Hintonburg History

• The Hintonburg Pumphouse ruin is located at
  5 Onigam St
  a 1980s image of the pumphouse from the east showing it just before it burned

  reet near the Lemieux Island Water Treatment Facility.
• The former Hintonburg Heritage Pumping
  Station was constructed in 1899 along the Ottawa River and Lemieux Island. Originally it was a one and a half story cut limestone structure with a gable roof and an open verandah.

a photo of the historic pumphouse as a residence with lawns and gardens

• In 1932 it was decommissioned and converted into a residence and gatehouse to the new plant on Lemieux Island.
  a image of the pumphouse in flames as it burned on May 8, 1989

• In August 1987 the historic pumping station/residence was designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act after restoration work to promote the reuse of the property.
• Then, in 1989, the building was severely damaged by a fire, and it has remained in ruins since then.
• Currently it is fenced off from public access and has been exposed to elements which have worsened the stability of the structure.
  an undated photo of pumphouse soon after it burnt and surrounded by chain link fence

As part of any site development, the City undertakes environmental investigations to discover potential areas of concern and to identify any mitigations that may be needed.

Preliminary archaeological, environmental, and species-at-risk assessments were completed. While there were not any significant elements discovered in these initial screenings, these technical documents and considerations guide the preparation of the design plans.

Recent river high-water levels during recent flood events in 2017 and 2019 have been recorded and will also inform the design of the site through mitigations in the landscape design and protection measures for the existing ruins.

Context

The site is on a point of land along the Ottawa River. It is east of Onigam Street and down a slope on a generally flat area at the water’s edge. The primary freshwater service pipes for the city ruins are under ground and parallel to Onigam Street buried in the slope.

The ruins are at the lower level, adjacent to the river and are fenced on all four sides.

An asphalt service lane runs down the slope to the shoreline area.

The surrounding area has been planted with native plants along the north end of the site, while a wooded area of trees has grown up along the south end of the site. The rest of the site is open lawn and gravel areas.

The Hintonburg Pumphouse site is not large. It is approx. 0.45 hectares. NCC parkway lands with pathways separate the site from the main parkway corridor.

The site is accessible on a quiet street that intersects the parkway and pathway with Slidell Avenue. The street passes north from the parkway though beautiful gates to the Lemieux Island complex.

Stone and iron gates on the street to Lemieux Island at the Ottawa River Parkway announces the interesting facilities and natural area beyond.

A view from Onigam Street to the ruins and the river.

There are a number of actions and recommendations to improve this site for public use and preserve the ruins:

The key actions are to:

• Improve accessibility to the sloping site for all users with ramped pathways;
• Conserve the ruins with restoration of key features including stabilising the remaining stonewalls, elements of the window openings, and lowering high walls at risk of falling;
• Provide a hard accessible surface inside the ruins to allow all visitors to explore the space;
• Continue to explore the option of providing an open accessible deck wrapping around the ruins, similar to the original veranda, to improve access, circulation and views;
• Provide amenities, including seating, picnic tables, interpretation panels, etc;
• Remove invasive and dangerous trees and shrubs from the wooded area, plant with new native trees and allow for natural regeneration;
• Consider highwater and flooding in the site design;
• Allow for shoreline activities but deter general access to the water due to swift current concerns;
• Contribute to winter trail use by being a destination along the corridor that can be a place to pause and enjoy the views;
• Limit access by unauthorized vehicles to the lower shoreline area;
• Develop an interpretation strategy that addresses the site’s many attributes including the pumphouse, the river shoreline, and the communities in the area.

Key suggestions by the community and technical focus groups include:

• Preserve the ruins, but limit the reconstruction of missing elements;
• Provide more shade with trees and more soft surfaces with grasses;
• Allow the landscape areas not for active use to grow wild and natural;
• Consider personal security and manage site access and circulation;
• If providing decking, ensure that it is simple and does not detract from the ruins;
• Provide ways to interpret the site including display panels but ensure that these features do not dominate the character of the site;
• There is a great diversity of stories that can be interpreted and can inform the detail site design that will follow – continue to engage stakeholders.

There are many stories about the river, the city, the communities, and the engineering that can be told at this site. As plans are refined key stakeholder will continue to be engaged to help clarify how these can be told and the best means to interpret them on the site. Accessibility will be a fundamental consideration.