Report to: Development Services Committee Report Date: October 16, 2007
SUBJECT: INTENTION
TO DESIGNATE UNDER PART IV
OF
THE ONTARIO HERITAGE
ACT
Victoria
Square Schoolhouse S.S. No. 6
10137
Woodbine Avenue
The Universal Group
PREPARED BY: George
Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner, ext 2296
RECOMMENDATION:
That, as recommended by Heritage
Markham, the former Victoria Square Schoolhouse – 10137 Woodbine 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;
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;
And That Staff be authorized and
directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
A development application has been received for the property
at 10137 Woodbine Avenue, south
of the hamlet of Victoria Square. The property contains the former Victoria
Square Schoolhouse, built in 1877. This
building was converted to a residence after the school closed in 1966. Renovations undertaken in the 1980s have
obscured the exterior heritage features of the building, however based on the
research of Heritage Section staff and Heritage
Markham, it is believed that the exterior can be restored through the removal
of the superficial modern cladding.
Staff are of the opinion that the heritage building can be successfully
integrated into the applicant’s development plans.
The owner/applicant does not wish to retain the building
within the context of the development proposal for daycare, private school and
medical office uses. Heritage
Markham has recommended that the
building be designated under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act, based on its
cultural heritage value as a Group 2 Heritage
Building. Staff and Heritage
Markham take the position that the building can be integrated into the proposed
development. Although the building was
not included when the Inventory of Heritage
Buildings was approved in 1991, it was noted in a 2004 re-survey of the
Town of Markham’s heritage
resources.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to
recommend to Council that the “Victoria Square Schoolhouse” (historical
reference) at 10137 Woodbine Avenue
be designated under Part IV of the Ontario
Heritage Act.
BACKGROUND:
A development
application has been received for the subject property
A Site Plan Control
Application has been received for the property at 10137 Woodbine Avenue. The
main, existing building on the site, proposed to be demolished, is the former
schoolhouse for School Section No. 6, dating from 1877. The building is not listed on the 1991 Markham
Inventory of Heritage Buildings, but was
noted in the 2004 inventory review. The
former schoolhouse is currently in residential use, having been converted to a
dwelling in the mid 1960s.
The applicant wishes
to clear the site and construct a new building to include a daycare facility,
private school and medical offices. A
Zoning Amendment and other applications may be needed to implement the proposed
development.
Heritage Markham
requested staff to prepare a research report on the building
At its meeting of August 8,
2007, Heritage Markham requested staff prepare a research
report on the Victoria Square Schoolhouse.
A site visit was carried out August 23, 2007, with Heritage Section staff and available Heritage Markham members, to better understand the
building and its condition. Using
additional research by staff, and with the assistance of the York Region Board
of Education Archives, Town Historian Lorne Smith, and former students, a detailed research
report was prepared (attached as Appendix “A”).
The Victoria Square
Schoolhouse was built in 1877
The first school serving the
community of Victoria Square
was established as early as 1836. The
school site was changed in 1847, and again in 1863. The former schoolhouse at 10137
Woodbine Avenue is the third school building in
the history of public education in this community. The 1877 building is on its original site,
and was built to replace an earlier school building at this location. The school closed in 1966, and was converted
to a dwelling. After 1978, the exterior
was remodeled in the Tudor Revival style.
The former Victoria Square Schoolhouse is one of only two remaining
heritage buildings marking the agricultural community that once existed around
the crossroads of Woodbine Avenue
and Major Mackenzie Drive.
Archival photographs provide information on the earlier appearance of
the building
Several archival photographs have been provided to staff
showing the Victoria Square Schoolhouse from the period 1885 to 1978. These photographs show the significant architectural
features that existed with little change up until the 1980s period of renovations. While many of Markham
Township’s rural schools were
designed with Italianate architectural features (chiefly expressed in the use
of round-headed door and window openings), the Victoria Square Schoolhouse had
features associated with the Gothic Revival style. These features included Tudor label mouldings
over the door and window openings and a Gothic-arched patterning of muntins
within flat-arched openings. The steep
gable roof and vertical wood siding are also features associated with the
Gothic Revival style.
