Recommendation:
If the Committee wishes to see the two buildings remain in residential use on their original sites – Option 1 could be considered. If the Committee supports one building being relocated to be adjoining the other and facing onto Kennedy Road in residential use, Option 2 could be considered:
Option 1
That Heritage Markham Committee recommends that the plan of subdivision be re-designed to retain the two historic Sommerfeldt Houses at their original locations on larger lots in order to provide more space for future additions, amenity space or garages, and improve the architectural compatibility and relationship with adjacent townhouse blocks.
Or
Option 2
That Heritage Markham Committee recommends that the plan of subdivision be re-designed to place the two historic Sommerfeldt Houses together on larger lots facing onto Kennedy Road (both houses could be relocated to new lots facing Kennedy or 10379 Kennedy Road could be relocated to be adjacent to 10411 Kennedy Road which would be retained on it original site).
If the Committee wishes to see the two buildings relocated to the Mixed Use Mid-Rise Block as per the applicant’s initial plan, the following recommendation could be considered:
Option 3
That Heritage Markham Committee has no objection from a heritage perspective to the relocation of the two Sommerfeldt Houses to Block ‘A’ (Mixed Use Block) and adapted to either residential or non-residential uses subject to the submission of a building relocation plan.
To be included in any selected Option
That the City’s standard heritage requirements as noted in the March 10, 2021 staff memorandum to Heritage Markham be conditions of draft approval for the plan of subdivision and/or included in the Subdivision Agreement;
That consideration be given to utilizing historic family names from this area for park and street names in the subdivision;
And that the owner address identified maintenance issues immediately to eliminate further damage to the buildings, including:
10379 Kennedy Road:
• Repair water damage between second floor bathroom and kitchen;
• Repair of original windows to ensure adequate closure;
• Repair of roof of main house
• Removal of overgrown vegetation around the house.
• Proper boarding when the house becomes vacant.
10411 Kennedy Road:
• Repair water damage in roof framing, particular to the north-east corner of the main building;
• Repair of original windows to ensure adequate closure and repair or replace, if necessary, broken or missing window panes;
• Repair front entryway (including door frame and door) where there is water damage (i.e. decaying wood),
• Repair of roof of main house
• Repair or replace spalling/ broken brick and repoint where necessary;
• Removal of overgrown vegetation around the house
• Proper boarding when the house becomes vacant.
and if necessary By-law Enforcement be requested to become involved.