That Heritage Richmond Hill recommends to Council that notifications be provided to the owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust.

Transcription

1 omo RICHMOND HILL ' INCORPOR AT E D Q HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE SRPRS Planning and Regulatory Services Heritage and Urban Design SUBJECT: Notice of Intent to Designate 16 Macleod Estate Court (the Drynoch Estate) and the Drynoch Carriageway located at 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive, 0 Windrow Street and 0 Yonge Street (Town File No: D ) () PURPOSE: The purpose of this report is to seek Heritage Richmond Hill's recommendation regarding the cultural heritage value of the property located at 16 Macleod Estate Court (the Drynoch Estate) and the property located at 0 Yonge Street, 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive and 0 Windrow Street (the Drynoch Carriageway) under Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. RECOMMENDATION(S): a) That Heritage Richmond Hill recommends to Council the cultural heritage value of the property located at 16 Macleod Estate Court (the Drynoch Estate), as detailed in Appendix "A" and included in merits designation under Section 29, Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act; b) c) That Heritage Richmond Hill recommends to Council the cultural heritage value of the property located at 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive, 0 Windrow Street and 0 Yonge Street (The Drynoch Carriageway), as detailed in Appendix "8" and included in merits designation under Section 29, Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act; and That Heritage Richmond Hill recommends to Council that notifications be provided to the owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust. Contact: Matthew Somerville, Heritage/ Urban Design Planner, extension 5529 Joanne Leung, Manager of Heritage and Urban Design, extension East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3P4 T RichmondHill.ca ~nzodtjj.!!.._...--

2 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITIEE Page2 Submitted by: " Ana Bassios Commissioner of Planning and Regulatory Services Approved~,. Neil Garbe Chief Administrative Officer

3 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE Page3 LOCATION MAP: PEin'OH AVEJIUI! I.AICE fiore81' IIRM! I I I I I I 'I1IIS1Ui AVI!Jiue 8HlRRICK IIRM! I, I fzzj 18 MacLeod E8tat8 Court 18!3 MacLeod Landing Park 1101' 10 ICALE 3)

4 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL GOMMITTEE Page4 BACKGROUND: The Drynoch Estate The property located at 16 Macleod Estate Court is included in the Town of Richmond Hill Inventory of Buildings of Architectural and Historical Importance and is listed as its previous address which was 300 Jefferson Side Road. The subject property is located on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Jefferson Side Road on the south-eastern shore of Phillips Lake within the Macleod Landing Subdivision. Originally the property was one contiguous farm that included 300 acres of property. When the Plan of Subdivision was created in 1996 it subdivided the property, but retained two significant attributes, which include the 1.58 hectares (3.9 acre). Drynoch Estate and the tree-lined carriageway which is part of the larger Macleod Landing Park. In 1845, Captain Martin Donald Macleod a retired British Army Officer and Scottish immigrant, purchased the 600 acre forested parcel from the Count Rene Augustin de Chalus who was directly affiliated with the early French aristocratic de Puisaye Settlement of Windham which was located nearby on the east side of Yonge Street. The Macleods, purchased the property and built their new home on the highest hill overlooking Philips Lake. They named their new residence "Drynoch" after their ancestral home on the Isle of Skye. As the parcel was cleared for farming, the Macleods established a long tree-lined carriageway leading from Drynoch to Yonge Street. This tree-lined carriageway still exists and is contained within the Town-owned Macleod Landing Park. The original house was constructed in 1845 and forms the central portion of the current residence. The one-and-a-half storey house is an eclectic composition of Classical Revival, Regency and Elizabethan Gothic Revival styles of architecture. In addition to the original 1845 main house, the residence contains two later additions. The Drynoch Carriageway In 1996, a subdivision proposal came before the Town that included the development of the lands surrounding the subject property. The proposal created a 1.5 hectare (3.9 acre) lot for the Drynoch Estate. Part of the former carriageway was assumed by the Town of Richmond Hill and included as part of the adjacent Macleod Landing Park (0 Yonge Street, 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive and 0 Windrow Street as shown as the cross-hatched area on the Location Map). In 1999, the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) (now the Heritage Richmond Hill Committee) provided recommendation to Council through Staff Report SRP that both the Drynoch Estate and the tree-lined carriageway leading to the property be designated, but Council at the time deferred the decision. The current owner recently purchased the property from the Province of Ontario. The property comprises the Drynoch Residence and the end portion of the carriageway (as shown in the hatched area of the Location Map). The Town has also acquired a portion

