1 Report to Rapport au: Built Heritage Sub-Committee / Sous-comité du patrimoine bâti April 9, 2015 / 9 avril 2015 and / et Planning Committee / Comité de l'urbanisme April 28, 2015 / 28 avril 2015 and Council / et au Conseil May 13, 2015 / 13 mai 2015 Submitted on March 18, 2015 Soumis le 18 mars 2015 Submitted by Soumis par: John L. Moser, Acting Deputy City Manager / Directeur municipal adjoint par intérim, Planning and Infrastructure / Urbanisme et Infrastructure Contact Person Personne ressource: Lee Ann Snedden, Acting Chief / Chef par intérim, Development Review Services / Services d Examen des projets d'aménagement, Planning and Growth Management / Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance (613) 580-2424, 25779, LeeAnn.Snedden@ottawa.ca Report Author / Auteur du rapport: Lesley Collins, Planner II / Urbaniste II, Development Review Services / Services d Examen des projets d aménagement, Heritage Services Section / Section des Services du Patrimoine (613)580-2424, 21586, Lesley.Collins@ottawa.ca
2 Ward: SOMERSET (14) File Number: ACS2015-PAI-PGM-0047 SUBJECT: Application to alter 231 O Connor Street, a property designated under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act and located in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District OBJET: Demande en vue de modifier le 231, rue O Connor, propriété désignée en vertu de la partie V de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l Ontario et située dans le district de conservation du patrimoine du Centre-ville REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS That the Built Heritage Sub-Committee recommend that Planning Committee recommend that Council: 1. Approve the application to alter 231 O Connor Street according to plans submitted by Linda Chapman Architect on March 6, 2015, conditional upon the approval of the minor variance application; 2. Issue the heritage permit with a two-year expiry date from the date of issuance; and 3. Delegate authority for minor design changes to the General Manager, Planning and Growth Management Department. (Note: The statutory 90-day timeline for consideration of this application under the Ontario Heritage Act will expire on May, 31, 2015.) (Note: Approval to alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.) RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT Que le Sous-Comité du patrimoine bâti recommande au Comité de l urbanisme de recommander à son tour au Conseil : 1. D approuver la demande en vue de modifier le 231, rue O Connor, conformément aux plans soumis par le cabinet Linda Chapman Architect le 6 mars 2015, sous réserve de l approbation d une demande de dérogation mineure;
3 2. De délivrer le permis en matière de patrimoine, d une validité de deux ans à partir de la date de délivrance; 3. De déléguer au directeur général, Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance, le pouvoir d apporter des modifications mineures à la conception. (Nota : Le délai réglementaire de 90 jours d examen de cette demande, exigé en vertu de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l Ontario, prendra fin le 31 mai 2015.) (Nota : L approbation de la demande de modification aux termes de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l Ontario ne signifie pas pour autant qu elle satisfait aux conditions de délivrance d un permis de construire.) BACKGROUND The house located at 231 O Connor Street is a two-and-one-half-storey red brick house with a side gabled roof. It is located between two apartment buildings on the east side of O Connor Street between Somerset and Cooper Streets (see Documents 1 and 2). The house was constructed in the first half of the 20 th century and is a Category 3 building in the Centretown Heritage Conservation District (HCD) (see Document 7). The Centretown HCD was designated in 1997 for its cultural heritage value as a late 19 th and early 20 th century residential community within walking distance to Parliament Hill. The HCD features a variety of building types including single-detached, semi-detached and row houses and small apartment buildings constructed in the late 19 th and early 20 th century. The HCD is unified by the dominance of red brick and wood (see Document 3). In late January 2014, the red brick front façade of this building was removed without permission under the Ontario Heritage Act. Shortly after the removal of the front façade, an application to alter the property was submitted to the Planning and Growth Management Department. This report has been prepared because applications to alter properties in heritage conservation districts require the approval of City Council under the Ontario Heritage Act. DISCUSSION The proposed alterations at 231 O Connor Street include: the reinstatement of the red brick façade, the replacement of the windows, the addition of a basement window on
