Report to: Development Services Committee March
22, 2011
SUBJECT: Request for Demolition
of Dwelling (11-111855 DP)
7218 Reesor Road, Rouge Park
The David
Whaley House (Tanglewood)
Toronto
and Region Conservation Authority
PREPARED BY: Regan Hutcheson, Manager, Heritage
Planning, ext. 2080
RECOMMENDATION:
1)
That the staff report titled
“Request for Demolition of Dwelling, 7218 Reesor Road” dated March 22, 2011, be
received;
2)
THAT Council has no objection
to the demolition of the heritage dwelling at 7218 Reesor Road provided that the
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA):
·
Salvages sound building
materials for re-use including early structural beams and floor boards and the
triangular transom windows,
·
Considers retaining the rubble
fieldstone foundation of the original 1868 Whaley House, as well as the wood
and fieldstone 20th century wishing well for the purposes of
interpreting the site as part of the proposed natural trail system; and
·
Provides an interpretive panel
or cairn to honour the Whaley homestead, as well as the former industrial
features of the site.
3)
THAT the planned trail system
in Bob Hunter Memorial Park provide a link to the site for interpretive
purposes;
4)
THAT TRCA and Rouge Park
officials be advised of Markham’s Council desire to have heritage buildings in
the Rouge Park repaired, maintained and re-tenanted to preserve these local
heritage resources as opposed to the abandonment, boarding and neglect of these
buildings, and that any financial resources that would have been allocated to
the restoration/relocation of this dwelling should be used to maintain other
heritage resources in the Park.
5)
THAT this resolution be sent to
the Council meeting of March 22, 2011;
6)
And that Staff be authorized
and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
To recommend that Council has no objection to the
demolition of the dwelling and outbuildings at 7218 Reesor Road subject to
conditions.
Property and existing heritage
dwelling
The existing
dwelling at 7218 Reesor Road is a 1 ½ storey frame dwelling that was built
c.1835 and was occupied for over 70 years by the Whaley family. These were
prominent residents of the Cedar Grove community, who at one time operated a sawmill on the property.
The house is commonly referred to as “Tanglewood”. Vehicular access to the dwelling was provided
by a bridge which has not been useable since 2000 due to structural
issues. The estimated cost of bridge repair
is $100,000-150,000. There is no other
access available on Rouge Park lands.
Occasional overland access is available from a property on Steeles
Avenue through an adjacent farmer’s field.
The dwelling is owned by the Toronto and Region
Conservation Authority (TRCA) and located in the Bob Hunter Memorial Park - Rouge
Park. The house is severely deteriorated
and has been vacant for a number of years.
Property is individually designated
The property is individually designated under the
provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act. The designation occurred in 2003 when these
specific lands were transferred from the Ontario Realty Corporation to Rouge
Park.
Owner of the property seeks
permission to demolish the existing heritage dwelling
The owner is seeking demolition of the existing dwelling
due to its poor condition and the inability to provide vehicular access to the
property (see Appendix ‘A’ and ‘B’). A
formal request for demolition was submitted by the owner (TRCA) and the
official notice of receipt was provided by the Town.
The previous owner, the Ontario Realty Corporation (ORC)
attempted to demolish the dwelling in 2000 when the bridge failure was
identified. The long term tenant was
required to leave and the buildings were boarded. The issue of demolition was abandoned when
the property was transferred into the Rouge Park and discussions were held with
Rouge Park officials regarding possible future use of the property for Rouge
Park activities.
Heritage Markham supports the demolition of the buildings
subject to conditions
In June 2002,
Heritage Markham responded to the TRCA regarding heritage properties in the new
Rouge Park and the costs associated with maintenance and other expenditures
associated with these resources.
Heritage Markham’s recommendation for this specific property was that “given the access problems associated with
the bridge, the dwelling should be securely boarded and signage erected
indicating the building is a heritage resource and a number to call to report
vandalism pending the development of a Little Rouge Management Plan addressing
cultural heritage resources and interpretive needs for the park”.
On October
25, 2010, Heritage Markham’s Architectural Review Sub-Committee visited the
property with the TRCA and Town staff to assess its condition. At the November 10, 2010 meeting of Heritage
Markham, the Committee indicated that because of the absence of year round
vehicular access to the site, the extensive renovations required, vandalism and
the advanced deteriorated condition of the building, Heritage Markham had no
objection to its demolition (see Appendix ‘C’).
The Committee recommended that certain components of the house be
salvaged for re-use such as sound early structural beams and floorboards, and
the triangular transom windows. It was also suggested that the rubble
fieldstone foundation could be left intact for interpretation as well as the 20th
century wood and fieldstone wishing well.
An interpretive plaque or cairn is also recommended.
The dwelling has suffered
deterioration since the 2000
Since 2000, the David Whaley House has been vacant and
undergone significant deterioration including evidence of water infiltration
and wood rot. It has also been repeatedly vandalized. In 2005, a number of sheds were removed by
TRCA.
Town Staff
had initially hoped that the house was still salvageable for relocation
elsewhere in the Park. Based on a site
visit, the condition of the house suggests that it is beyond salvaging. After carefully inspecting the building,
staff was able to confirm the presence of early building materials including
the rubble fieldstone foundation, early beams and flooring associated with the
original 1 ½ storey Whaley House constructed in 1868. Staff also confirmed that the original form
and details of the Whaley house were extensively altered in various 20th
century renovations.
The Rouge
Park indicated it was exploring different options for this property which
include relocation/restoration, demolition, or interpretation. Ron Dewell, the Senior Manager of
Conservation Lands and Property Standards, indicated that the high cost
associated with replacement of the bridge to enable access to the site was
considered prohibitive to the TRCA. Also
due to its isolated location and poor state of repair, the Rouge Park has not
been able to find any practical use for this property. Relocation to a site closer to Reesor Road
was also considered. Heritage staff
indicated that the funds required to undertake that
type of project could be better used to maintain and further restore some of
the other more significant heritage properties in the Park
TRCA would like to carry out demolition when ground is
still frozen
The TRCA is
seeking permission from the adjacent property owner to allow for vehicular
access to the subject site and to remove the demolished materials. The best time to do this is in the winter
when the ground is frozen to avoid disturbing crops.
Rouge Park officials to accommodated
Heritage Markham’s request
The TRCA have
indicated that it will carry out the demolition of the house in accordance with
the Heritage Markham recommendations, as summarized below.
Demolition is supported
Given the
poor condition of the dwelling, the lack of vehicular access and potential
safety issues, it is recommended that the demolition be supported provided that
the TRCA:
·
Provides an interpretive panel or cairn to honour the
Whaley homestead, as well as the former industrial features of the site.
It is also
recommended that the planned trail system in Bob Hunter Memorial Park provide a
link to the site. Staff
also recommends that Council reiterate to the TRCA and Rouge Park officials, Markham’s
desire to have heritage buildings in the Rouge Park repaired and re-tenanted to
preserve our local heritage resources as opposed to the abandonment and
boarding of these dwellings. It is also
suggested that any financial resources that would have been allocated to the
relocation/restoration of this resource be used on the maintenance and
restoration of other heritage resources in the Park.
Not applicable at this time.
Not applicable at this time.
The assessment of heritage buildings within the Town
aligns with the Town of Markham’s Strategic Priority of Managed Growth.
The demolition request was reviewed by Heritage Markham,
Council’s advisory committee on heritage matters.
RECOMMENDED BY:
________________________ ________________________
Biju Karumanchery, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Senior Development Manager Commissioner
of Development Services
Figure 1 Location
Map
Figure 2 Aerial
Photo
Appendix ‘A’ Letter from TRCA
Appendix ‘B’ Photos of Dwelling, Barn foundations and Bridge
Appendix ‘C’ Heritage Markham Recommendation- November 10, 2010
FIGURE 1
FILE PATH: Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\REESOR\7218\DSC March
22 2011 demo.doc
APPLICANT:
Owner and Applicant
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
Joe Delle Fave
Supervisor, Construction Projects-
Restoration Services Division
5 Shoreham Drive
Downsview, ON M3N 1S4
416-392-9724
Email- jdellefave@trca.on.ca
Ron Dewell, Senior Manager, Conservation
Lands and Property Services rdewell@trca.on.ca
LOCATION
MAP