OTTAWA — Got a few million dollars socked away? Looking for posh digs in highly desired neighbourhoods in major world capitals?
A big-name owner is looking to sell some gorgeous surplus properties.
The federal government’s sale of the Canadian High Commission offices and residence in London — for $564.5 million — is the latest of more than 80 diplomatic properties around the world the Harper government has sold, for more than $720 million, since taking power.
Several properties valued at more than $1 million, including a chancery in Madrid and official residence in Lisbon, were sold in 2013 alone. And there are several more on the block.
The government announced Thursday it has finalized the sale of the 150,000-sq.-ft. Macdonald House (High Commission), located in the swanky Mayfair District of London, to an India-based developer. It’s part of a government plan to consolidate its diplomatic presence at Canada House in Trafalgar Square.
Macdonald House is among a number of lucrative government assets (not all diplomatic properties), worth billions of dollars, that the federal government has been looking at selling as it moves to balance the books by 2015-16.
Other diplomatic properties have been up for sale in recent months, including in Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and the United States.
Approximately 85 diplomatic properties have been sold off under Prime Minister Stephen Harper, according to documents tabled in the House of Commons.
Many were embassy buildings, and official residences of ambassadors and high commissioners in world capitals. Others included staff quarters for diplomats working abroad, and the odd swath of land in other countries.
Searching for comfort in Europe? Belgium might be a good bet. Two luxurious federal properties in Brussels have been up for sale recently, including the official residence to the European Union and the official residence to NATO. Another official residence in Oslo was listed at nearly $20 million.
Some major diplomatic properties sold between 2006 and 2014:
- Macdonald House in London, England, home to the Canadian High Commission and official residence; sold for $564.5 million, sale completed in March 2014.
- Chancery (embassy building) in Rome, Italy; sold for $26.7 million in November 2007, appraised at $8.4 million (no list price provided).
- Land in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; sold for $24.6 million in May 2011, appraised at $21.6 million (no list price provided).
- Official residence in Dublin, Ireland; sold for $17.6 million in November 2008, appraised at $26.8 million (no list price provided).
- Staff quarters in Tokyo, Japan; sold for $15.2 million in June 2011, appraised at $9.6 million (no list price).
- Official residence in Copenhagen, Demark; sold for $6.9 million in November 2011, appraised at $5.8 million (no list price).
- Official residence in Stockholm, Sweden; sold for $5.8 million in July 2011, listed at $8.4 million, appraised at $6.8 million.
- Chancery in Madrid, Spain; sold for $3.4 million in December 2013, listed and appraised at $3.3 million.
- Chancery in Lima, Peru; sold for $3 million in March 2009, appraised at $3.5 million (no list price).
- Official residence in Lisbon, Portugal; sold for $2.7 million in January 2013, listed at $3.2 million, appraised at $2.7 million.
Total for all diplomatic properties sold from 2006 to 2013, excluding Macdonald House (i.e. those for which sale prices were provided): $156.7 million
Total for all sales from 2006 to 2013 plus the sale of Macdonald House: $721.2 million
Some of the major federal diplomatic properties that have been for sale recently:
- Official residence in Oslo, Norway; listed for $19.5 million.
- Official residence in Brussels for the European Union; listed for $9.4 million.
- Official residence in Mexico City; listed for $4.1 million.
- Official residence in Brussels for NATO; listed for $2.7 million.
- Staff quarters in Bridgetown, Barbados; listed for $494,400.