Alterations have obscured the heritage character of the former
schoolhouse
The present appearance of the
Victoria Square Schoolhouse masks the heritage character of the building. The original use of the building is evident
in its size, shape and roof design. Most
of the modern windows and doors exist within smaller versions of the original
openings. An examination of selected
areas beneath the modern cladding reveals that original exterior details such
as the wood siding still exist. Because
of the method of application of the stucco panels upon lumber strapping, it is
believed that decorative elements may have simply been covered over and could
be restored through removal of the present cladding.
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, approved by Council in 1991. The Schoolhouse was evaluated as a Group 2 Heritage
Building. Group 2 buildings are those
buildings of significance and worthy of preservation. Group 2 buildings are also considered worthy
of designation under the Act and any development proposal should incorporate
the structure.
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 September 12, 2007, and the committee
has recommended that the resource be designated as a property of cultural
heritage value or interest. The owner
and his agent were present at the meeting, and challenged the findings of the
research report. Members of Heritage
Markham encouraged them to view the heritage building as an asset to be
integrated into the new development.
OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:
The owner wishes to
demolish this building to accommodate new development
The owner of this
property has provided a letter outlining his position with respect to the
preservation of the former schoolhouse and his development plans for the site. The layout of the proposed development is
provided as part of the owner’s submission. (see Appendix “B”). Briefly, Mr. Rampersad takes issue with the
heritage status of the building (as it is not listed on the 1991 Inventory of Heritage Buildings ) and does not wish to retain the
building on his property. He is,
however, willing to offer it for removal from the subject property and
relocation.
Based on staff’s
research and further information gleaned from the site visit, the former Victoria Square schoolhouse is of cultural heritage value
and enough of its original fabric remains to allow for an exterior
restoration. The building’s significance
was reviewed through the Heritage
Building Evaluation process, which determined a Group 2 Heritage Building status.
The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town
policies
The Town of Markham
Official Plan contains Cultural Heritage
policies related to the protection and preservation of heritage resources and
how they are to be treated within the development approval process. 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 its 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 building into the development proposal. It will
enhance the building’s heritage status during the on-going planning process for
this site and protect the building from alterations that may further affect its
heritage value. Heritage designation, under
the new Ontario Heritage
Act, gives the Town permanent demolition control.
The proposed site plan for the development offers the potential for
incorporating the heritage building in its current location
Staff have reviewed the proposed
site plan as submitted and based on the proposed layout of the new building,
parking and driveways, conclude that the heritage building can be successfully
incorporated into the proposed development.
The former schoolhouse can be preserved on site, restored on the outside
and renovated on the inside. A major
addition, added at the rear, will achieve a similar building concept to that
proposed. Preservation of the heritage
building in its existing location will be an advantage for visibility of the
facility and will make better use of the developable portion of the land (that
part not restricted by the presence of the watercourse and hazard lands). As well, the proposed front yard parking will
be reduced.
The current zoning on the
subject property is agricultural. In the
secondary plan (Cathedral No. 123), the designation is Community Amenity. Site Plan Control and Zoning Amendment
applications are required to implement the proposed development (daycare,
medical office and private school).
These applications have been submitted and are about to be circulated for
comments (status at time of staff report writing).
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.
The Statement of Significance- Reasons for Designation
is attached as Appendix ‘D’.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
AND TEMPLATE: (external link)
Not Applicable
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
The preservation and adaptive
re-use of a heritage structure will diminish the amount of demolition debris
going into landfill and will recycle an existing structure for continued use.
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:
Not Applicable
ENGAGE 21ST 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 10137 Woodbine
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:
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Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning & Urban Design
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Commissioner of Development Services
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ATTACHMENTS:
Figure 1 – Owner/Agent and
Location Map
Figure 2 – Building Photographs
Appendix ‘A’ – Research Report Appendix ‘C’ – Heritage Markham
Extract
Appendix ‘B’ – Letter from Applicant Appendix ‘D’ – Statement of Significance
Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\WOODBINE\10137
schoolhouse no. 6\DSC Revised Oct 16 07 rh.doc
FIGURE 1
File Path Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\WOODBINE\10137
schoolhouse no. 6\DSC Revised Oct 16 07 rh.doc
Owner: Baldath Rampersad
2
Loire Valley Ave.
Thornhill,
ON L4J
8S2
Tel:
905-326-1957
Fax:
905-326-9025
Agent: Vishnu Sookar
The
Universal Group
1492
Grand Blvd.
Oakville,
ON L6H
3E6
Tel:
416-897-8005
Location Map: