µ--2.~.~~~.~ Related to Item 2 of the Fourth Report of Heritage Oshawa (DS-16-161) Memorandum Development Services Department Date: August 25, 2016 To: Heritage Oshawa File: B-8600-0201-2013 From: Re: Margaret Kish, Senior Planner Development Services Department Restoration of the R. S. McLaughlin Estate Parkwood National Historic Site Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 270-290 Simcoe Street North R. S. Mclaughlin Estate Parkwood National Historic Site The Parkwood Foundation has applied to the City (see Attachment 1) to undertake conservation work on Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The proposed conservation work includes the preservation of Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 and the restoration of Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) to restore the structures to their original appearance circa 1972, of which the conservation work will include: replacing the glazing as necessary to match the original configuration and material, including the curved eave glass on Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) only, replacing degraded wood and metal elements to match the originals in size and profile, and the stabilization of masonry elements by repair or replacements in kind as necessary. In accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Council, after consultation with its municipal heritage committee, shall (i) consent to the application, (ii) consent to the application on terms and conditions, or (iii) refuse the application. and shall give notice of its decision to the owner of the property and the Ontario Heritage Trust. Heritage Oshawa is requested to provide Development Services Committee and Council a recommendation on the proposed restoration of Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of R. S. Mclaughlin Estate Parkwood National Historic Site. Background: Parkwood Estate is designated pursuant to Section 29 of Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act by By-law 5-2000. As such, Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act governs alterations to the property ifthe alteration is likely to affect the property's heritage attributes. By-law 5-2000 names the greenhouses as heritage attributes. In accordance with Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act, Council, after consultation with its municipal heritage committee, shall (i) consent to the application, (ii) consent to the application on terms and conditions, or (iii) refuse the application, and shall give notice of its decision to the owner of the property and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
- 2 - Parkwood Restoration Proposal In its letter to Council dated August 24, 2016 (see Attachment 1). The Parkwood Foundation describes the historic greenhouse complex as having played an enormous supporting role to the site's nationally-significant landscape and to the lifestyle and garden pursuits of Canadian autobaron R. S. McLaughlin. In addition, the greenhouse complex. in general, has been a conservation priority of The Parkwood Foundation for many years. The Parkwood Foundation is about to embark on the completion of the greenhouse conservation project at the estate. This second phase of work on the greenhouses, is based on the knowledge gained during the greenhouse work on the Vinery of 2013-2014. The Parkwood Foundation has applied to the City (see Attachment 1) to undertake conservation work on Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The proposed conservation work includes the preservation of Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 and the restoration of Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House). Parks Canada, Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada include the following definitions of conservation, preservation and restoration: Conservation: all actions and processes that are aimed at safeguarding the character-defining elements of an historic place so as to retain its heritage value and extend its physical life. This may involve Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, or a combination of these actions or processes. Preservation: the action of process of protecting. maintaining. and/or stabilizing the existing materials, form, and integrity of an historic place, or of an individual component, while protecting its heritage value. Restoration: the action or process of accurately revealing, recovering or representing the state of an historic place. or of an individual component, as it appeared at a particular period in its history, while protecting its heritage value. The application under the Ontario Heritage Act for the restoration of Greenhouse 3 (the Vinery), the Greenhouse Pilot Project, was considered and approved by Council on November 4, 2013 and was carried out between November 2013 and October 2014. Whereas the Vinery was 95% original, the remaining five greenhouses have had much more intervention and alteration over the years, each with unique needs. Parkwood Foundation has worked with ERA Architects Inc. on the specifics for each greenhouse, based on both the historical and contemporary purpose of each, readying each greenhouse for use and historic interpretation.
- 3 The conservation program will return the five greenhouses to their original appearance circa 1972 (The Japanese Garden Greenhouse was changed by Sam McLaughlin in the 1960s when he hired architect George Tanaka to revise this space) and will include: Replacing glazing as necessary to match the original configuration and material, including the curved eave glass on Greenhouse 6 (The Palm House) only. For Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 curved clear acrylic panels will be used in lieu of the curved eave glass; Replacing degraded wood and metal elements to match the originals in size and profile; and Stabilizing masonry elements by repair or replacements in kind as necessary. Recommendation: That Heritage Oshawa recommend to the Development Services Committee: Whereas the R. S. Mclaughlin Estate Parkwood National Historic Site (Parkwood) located at 270 to 290 Simcoe Street North in the City of Oshawa is designated pursuant to Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as being of architectural and historical interest; and, Whereas the greenhouses are identified as heritage attributes pursuant to the heritage designation by-law, By-law 5-2000 passed on January 17, 2000; and, Whereas the greenhouse complex, in general, has been a conservation priority of The Parkwood Foundation for many years; and Whereas The Parkwood Foundation has applied to the City (see Attachment 1) to undertake conservation work on Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6. The proposed conservation work includes the preservation of Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 and the restoration of Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) to restore the structures to their original appearance circa 1972, of which the conservation work will include: replacing the glazing as necessary to match the original configuration and material, including the curved eave glass on Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) only (for Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 curved clear acrylic panels will be used in lieu of the curved eave glass). replacing degraded wood and metal elements to match the originals in size and profile, and the stabilization of masonry elements by repair or replacements in kind as necessary; and Whereas Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act states that Council must consult with its municipal heritage committee, if one is established, prior to making a decision on the application; Therefore, City Council consent to the conservation work on Greenhouses 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of R. S. Mclaughlin Estate Parkwood National Historic Site on the basis of the terms and conditions proposed by The Parkwood Foundation, namely, that it is The Parkwood Foundation's intention to undertake the preservation of Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 and the restoration of Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) to restore the structures to their original appearance circa 1972, of which the conservation work will include: replacing the glazing as necessary to match the original configuration and material, including the curved eave glass on Greenhouse 6 (the Palm House) only (for Greenhouses 1, 2, 4 and 5 curved clear acrylic
- 4 panels will be used in lieu of the curved eave glass), replacing degraded wood and metal elements to match the originals in size and profile, and the stabilization of masonry elements by repair or replacements in kind as necessary. If you have any questions please contact me at 905-436-3311, extension 2945 or by email to mkish@oshawa.ca. ;;{!JJfrJ_, -fb( Margaret Kish, MCIP, RPP, Senior Planner Development Services Department MK/j Attachment
Attachment 1 August 24, 2016 Mayor John Henry and Members of Oshawa City Council The Corporation of the City of Oshawa 50 Centre Street South Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7 Dear Mayor and Council: The Parkwood Foundation is about to embark on the completion of the greenhouse conservation project at the estate. This second phase of work on the greenhouses, is based on the knowledge gained during the greenhouse work on the Vinery Case Study of 2013-2014. As Parkwood is municipallydesignated under the Ontario Heritage Act, we are seeking Council s approval for the project. BACKGROUND The historic greenhouse complex (c. 1917) played an enormous supporting role to the site s nationallysignificant landscape and to the lifestyle and garden pursuits of Canadian autobaron R. S. McLaughlin. The greenhouses remaining today continue to support the propagation of specialty plant materials for the gardens and for greenhouse display, and they provide resources for study and interpretation, and for public education programs in history and horticulture. The greenhouse complex has been a conservation priority for many years, and Council may recall discussions about a formal conservation study we began in 2012 that preceded this pilot. PROJECT SCOPE The project involves five greenhouses, identified as 1, 2,4, 5, and 6 (please see attached aerial view). The 2013-2014 pilot project, the Vinery, identified as 3, helped increase our understanding about the original construction of these five greenhouses and through the study of these five greenhouses, the two grow houses; the Orchid House, Japanese Garden House, and Palm House, we are ready to undertake the conservation/restoration work. Where the Vinery was 95% original, the remaining five greenhouses had much more intervention and alteration over the years, each with unique needs in this proposed phase of the work. Parkwood has worked with ERA on the specifics that each greenhouse will need, based on the greenhouse purpose historically and contemporary, readying it for use and historic interpretation. The program will return the five greenhouses to their original appearance c. 1972 (The Japanese Garden Greenhouse was changed by Sam McLaughlin in the 1960s when he hired architect George Tanaka to revision this space) and will include:
Replacing glazing as necessary to match the original configuration and material, including the arched glass Replacing degraded wood and metal elements to match the originals in size and profile Stabilization of masonry elements by repair or replacements in kind as necessary CONSERVATION APPROACH The Statement of Reasons for designation does not describe the design elements of the greenhouses. Nonetheless, we remaining true to these elements (believed to be Lord & Burnham designs) guided by historical documentation including plans and photographs. There will be no change in the greenhouse footprint, nor any departure in dimension or mass from the existing greenhouse structure. Drawings and specifications for the work were completed by heritage specialists ERA Architects In., who are also engaged to provide expert supervision over the contractor (when selected). Parkwood has worked for many years with ERA, which firm has helped us carry out significant conservation projects, and interpret and apply Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. When the tender process and bidding is complete, Parkwood will invite members of Heritage Oshawa to tour through the greenhouse complex and discuss many of the project details. We trust that they will concur with our approach and we look forward to sharing with them and with you our progress on the greenhouse project. Thanks for your consideration. Yours truly, R.A.(Bob) Baker Interim Executive Director 270 Simcoe Street N, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 4T5
Diagram of greenhouse complex configuration at Parkwood NHS: Aerial