Canada lists old NYC residence for $13M, surpassing cost of new luxury condo

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OTTAWA - Canada is   promoting  its former Manhattan   house , which used to   residence  its consulate   standard  in New York.
The 12 room, five-  bed room  condo  placed  on Park Avenue   become  indexed  Thursday at over $  thirteen  million,   that is  predicted  to exceed   the acquisition  of its new $  nine  million Manhattan   rental  placed  on Billionaires' Row.



Global Affairs Canada   stated  the brand new  rental  is smaller and   extra  suitable,   pronouncing  that the   vintage  unit, which   become  bought  in 1961 and   remaining  renovated in 1982,   wanted  updates to the electrical, heating,   air flow  and plumbing.

It   additionally  did   now no longer  observe  the 2021 Accessible Canada Act, which mandates barrier-  unfastened  environments, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada   stated  in a statement.

The   branch  says   the brand new  rental  will   keep  Canadian taxpayers   tens of thousands and thousands  of bucks  and decrease  ongoing   renovation  prices  and   assets  taxes   whilst  assisting  destiny  application  needs.

But the Opposition Conservatives   rate  that   best  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and "his wasteful Liberal   authorities  could  accept as true with  it   become  a   higher  deal to quadruple the   price  to taxpayers and   purchase  a brand new  luxurious  rental  for $  nine  million   rather than  making repairs."

Concerns   approximately  the Park Avenue   condo  become  first raised in 2014.

Seven years later, Global Affairs Canada   authorised  renovations at a   price  of $1.  eight  million,   however the  undertaking  become  not on time  due to  the COVID-19 pandemic,   latest  files  submitted to the House committee on   authorities  operations and estimates show.

Global Affairs Canada   stated  in a letter to the committee that months after   the brand new  consulate   standard  to New York   become  appointed,   that they'd  recognized  new   problems  with the   vintage  house .

That   covered  accessibility problems,   loss of  separation   among  own circle of relatives  and   paintings  space, and   regulations  on   activities  that the cooperative board had imposed on them.

The   authorised  protection  undertaking  could  now no longer  have resolved those "fundamental"   problems , the letter   stated , and   protection  prices  had   expanded  to $2.6 million.

"Considering the   excessive  protection  prices  had to  replace  the electrical, heating,   air flow  and plumbing, Global Affairs Canada   endorsed  a relocation to   a brand new , smaller,   extra  suitable, and   extra  competitively priced  condo ,"   stated  Brittany Fletcher, spokeswoman for   branch  on Thursday.

The Canadian   authorities  additionally  owns a   2d  condo  on the  Park Avenue   constructing  in Manhattan, which   stays  occupied   through  Bob Rae, Canada's ambassador to the United Nations.

In   seek  of   a brand new  professional  house  for the consul   standard  in New York, the   branch  labored  with a   nearby  dealer  and   considered  21   extraordinary  residences, ranging in   fee  among  $  eight  million and $21 million   files  show.

The   authorities  in the end  settled on   a brand new  luxurious  rental  in Steinway Tower, a   constructing  called  the world's thinnest skyscraper, and is   simply  steps from Central Park.

The   professional  house  could be  used for diplomatic   sports  which   consist of  networking receptions,   professional  briefings, and hospitality   activities  inclusive of  discussions with   commercial enterprise  and political leaders.

It   could be  utilized by  Tom Clark, a former journalist, who   become  appointed as Canada's consular   standard  to New York in February 2023.

Opposition Conservatives   rate  that   it is  wasteful to drop   tens of thousands and thousands  on   a brand new  luxurious  rental  for the   top  minister's "media buddy"   whilst  sticking Canadians with the   invoice  as "  they're  suffering  to   manage to pay for  a   primary  roof over their heads or   meals  on their tables."

"For Justin Trudeau and his well-  linked  Liberal insiders,   existence  has   by no means  been so   proper  whilst  he   maintains  to punish   ordinary  Canadians   together along with his  pricey  policies,"   stated  Michael Barrett, Opposition ethics critic.

Global Affairs Canada   become  compelled  to confess  it   become  at the back of  the   latest  buy  after   a few  New York   actual  property  gossip   pronounced  that the   rental  deal   become  executed  for King Charles himself.

The deed for the   assets  suggests  it   become  indexed  for   extra  than US$6.6 million and   become  offered  remaining  month to "His Majesty the King in   proper  of Canada."

That   brought on  a few  nearby  New York media to   document  a royal   buy  has been made, with Global Affairs Canada then   transferring  to   accurate  the record.

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