5 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE PageS of the carriageway from the Province (as shown on Map A) to complete the Macleod Landing Park. The owner has been informed of the pending designation and supports the process. Map A: Concept Landscape Plan (proposed extension of Macleod Landing Park) This staff report seeks Heritage Richmond Hill's recommendation regarding the heritage significance of the Orynoch Estate as well as the significance of the associated municipally owned tree-lined Carriageway contained within Macleod Landing Park. DISCUSSION Description of the Property In the Town's then Heritage Planner. George Duncan. undertook a detailed architectural and stylistic assessment of the property (see Appendix "C"}. The following section includes a summary of the key architectural descriptions of the property as contained in the 1993 assessment as well as a description of the cultural heritage landscape. The tree-lined carriageway that leads from Yonge Street to the Drynoch Estate was established in The author Sherrill MacLaren (1986) described this feature as "one of the finest carriage ways in Upper Canada". Today the carriageway is lined with

6 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE Page6 silver maples which are a second generation of the same trees the Macleods planted (see Appendix "D"). The house is positioned at the end of the carriageway and located at the crest of a knoll which originally provided a vista to Philips Lake. Today, vegetation around the lake limits this original visual connection. The landscaping that surrounds the house includes gardens, an apple tree and a large ancient oak tree which is located to the east of the house. The original c.1845 residence is a one-and-a-half storey brick dwelling with a shallow. front-facing U-shaped plan. The plan of the house relates to an early traditional Tudor manor house style. Originally, the house included a large wrap-around verandah which added to this composition. The verandah has since been removed, but photo documentation of the structure remains. Two major additions have been added to the original design. The first addition is a oneand-a-half storey structure that was added to the east sidewall of the building. The addition closely matches the original bricks with the only obvious difference being the soldier cornice over the windows. A second more recent addition was added to the rear of the west sidewall of the original building. Photos of the Drynoch Estate are included in Appendix "E". Cultural Heritage Evaluation Under the Ontario Heritage Act, in order for a building to be deemed worthy of designation under Part IV or V of the Act, it must meet at least one of the criteria defined under Regulation 9106 of the Act. Council may designate the building under Part IV of the Act if one of these criteria is met. The criteria include the following set of three overarching values within which are nine sub-criteria: 1. Architectural/Design Value: a. Is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, and material or construction method; b. Displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit; or c. Demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement. 2. Associative/Historical Value: a. Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community; b. Yields, or has the potential to yield information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture; or c. Demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

7 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITIEE Page7 3. Contextual Value: a. Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area; b. Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surrounding; or c. Is a landmark. Architectural/Design Value Drynoch Estate (Privately Owned) The Drynoch Estate is a rare example of a large mid-19 1 h century residence within the Town of Richmond Hill. During this period of the Town's history, most houses within the area consisted of basic settler log cabins. The original architect of Drynoch cannot be confirmed, however, research at the Markham District Historical Museum uncovered a sketched plan for a very similar house which was completed by John Edey, a Thornhill-based architect and builder who is known to have practiced during the 1840s. The original manor house forms the central portion of the existing residence, which has been expanded with additions over time. The architecture of the structure is an eclectic composition, combining elements of the Classical Revival, Regency, and Elizabethan Gothic Revival styles in a pleasing harmony. The red coloured brickwork. is of high quality construction and is laid in a Flemish bond on the primary south elevation while a common bond is used on other secondary elevations. The brick ornamentation consists of radiating voussoirs over flat-arched window openings, except for the drip moulds with label stops over the second storey windows of the projecting front bays. The roof is a medium-pitched cross gable, with wide overhang and deep returning eaves. There is a shallow wooden frieze with a finely-proportioned bed-mould. An internal, four-stack corbelled chimney spans the ridge of the east wing, just in front of the cross gable. The front doorcase, like the rest of the house exhibits a high degree of design skill. The doorcase consists of a six-panelled wood door, with transom light, sidelights and a simple, wooden Classical Revival surround which incorporates a wide entablature supported on narrow flat pilasters. Both the sidelights and flat-headed transom light are glazed with a series of rectangular panes with a boarder of narrow panes. Below the sidelights are single wood panels. The locking mechanism and doorknob are original to the door. Windows are typically double hung units with six over six glazing. The windows are not original to the construction but mimic the original design of the wooden windows that

