REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

FROM:

Jim Baird, Commissioner of Development Services

 

Valerie Shuttleworth, Director, Planning & Urban Design

 

PREPARED BY:

George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

February 7, 2006

 

 

SUBJECT:

DESIGNATION UNDER PART IV OF

 

THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

Abraham Reesor House - 7265 Highway 7 (Russell Property)

Frank Albert Reesor House - 7323 Highway 7 (Reesor Property)

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That the report titled “Designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, Abraham Reesor House – 7265 Highway 7 (Russell Property), Frank Albert Reesor House – 7323 Highway 7 (Reesor Property) be received;

 

And that the Abraham Reesor House – 7265 Highway 7 and the Frank Albert Reesor House – 7323 Highway 7 be approved for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as properties of cultural heritage value or interest;

 

And that the Clerk’s Department be authorized to:

  • publish and serve Council’s Notice of Intention to Designate as per the requirements of the Act; and
  • prepare the Designation By-law for the property.

 

PURPOSE:

To recommend to Council that the “Abraham Reesor House” (historical reference) at 7265 Highway 7, and the “Frank Albert Reesor House” (historical reference) at 7323 Highway 7 be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

BACKGROUND:

The buildings are listed on the Town of Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings

Each of the subject properties contain a building listed on the Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings. These buildings are identified in APPENDIX 3 – HERITAGE BUILDINGS in the Cornell Secondary Plan. The Abraham Reesor House has been evaluated as a Group 1 Heritage Building. The Frank Albert Reesor House has been evaluated as a Group 2 Heritage Building. Research reports outlining the historical, architectural and contextual background on these properties are attached as Appendix ‘A’ and Appendix ‘B.’ 

 

The Abraham Reesor House is a good example of a Picturesque Style dwelling of the 1870s

The Abraham Reesor House at 7265 Highway 7 is an L-plan, one and a half storey farmhouse of red brick with buff brick accents. A datestone proclaims its date of construction as 1875. The gables are ornamented with robust curvilinear bargeboards, and the original arched windows are framed with louvered shutters. The building has been well maintained and is in an excellent state of preservation.

 

The Frank Albert Reesor House is a good example of an Edwardian Classical farmhouse

The Frank Albert Reesor House at 7323 Highway 7 is a two and a half storey red brick dwelling dating from 1912. The cubic plan, dark red brick, hipped roof and deep verandah are typical features associated with the Edwardian Classical architectural style that was popular in the early 20th century. The house was built on the site of an earlier Reesor family home.

 

Heritage Markham evaluated these buildings as part of the Cornell Secondary Plan process

In 1992, both of these buildings were evaluated by Heritage Markham using the Town’s Heritage Building Evaluation System as part of the Cornell Secondary Plan Process. The Abraham Reesor House was evaluated as a Group 1 Heritage Building. The Frank Albert Reesor House was evaluated as a Group 2 Heritage Building. Group 1 buildings are those buildings of major significance and importance to the Town and worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Group 2 Heritage Buildings are those buildings of significance and worthy of preservation. Group 2 buildings are also considered worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

The buildings are located within a future development area of the Cornell community

The heritage buildings are located on privately held lands within a future development area of the Cornell community. Adjacent residential lands, known as Grand Cornell, are currently subject to development applications. Conceptual planning has been done for the two subject properties, which will become part of Cornell Centre. Cornell Centre includes a mix of commercial, business park and residential uses. Negotiations are currently underway for the sale of at least one of these properties to a development corporation.

 

DISCUSSION:

The preservation and designation of the Abraham Reesor House and the Frank Albert Reesor House is consistent with the policies of the Cornell Secondary Plan

The Cornell Secondary Plan contains Cultural Heritage policies dealing with how heritage resources are to be treated within the development process in the area. The preservation of heritage buildings on their original sites, and the integration of heritage resources into new development proposals, are policies within the Secondary Plan and are also consistent with the heritage policies of the Official Plan for the Town of Markham. Appendix 3 of the Secondary Plan lists 22 heritage buildings, including the Abraham Reesor House and the Frank Albert Reesor House.

 

Designation at this time will help to facilitate the integration of the heritage buildings at an early stage in the planning process

Heritage designation will strengthen the Town’s ability to provide for the appropriate integration of the heritage buildings into development proposals. It will enhance the building’s heritage status during changes in ownership and during the on-going planning process for this part of the Cornell community and protect the buildings from alterations that may affect their heritage value. Heritage designation, under the new Ontario Heritage Act, gives the Town permanent demolition control.

 

Heritage Markham will be consulted on these designations at their February 8, 2006 meeting

The designation process under the Ontario Heritage Act requires a municipal council to consult with its Municipal Heritage Committee when properties are recommended for designation. The designation of these properties is on the Heritage Markham agenda for February 8. Heritage Markham’s recommendation will be forwarded to next available Council meeting (February 14, 2006).

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

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

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Should Council decide to proceed with the recommendation to designate 7265 and 7323 Highway 7 under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk’s Department should be authorized to:

·        publish and serve on the property owners, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the public through a newspaper advertisement, Council’s intention to designate the properties as per the requirements of the Act; and

·        prepare the designation by-laws for the properties.

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1:           Owner/Location Map               Appendix ‘A’:              Research Report

Figure 2:           Air photo                                                                      Abraham Reesor House

                                                                        Appendix ‘B’:               Research Report

                                                                                                            Frank A. Reesor House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Report File Path:   Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\HWY7\7265\DSCFEB7.doc

 

Attachment File Path:  Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\HWY7\7265\.7265Highway#7.doc

                                        Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\HWY7\7323\.7323Highway#7.doc

 

 

 

FIGURE 1: OWNER/LOCATION MAP

 

 

7265 Highway 7 Owner                                  7323 Highway 7 Owner

 

Sharon and Glenn Russell                                  Frank Ashmore Reesor

7265 Highway 7                                               Robert Allan Reesor

Markham ON                                                  SS 14 Stn Main

L6B 1A8                                                          Markham ON

                                                                        L6B 1A8

 

Telephone:  416-495-2989                               Telephone:  905-294-2124

Fax:             416-499-8290