Report to: Development Services Committee Date of Meeting: May 6, 2008

SUBJECT: Intention to Designate under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act

George R. Cowie House

5933 Fourteenth Avenue

1113529 Ontario Inc.

PREPARED BY: George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner, ext. 2296

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the George R. Cowie House – 5933 Fourteenth Avenue, be approved for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest;

That the Clerk’s Department be authorized to publish and serve Council’s Notice of Intention to Designate as per the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act;

That if there are no objections to the designation in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be authorized to place a designation by-law before Council for adoption;

And That if there are any objections in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to refer the proposed designation to the Ontario Conservation Review Board.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.

1. Purpose 2. Background 3. Discussion 4. Financial 5. Environmental

6. Accessibility 7. Engage ^21st 8. Affected Units 9. Attachment(s)

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to recommend to Council that the “George R. Cowie House” (historical reference) be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

BACKGROUND:

The building is listed on the Town of Markham Register

The subject building is located at 5933 Fourteenth Avenue. It is included in the Markham Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (“The Register”). The Register is the Town’s inventory of non-designated properties identified as having cultural heritage value and interest, Part IV (individual) designated properties, and Part V (heritage district) designated properties.

The Cowie House is a heritage building in Armadale

The George R. Cowie House is one of the few heritage buildings remaining in the Armadale Community. The property is within the Armadale East Planning Area 24 (OPA No. 40).

The Cowie House is a good example of an early 20^th century farmhouse

The George R. Cowie House, c.1925, is a two and a half storey red brick farmhouse located on the south side of Fourteenth Avenue, just west of Markham Road. The Cowie House has associative value as a remnant of the area’s early 20^th century agricultural community, at a time when older farmhouses were remodelled or replaced with more modern structures as many of the Township’s farmers prospered with mixed farming and dairy production. The Cowie House is an excellent example of this trend of farm improvement, and of its early 20^th century period of construction.

The Cowie House is typical of the spacious, simply detailed farmhouses built in Markham in the first quarter of the 20^th century. Its architectural detailing reflects the Edwardian Classicism that was popular from the 1910s through the 1920s. The house was constructed in the form of an American Foursquare, with its functional, basically cubic shape ornamented with a spacious wrap-around verandah that features a curved corner and gables centred on both the north and east sides

The Statement of Significance- Reasons for Designation is attached as Appendix ‘A’.

The building has been evaluated using the Town’s heritage evaluation system

The building was evaluated by Heritage Markham and staff using the Town’s Heritage Building Evaluation System. The Cowie House was evaluated as a Group 2 Heritage Building. Group 2 buildings are those buildings of significance and worthy of preservation. Group 2 buildings are considered worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The building has been assessed using the Ministry of Culture’s Designation Criteria

The Government of Ontario on January 25, 2006 passed a regulation (O.Reg. 9/16) which prescribes criteria for determining a property’s cultural heritage value or interest for the purpose of designation. Municipal councils are permitted to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or interest if the property meets the prescribed criteria.

The purpose of the regulation is to provide an objective base for the determination and evaluation of resources of cultural heritage value. The prescribed criteria help ensure the effective, comprehensive and consistent determination of value or interest by all Ontario municipalities. The criteria are essentially a test against which properties can be judged; the stronger the characteristics of the property compared to the standard, the greater the property’s cultural heritage value. The property may be designated if it meets one or more of the criteria.

The subject property has cultural heritage value or interest as it meets the following criteria:

• The property has design value or physical value because it:
• Is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type expression, material or construction method,
• The property has historical value or associative value because it:
• Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community;
• The property has contextual value because it:
• Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,
• Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings.

Heritage Markham has recommended designation

The designation process under the Ontario Heritage Act requires a municipal council to consult with its municipal heritage committee when properties are considered for designation. The historical research and heritage attributes related to this heritage resource were reviewed by Heritage Markham on March 12, 2008 and the committee has recommended that the resource be designated as a property of cultural heritage value or interest (Extract, Appendix ‘B’).

The building is located within a future development area

The building is in private ownership within a future development area of the Armadale East Planning District. Plan of Subdivision (SU 06 109644) and Zoning Amendment (ZA 06 112650) applications have been submitted for the subject property and are being processed. The proposal is for an industrial subdivision to contain four development blocks and a portion of a future road, to be developed in conjunction with the properties to the west.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan and the Armadale East Secondary Plan, contain policies related to the protection and preservation of heritage resources and how they are to be treated within the development process of an area. These policies support the preservation of heritage resources on their original site, and the integration into new development proposals. The designation of this resource will ensure that its heritage attributes are addressed and protected.

Provincial planning policies support designation

The Ontario Government’s current Provincial Policy Statement which was issued under Section 3 of the Planning Act and came into effect March 2005 includes cultural heritage policies. These policies indicate that significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved. Designation provides a mechanism to achieve the necessary protection. The policies further indicate that development and site alteration may be permitted on adjacent lands to protected heritage property where the proposed development has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the resource will be conserved.

Designation will help facilitate the integration of the resource into the planning process

Heritage designation will strengthen the Town’s ability to provide for the appropriate integration of the heritage resource into development proposals. It will enhance the resource’s status during changes in ownership and offer protection from potential alterations that may affect the heritage attributes and value.

Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate and comments on the development application have been provided to the applicant

Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate the George R. Cowie House under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and comments on the development applications have been provided to the project planner and the applicant. At this point in time, staff has discussed the proposed designation with the applicant’s solicitor and await feedback from the applicant concerning the property’s designation.

The Cowie House is a substantial dwelling, well-suited to adaptive re-use within the context of future industrial development. Its simple plan and architecture make it ideal for an appropriately-designed addition to enhance its floor area. There are precedents in Markham for adaptive re-use of heritage buildings in an employment lands context.

Designation acknowledges the importance of the heritage resource

Designation signifies to both the owner and the broader community that the property contains a significant resource that is important to the community. Designation doesn’t restrict the use of the property. However, it does require the owner to seek approval for property alterations that are likely to affect the heritage attributes described in the designation by-law. Council can also prevent, rather than just delay, the demolition of a resource on a designated heritage property.

The designation of this cultural heritage resource is supported by staff.

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE (Separate Attachment):

Not applicable.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable.

ENGAGE 21^ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Heritage designation helps achieve a quality community by recognizing, promoting and protecting heritage resources, which strengthen the sense of community.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Acceptance of this recommendation to designate the property located at 5933 Fourteenth Avenue under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act will require the Clerk’s Department to initiate the following actions:

• publish and serve on the property owner, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the public through newspaper advertisement, Council’s notice of intention to designate the property as per the requirements of the Act: and

• prepare the designation by-law for the property

RECOMMENDED BY:

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning & Urban Design

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – Owner/Agent and Location Map

Figure 2 - Building Photographs

Appendix ‘A’ – Statement of Significance/ Reasons for Designation

Appendix ‘B’ – Heritage Markham Extract

FILE PATH:

Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\FOURTNTH\5933\DSCMay608.doc

FIGURE 1:

OWNER: AGENT:

1113529 Ontario Inc. Mr. Donald Hindson

P.O. Box 26575, RPO Cattanach Hindson Sutton Van Veldhuizen

Markville, Markham ON Barristers and Solicitors

57 Main Street North

Tel. 905-474-9679 Markham ON L3P 1X5

Tel. 905-294-0666

Fax. 905-294-5688

LOCATION MAP: