Ottawa's Department of National Defence is putting down permanent roots in the city's industrial east end, purchasing two properties on Star Top Road that it had previously only leased.
From Tenant to Owner
For years, DND has operated out of facilities along Star Top Road, a stretch of industrial real estate tucked into Ottawa's east end that's home to a mix of warehouses, logistics operations, and government-leased space. Rather than continuing to rent, the department has now decided to buy both properties outright, according to reporting from the Ottawa Citizen.
DND says the move comes down to "evolving long-term requirements" — bureaucratic language that points to a defence department wrestling with where to put its people and equipment as its footprint keeps expanding. Owning the buildings gives DND more control over the space long-term, rather than being at the mercy of lease renewals and rent negotiations.
Part of a Bigger Spending Spree
The Star Top Road purchases aren't an isolated move. They come amid what's being described as a broader spending spree by the department, as DND works to secure more permanent infrastructure across the National Capital Region. With federal defence spending under the spotlight nationally — and pressure mounting on Canada to boost its military investments — Ottawa is increasingly the place where that money gets converted into bricks, mortar, and office space.
For a city that's home to the bulk of Canada's federal public service, this kind of real estate shuffling is nothing new. But it's a reminder that DND, like many federal departments, has been quietly outgrowing its existing office and storage footprint across the capital.
Why It Matters for Ottawa
For Ottawa residents, moves like this ripple outward in ways that aren't always obvious. Federal property purchases in the east end can mean more government jobs anchored to that part of the city, more demand for nearby services, and a modest boost to the local commercial real estate market as departments compete for suitable space. It's also a signal of how tightly Ottawa's economy remains tied to the ebb and flow of federal spending decisions — when a department like DND needs room to grow, it's Ottawa's industrial parks and office towers that feel it first.
The east end, in particular, has increasingly become a hub for this kind of federal footprint — its mix of industrial-zoned land and proximity to major highways make it an attractive option for departments needing warehouse-style space rather than downtown office towers.
While the purchase price and specific building details haven't been widely publicized, the shift from leasing to owning suggests DND expects to be at these Star Top Road addresses for the long haul — one more sign that Ottawa's role as the nerve centre of federal operations shows no signs of shrinking.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