4 the front (west) façade, a door on the east (rear) façade and a door on the south façade. A single-storey porch is proposed for the front façade (see Documents 4, 5, 6). Centretown Heritage Conservation District Guidelines The Centretown HCD Study has the following guidelines related to the alteration and restoration of residential buildings in the HCD: 1. Identify existing original and early features, including stone foundations, simple and decorative brick veneers and stone trim, board and shingle sidings, wood doors and window sash, leaded and stained glass window transoms and panels, decorative wood cornices and trim, ornamental cast iron cresting, slate roofing, and turned wood porches and verandahs. House forms and details can be compared with those of similar vintage in the neighbourhood, to understand common characteristics. 2. Original and early features should be conserved through regular maintenance, with replacement only of badly deteriorated components with the same material, dimensions and profile. Advice on proper repair techniques, including correct repointing mortars, epoxy consolidation, and replacement procedures, can be obtained from the Heritage Services Section at the City of Ottawa. 3. When any significant modifications or upgrading is planned, façade restoration should be considered, based on historic photographs and examination of the physical evidence. Restoration can include a return to more appropriate windows and doors, reconstruction of porches and verandahs, reinstatement of decorative trim, and repainting to historic colour schemes based on paint analysis. As with commercial buildings, colours in the late nineteenth century and at the turn of the century were generally darker and richer that those in common use today, often with a two- or treecolour scheme for the main façade. The proposed alterations at 231 O Connor Street meet the guidelines for the Centretown Heritage Conservation District. Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada The Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada were adopted by City Council in 2008 and are used to assess applications under the Ontario Heritage Act. The relevant standards for this application are:
5 Standard 1: Conserve the heritage value of a historic place. Do not remove, replace or substantially alter its intact or repairable character-defining elements. Do not move a part of a historic place if its current location is a character defining element. Standard 11: Conserve the heritage value and character defining elements when creating any new additions to a historic place or any related new construction. Make the new work physically and visually compatible with, subordinate to and distinguishable from the historic place. The heritage attributes of 231 O Connor are the form, scale, massing and the red brick façade with stone sills and brick lintels. The reinstatement of the red brick façade will return the building to its historic appearance. As the brick that was removed from the building cannot be salvaged, a new red brick, sympathetic in colour, size and texture will be sourced for the front façade in consultation with heritage staff. A decorative brick course is proposed for both the north and south elevations to make a clear distinction between the new brick on the front façade and the historic brick on the side and rear façades. The current windows on the building are a mix of historic and modern. New metal clad wood windows with simulated divided lights are proposed for all façades which will unify the appearance of the building. The proposal includes a porch based on the footprint shown on the 1948 Fire Insurance Plan for this property. While the porch was likely two storeys, given the door opening on the second storey of the house, the applicant has proposed converting the second storey door to a window, as such, a one-storey porch is more appropriate. The proposed porch is wood, with a flat roof and simple columns supported on brick piers. The proposed alterations meet the standards and guidelines because the heritage value of the building is conserved and the new work is compatible with and distinguishable from the historic building. This proposal requires a minor variance to permit the addition of the front porch. The department recommends approval of this recommendation conditional upon receipt of approval from the Committee of Adjustment. Conclusion The department does not object to this application because the proposal meets the Centretown HCD Guidelines and the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of
6 Historic Places in Canada. The proposed reinstatement of the red brick façade and the construction of a small front porch will have a positive impact on the character of O Connor Street and the HCD. Recommendation 2 The Ontario Heritage Act does not provide any timelines for the expiry of heritage permits. A two-year expiry date is recommended to ensure that projects are completed in a timely fashion and according to the approved heritage permit. Recommendation 3 Occasionally, minor changes to a building emerge during the working drawing phase. This recommendation is included to allow the Planning and Growth Management Department to approve these changes. RURAL IMPLICATIONS There are no rural implications associated with this report. CONSULTATION Heritage Ottawa was notified of the application and provided the following comments: Heritage Ottawa is not opposed to the proposed alterations, with the understanding that the facade will be brick resembling the original, and that the doors and windows will be of compatible design as described. The Centretown Citizens Community Association was notified of the application and offered the opportunity to submit comments. Neighbours within 30 metres of the property were notified of the application and offered the opportunity to submit comments to the Built Heritage Sub-Committee or Planning Committee. COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR Councillor McKenney is aware of the application. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS There are no legal impediments to adopting the recommendations outlined in this report.
