The former CBC building at 1500 Bronson is among the finest examples of Canadian modern architecture, according to the NCC. Photo by Julie Oliver /Postmedia

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The National Capital Commission has approved the disposal of seven federal properties, including two heritage office buildings.

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At a meeting on Tuesday, June 23, NCC board members greenlit the disposal (or offloading) of the lands and approved a master plan to guide the redevelopment of Confederation Heights, the federal office campus in which the properties are located.

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Currently, the “underutilized” area near Hog’s Back Park is a mix of federal office buildings, large parking lots, highway-style ramps and “low quality” green space, NCC senior planner Marion Gale said.

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“Proposals for a new master plan and disposal of surplus federal property have the goal of redeveloping the site into a thriving, connected and sustainable mixed-use community,” Gale said.

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But, with the NCC allowing disposal of the buildings to the Canada Lands Company, PSPC can now check two items off its list: the former CBC building at 1500 Bronson Ave. and the Taxation Data Centre at 875 Heron Rd.

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Both are included on the Canada Public Land Bank, a list of federal properties the government has identified for their potential to support housing development.

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A third heritage building in the area, the Sir Charles Tupper Building at 2720 Riverside Dr., was approved for disposal by the NCC last fall.

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A file photo of the Taxation Data Centre on Heron Road, among the federal buildings in Ottawa in ‘critical condition.’ On Tuesday, the NCC’s board of directors voted to approve the building for disposal. Photo by JULIE OLIVER /POSTMEDIA

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Gale referred to the former CBC building, also known as the Edward Drake Building, as the “jewel” of Confederation Heights. According to Gale, the building earned a heritage designation due in part to its status as “one of the best examples of Canadian modern architecture.”

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The Taxation Data Centre, an 11-storey office building that houses Canada Revenue Agency workers, is considered a heritage asset due to its architectural value and “its historic association with the growth of the public service,” she added.

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Both are in “critical condition,” according to the Treasury Board’s property directory, which rates government buildings on a four-point scale ranging from “critical” to “good.”