8 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMiTIEE PageS have since been removed. Fenestration is balanced and ordered, consistent with the Classical Revival influences seen in the design of the building. The gracious central hall of the house has been retained intact including a number of its original features. The main element within this portion of the house is the open double quarter-turned staircase located at the end of the central hall. The stairs are completed with square spindles, an elegantly-curved banister and turned newel posts. Other interior features of note within the central hall include the original wainscoting and trim. The two additions to the original U-shaped plan are well-integrated into the original design. The first addition is located on the eastern side of the original structure and was constructed soon after the first structure was completed as it utilizes bricks of similar size and colour to the first phase. The only noticeable design difference is the use of a soldier cornice above the windows compared with the drip moulds of the original. This first addition may have been used as servants quarters as it contains a servants stairway and the kitchen area. The second addition is a modern two-storey board and batten structure that was added to the west elevation of the original structure. This addition contains a games room on the main floor and a bedroom on the second. The addition was designed by B. Napier Simpson Jr., a celebrated Canadian heritage architect. Although Drynoch has undergone a number of alterations and has had several major additions, the original house is preserved as the centerpiece of the complex. An early photograph of the house in the collection of the Richmond Hill Public Library shows how the front fa~de of the building has changed over time. The most notable of the changes was the removal of a large bell cast-roofed verandah, which formerly extended across the front and returned to shelter at least a portion of the east and west walls. The design of this verandah enhanced the original design intent of the structure. The Tree-lined Carriageway (Town Owned) Within the original landscape there is one significant design feature - the tree-lined carriageway - which originally provided a significant entryway to the Drynoch Estate. The carriageway was established in 1848 and is currently lined with mature silver maple trees which are planted in approximately 1 0 meter intervals on the north and south sides of the former carriageway. The classical order and symmetry of the carriageway is a significant landscape feature and hints at the design aesthetic of the Drynoch Estate. The assessment of architectural and design value has revealed that the two properties. contain significant valuable interior/exterior and landscape architectural attributes which are currently not protected under any heritage designation.