7 RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS There are no risk management implications. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS There are no direct financial implications. ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS There are no accessibility impacts. TERM OF COUNCIL PRIORITIES This project addresses the following Term of Council Priority: HC4 - Improve Arts and Heritage. APPLICATION PROCESS TIMELINE STATUS The application was processed within the 90-day statutory requirement under the Ontario Heritage Act. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Document 1 Location Map Document 2 Photos Document 3 Statement of Heritage Character Document 4 Site Plan Document 5 Elevations Document 6 Streetscape Perspective Document 7 Heritage Survey Form (attached separately on file with the City Clerk) DISPOSITION City Clerk and Solicitor Department, Legislative Services, to notify the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust (10 Adelaide Street East, 3 rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of Council s decision.
Document 1 Location Map 8
Document 2 Photos 9
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11 Document 3 Statement of Heritage Character Centretown has always been a predominantly residential area, functionally linked to Parliament Hill and the structures of government. Over the past century, it has housed many individuals important to Canada s development as a nation. The built fabric of this area is overwhelmingly residential. It is dominated by dwellings from the 1890-1914 period, built to accommodate an expanding civil service within walking distance of Parliament Hill and government offices. There is a wide variety of housing types from this period, mixed in scale and level of sophistication. It had an early suburban quality, laid out and built up by speculative developers with repetitive groupings. There is a sprinkling of pre-1890 buildings on the north and south perimeters, which predate any major development. There are also apartment buildings constructed and redeveloped during the 1914-1918 period in response to the need to house additional parliamentary, military, civil service and support personnel. In the recent 1960-1990 period, the predominantly low-scale environment has been punctuated by high-rise residential development. Over the past century, this area has functioned as soft support for the administrative and commercial activity linked to Parliament Hill. In addition to residences, it has accommodated club facilities, organizational headquarters, institutions, professional offices and transportation services, all associated with Ottawa s role as national capital. Conversely, many of the facilities that complement Centretown s existence as a residential community have traditionally been situated in the blocks between Laurier and Wellington, closer to Parliament Hill. Centretown has one major commercial artery, Bank Street. This street predates the community of Centretown both as a commercial route and as the major transportation corridor between Parliament Hill and outlying areas to the south. Bank Street has always serviced the entire area, with secondary commercial corridors along Elgin, Somerset and Gladstone in select locations and time periods. The Bank Street commercial corridor broadens onto associated side streets in periods of intense pressure, then narrows back to the street itself with commercial activity is in decline. Centretown itself has always been an access route to Parliament Hill. There is a long-standing pattern of north/south movement through the area by outsiders. Over the years, this pattern has been supported by livery locations, streetcar routes and automobile traffic corridors. Long distance travellers have traditionally arrived on the
12 transportation corridor that marks the south boundary of the area- originally the Canadian Atlantic Railway and later its replacement, the Queensway. Travel within Centretown occurs east/west radiating from Bank Street. As the federal government s residential quarter, planning initiatives in Centretown have been influenced by both federal and municipal authorities. Federal intervention in this area has established some of its unusual qualities such as the formal emphasis on the Metcalfe Street axis, early enhancement of its residential quality, and a number of its parks and services. The streetscapes have traditionally been enhanced by extensive public tree planting and other hard and soft landscape features, many of which have been in decline since the period of extensive tree removal in the 1930s and 40s. However, the scale and texture of the heritage streetscape are still discernible. This area is unique both as an early residential suburb and as the temporary and permanent home of many of those who have governed and shaped the nation.
Document 4 Site Plan 13
Document 5 Elevations 14
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Document 6 Streetscape Perspective 16