Through education and advocacy, the ACO encourages the conservation and re-use of structures, districts and landscapes of architectural, historic, and cultural significance.
Posts on this blog are meant as a forum for ideas and issues surrounding heritage architecture. They do not necessarily represent the position of ACO North Waterloo Region Branch.
You can comment on posts. If you have something new to say, send your contribution to aco.communications.nwrb@gmail.com
An Index to all posts can be found here
Below you can hear 1) the presentations on the Zone Change application for 19-41 Mill Street; 2) the written submissions to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee on February 8, 2021
The ACO oral presentation starts at minute 47:50.
If you have time, please listen to the other submissions. First you hear from the developers, but other delegations were strongly opposed to the development for reasons other than heritage. If you are opposed, write your councillor and mayor (see list at the end).
ACO Submission on Mill Street to PSIC Feb 8, 2021
Bil Ioannidis <Bil.Ioannidis@kitchener.ca>,
Christine Michaud <Christine.Michaud@kitchener.
Dave Schnider <Dave.Schnider@kitchener.ca>,
Debbie Chapman <Debbie.Chapman@kitchener.ca>,
John Gazzola <John.Gazzola@kitchener.ca>,
Kelly Galloway-Sealock <Kelly.Galloway-Sealock@
Margaret Johnston <Margaret.Johnston@kitchener.
Paul Singh <Paul.Singh@kitchener.ca>,
Sarah Marsh <Sarah.Marsh@kitchener.ca>,
Scott Davey <Scott.Davey@kitchener.ca>
Barry Vrbanovic<mayor@kitchener.ca>
The ACO will be presenting on the development at 19-41 Mill Street on Monday February 8 at 7:00pm.
Elsewhere on this blog you can see additional information. The full 26-page presentation is at the bottom of this post.
The ACO has made presentations before in the case of Mill Street. Summaries of presentations by Marg Rowell, Sandra Parks and Gail Pool at Heritage Kitchener are copied below.
We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting to add your presence and show your concern:
Monday, February 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
(live-stream video available at kitchener.ca/watchnow)
Past Presentations
Ms. M. Rowell, Architectural Conservancy Ontario – North Waterloo Region, addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposed development at 19-41 Mill Street. She indicated in her opinion, the houses at the properties municipally addressed as 19 and 25 Mill Street are worthy of heritage conservation. She provided an overview of the physical and contextual value of each of the properties, stating they should be at minimum on the MHR, if not considered for Part IV heritage designation under the OHA. She stated the proposed development is directly adjacent to 45 Mill Street, which is designated under Part IV of the OHA and may have adverse impacts on that property. She further advised a development of this size and scale is inappropriate in comparison to the other properties on Mill Street. Ms. Rowell stated in her opinion, developers should not be permitted to change heritage neighbourhoods that residents work hard to conserve.
Ms. S. Parks addressed the Committee in opposition to the proposed development, stating the regulations within the OHA do not consult other Planning regulations, such as the Official Plan or Zoning By-law when providing guidance as to whether a property is of cultural heritage or interest. She stated the regulations provide clear understanding of what is worthy of heritage conservation and protection. She indicated although 19 and 25 Mill Street were previously evaluated through the 4-step listing process and were not listed on the MHR at that time, there is currently no process for re-evaluating those properties. She stated in her opinion, when planning applications are submitted, they present an opportunity to re-evaluate properties for heritage conservation. She noted as the Terms of Reference for the HIA were scoped, and there is not a clear understanding as to whether a heritage resource is proposed to be demolished. She requested in future, a full HIA is completed when a planning application deems that an HIA is required, to ensure the City is preserving its heritage resources.
Mr. G. Pool was in attendance in opposition to the proposed development at 19-41 Mill Street. He expressed concerns with the potential impacts on the Iron Horse Trail, as well as on 45 Mill Street. He stated in his opinion, the homes at 19 and 25 Mill Street should be listed on the MHR, stating there is no other home within the Region similar to 25 Mill Street. He noted the VPAHCD identified potential redevelopment sites and Mill Street was not identified in the Plan. He requested further consideration be given to: protecting 19 and 25 Mill Street, stating they are unique and have historic, contextual and associate value; protecting the Iron Horse Trail, a valuable cultural heritage landscape; and, reducing the negative impact on the Mill Street heritage neighbourhood as the proposed building is incompatible in size and design. He further requested the Mill Street facade be changed to reflect the unique heritage of the area.
ACO Submission on Mill Street to PSIC Feb 8, 2021Shannon Kyles is a recognized expert on the value of older windows. This article was originally published in the ACO North Waterloo Branch Newsletter in the Fall of 2019, pp. 6-7.
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