9 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMIITEE SRPR$ Page9 Associative/Historical Value The land that the Drynoch Estate rests on was once part of an extensive landholding held by Rene Augustine, Comte de Chalus, who was a de Puisaye settler. The de Puisaye Settlement, which was established by French aristocrats in the late 17th century, failed shortly after its establishment and is recognized as a significant Ontario Heritage site. The significance of the settlement is noted on a blue Ontario Heritage plaque located at the St. John's Anglican Church at the intersection of Jefferson Side Road and Yonge Street. While Rene Augustine returned to France to re-establish his life there, he held onto his landholdings until 1845 when Captain Martin Donald Macleod ( ) purchased 300 acres. Captain Macleod had initially requested a grant of Crown land in Canada. As a retired British Army officer he thought it would be a quick process, but thirteen years later he was still waiting for land. In 1844, after receiving an unexpected financial windfall from a deceased uncle, Captain Macleod made the decision to move his family from Scotland to Canada with the hope that the Crown grant would be provided once arrived. During the last leg of their journey to Toronto, Captain Macleod met a half-pay officer like himself who informed him of a large area of land that was available for sale in the vicinity of Richmond Hill. The officer also informed him that the offers of Crown land to military servicemen had been rescinded, meaning there was no land awaiting the family. Upon landing in Toronto the Macleods went to visit the property and immediately put down a 250 deposit on 1,000 purchase price from Rene Augustine. The ~acleods, who came from an aristocratic family, also appreciated the neighbours who were members of the ruling class of Upper Canada including the Chief Justice John Beverley Robinson, and to the south William Baldwin (brother of the reform leader Robert Baldwin). Captain Martin Macleod was a well-known member of the Richmond Hill community. He used his position of privilege for philanthropic purposes including the donation of the land on the opposite side of Yonge Street from the Drynoch farm for the construction of St. John's Anglican Church. Captain Martin Macleod and his wife Jane are buried at the nearby St. John's cemetery located at Yonge Street. While Captain Macleod is acknowledged as a significant member of the local Richmond Hill community, it was his son James Macleod who may have the most associative historical value. James was schooled at Upper Canada College and followed with Queens University in Kingston where he studied classics and law. James joined with the Volunteer Militia Field Battery of Kingston as a lieutenant and soon was offered a commission in the British army, which his father disapproved of. James remained in the militia and served during the Fenian Raids (1866) and the Riel Rebellion ( ). James Macleod joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1873 and received a commission as captain. In he was promoted to assistant commissioner and in

10 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE Page he was made commissioner of the force. Under his leadership Forts Macleod, Walsh and Calgary were established. He is credited as a founder of southern Alberta who brought law and order to the Canadian West during this period of settlement. Contextual Value From a contextual perspective there are a number of features that relate to the historic value of the Drynoch Estate. The first is the physical and visual relationship between the residence and Philips Lake to the west. The house is located on the highest hill overlooking the lake and the location of the residence was strongly influenced by the relationship with the lake and the topography of the land. The location contributes to the pastoral quality of the design. Since its construction, the tree cover has regrown around Philips Lake and the visual connection with the house is less than was originally conceived. Staff has also identified a nearby ancient Black Walnut tree as having contextual value with the construction of the Drynoch Estate. When the property was cleared of the original forest, all of the trees were removed with the exception of this one tree. The tree forms part of the immediate landscape surrounding the house. As a result, staff considers the tree to contain physical associative value in relation to the construction and siting of the residence. Lastly there is a historical contextual relationship between Drynoch and the nearby St. John's Anglican Church (located at Yonge Street). Captain Macleod donated 4 acres from his land holdings for the establishment of the church and the Macleod family is interned in the adjacent cemetery. Staff Consideration Staff is of the opinion that both the municipally owned tree-lined carriageway and the Drynoch Estate contain significant cultural heritage value that merit designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. As they are two separate properties, two draft designation by-laws with each respective address are proposed. These properties merit protection and staff recommends that Council move forward with a designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The former carriageway located at 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive, 0 Windrow Street and 0 Yonge Street may be defined as a designed cultural heritage landscape as it was created intentionally by man for esthetic reasons. The boundary of the proposed cultural heritage landscape is delineated by the drip line of the trees on either side of the carriageway. The key features of the carriageway are the orderly allee of trees planted on either side of the lane and the clear visual relationship between the carriageway and the residence. A draft statement of cultural heritage value of 16 Macleod Estate Court (the Drynoch Estate) including design, associative and contextual attributes is attached as Appendix "A". A draft statement of the cultural heritage value for the carriageway located at

11 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE Page 11 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive, 0 Yonge Street and 0 Windrow Street including associative and contextual attributes is attached as Appendix "B". These statements, if accepted by Council, will form the bases for the designation by-laws. Staff has provided the following table that identifies the specific cultural heritage attributes associated with both the Drynoch Estate and related carriageway: Architectural/Design Value Regulation 9/06 Criteria Staff Comments a. Is a rare, unique, Is a rare example of a large and well-constructed representative or early mid-19th century residence in Richmond Hill. example of a style, An excellent example of 19th century stylistic type, expression, eclecticism that includes elements of Classical material or Revival, Regency and Elizabethan Gothic Revival construction method. into one dwelling. b. Displays a high The house exhibits a high degree of craftsmanship degree of for a mid-19 1 h century residence. The house was craftsmanship or carefully considered and designed at a period in artistic merit, or which most dwellings within Richmond Hill were log cabins. The interior of the central hall has retained the original trim and wainscoting as well as the original double quarter turned open staircase with highly crafted railings and newel posts. The tree-lined carriageway contains a pastoral elegance that matches the grandeur of the Drynoch residence. c. Demonstrates a high N/A degree of technical or scientific achievement. Associative/Historical Value Regulation 9/06 Criteria Staff Comments a. Has direct Has direct associations with the early French de associations with a Puisaye Settlement. theme, event, belief, Has direct association with the owner of the property person, activity, Captain Martin Macleod. organization or James Macleod is associated with the founding of institution that is the Canadian Northwest Mounted Police and the significant to a foundation of Fort Macleod, Fort Walsh and Fort community, Calgary in southern Alberta. b. Yields, or has the This property was the first brick dwelling on the potential to yield property and has remained in situ for 168 years information that which makes this residence an important part of the

12 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL-HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITIEE Page 12 contributes to an understanding of a community or culture, or c. Demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community. history and evolution of Richmond Hill. Architect is unknown, but the work is similar to drawings completed by the architect John Edey from Thornhill who designed other similar houses in the vicinity. Contextual Value Regulation 9/06 Criteria Staff Comments a. Is important in NA defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area, b. Is physically, Drynoch is physically associated with Lake Philips functionally, visually or and is situated at the top of a hill which provides the historically linked to its house with a commanding vantage point. surrounding, or The house is physically associated with the large ancient Walnut Tree located adjacent to the house. The house is historically linked to the St. John's Anglican Church which is located on Yonge Street and was accessed via the former carriageway. The carriageway is historically linked to the Macleod Estate house as the ceremonial route from Yonge Street to the residence. c. Is a landmark N/A FINANCIAUSTAFFING/OTHER IMPLICATIONS: There are no financial implications through the adoption of this report. RELATIONSHIP TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN: The recommendations in this report relate to the Strategic Plan Goal of "wise management of resources in Richmond Hill" and the objective of being responsible by serving as a role model for municipal management. A detailed consideration of the

13 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITTEE Page 13 heritage merits of th~ subject properties is in keeping with Goal 3 - Outcome 1 of the Strategic Plan which is to "Respect the past through promoting the awareness of the Town's heritage." Consideration of the heritage merits also aligns with the direction to "steward Richmond Hill's heritage resources", and implements Outcome 2 of Goal 3 which is the promotion of a sense of identify and place through "the celebration, promotion and enhancement of the Town's unique places". CONCLUSION Staff are of the opinion that the research provides solid documentation as well as historic information that leads logically to the conclusion that the Drynoch Estate has heritage value as measured by Regulation 9/06 of the Ontario Heritage Act. Staff support the designations of the Drynoch Estate located at 16 Macleod Estate Court and its associated carriageway located at 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Yonge Street, 0 Shirrick Drive and 0 Windrow Street due to their significant architecturav design value and associative/ historical value under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. A full list of the attributes proposed to be included in the designation for the Drynoch Estate is included in Appendix "A", and the draft reasons for designation for the carriageway is attached as Appendix "B".

14 TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL- HERITAGE RICHMOND HILL COMMITIEE SRPR$ Page 14 Appendix Contents 11 A" Draft Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest for 16 Macleod Estate Court (the Drynoch Estate) 11 8" Draft Statement of Cultural Heritage Value for 0 Yonge Street, 0 Silver Maple Road, 0 Shirrick Drive and 0 Windrow Street (the Drynoch Carriageway) 11 C" Drynoch 1845, Lot 61, Concession 1, King, 300 Jefferson Sideroad, Property Assessment by George Duncan, D" Photos of Tree-Lined Carriageway 11 E" Photos of Interior and Exterior of 16 Macleod Estate Court