Hintonburg Pumphouse

This serves to provide an update on the conservation of the Hintonburg Pumping Station. As previously noted, the contract for the construction and conservation work was awarded to Exel Contracting Inc. The contractor is tentatively expected to begin mobilizing to the site this week to prepare the site for construction (site cleanup and fence installation). The initial work will focus on the restoration of the ruins with mason work tentatively scheduled to start the week of August 12.

Access to the river for users will be maintained until the full closure of the site in mid-September to allow for landscaping works to begin. Landscaping work is expected to occur in the fall with final works to be completed next Spring 2025.

On Tuesday, July 30, a Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment was completed by WSP. The consultant has advised that ground truthing, examination, and analysis of the area revealed that from an archaeological perspective, the entire study area is considered disturbed, impacted by “modern” development. WSP did not retrieve any artifacts or note anything of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest. The recommendation is for no further archaeological work and that the conservation project can proceed as scheduled. A formal report from the consultant will be provided in the coming weeks.

Further updates and information will be provided as the conservation project advances.

This serves to provide an interim status update on the conservation of the Hintonburg Pumping Station. The contract for the construction and conservation work has been awarded to Exel Contracting Inc. Construction is expected to start in late July or early August. A detailed construction schedule and further information will be coming forward in the coming weeks when project details with the contractor are finalized.

The project team conducted a Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment in September 2022 and is looking to begin a Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment of the site. The Stage 2 Archaeological Assessment is tentatively planned for the week of July 29-August 2. A formal date and time to be confirmed with the contractor in the coming week.

For further information or any questions on this project, please contact:

Edward Veldkamp
Senior Project Manager
Buildings and Parks
Infrastructure and Water Services Department
E-mail: edward.veldkamp@ottawa.ca

Molly Smith
Planner II
Right of Way, Heritage, and Urban Design Services
Planning, Development and Building Services Department
E-mail: molly.smith@ottawa.ca

Background

In November 2023, City Council approved a plan to stabilize and conserve the Hintonburg Pumping Station for public use. The project will enhance the public realm, create an improved park space, and allow for public enjoyment of the site with improved access to the Ottawa River and viewpoints to downtown.

The former Hintonburg Pumping Station, located at 5 Onigam Street is located on the east side of Onigam Street, south of Lemieux Island, and north of the Kichi Zībī Mīkan (former SJAM Parkway) and the Ottawa River Pathway in Ward 15. It is situated along the Ottawa River shoreline, with its east elevation facing the newly re-opened Chief William Commanda Bridge.

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.