{"id":924,"date":"2020-12-15T00:37:02","date_gmt":"2020-12-15T00:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.aconwr.ca\/blog\/?p=924"},"modified":"2020-12-15T00:37:02","modified_gmt":"2020-12-15T00:37:02","slug":"aco-comments-on-weber-and-young-development-to-heritage-kitchener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aconwr.ca\/blog\/uncategorized\/aco-comments-on-weber-and-young-development-to-heritage-kitchener\/","title":{"rendered":"ACO Comments on Weber and Young Development to Heritage Kitchener"},"content":{"rendered":"

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John Motz House, 56 Weber Street West (left) and 52 Weber Street West, Kitchener<\/p>\n

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107 Young Street, Kitchener<\/p>\n

Background<\/strong>:\u00a0 The development for a medium rise building at the corner of Weber and Young was proposed in 2018 (see above photos).\u00a0 At first, the proposal was to demolish three buildings.\u00a0 Each had significant heritage attributes and historical contextual value.\u00a0 Following opposition to the plan by ACO NWR and others, the proposal was changed so that the Weber Street properties were to be demolished and the Young Street property was to be temporarily moved and returned to the site.\u00a0 Record articles are here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

These properties are inside the Civic Centre Heritage Conservation District.\u00a0 They also have significant heritage attributes.\u00a0 In addition, 56 Weber was the home of Kitchener Mayor John Motz<\/a> (1830-1911) who was also a sheriff and the publisher of the Berliner Journal<\/em>, precursor of the Waterloo Record<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The development was approved by Council on August 4, 2020, subject to a number of conditions.<\/p>\n

Below is the written text of the last submission by ACO NWR at the August 4th\u00a0 meeting.<\/p>\n

________________<\/p>\n

SUBMISSION: Heritage Kitchener Meeting – Monday, August 4, <\/strong>2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

RE: HPA-2020-V-001 & HPA-2020-V-002 – request to demolish protected heritage buildings in the Civic Centre Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (ACO) North Waterloo Region branch would like to share a few thoughts on the Heritage Permit Applications being discussed for the proposed demolition of the two buildings at 50-52 Weber St W and 56 Weber St W.<\/p>\n

ACO is opposed to the demolition or irreversible alteration to those buildings which our community has already chosen to protect. <\/strong><\/p>\n

When City Council considered the demolition of two homes next to Schneider Haus in 2017, they assured us that this \u201cshould not be considered as a precedent<\/strong> for the demolition of other homes in approved heritage districts.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2018, council refused<\/strong> the demolition of two historic buildings on Queen St S.<\/p>\n

In her memo about this project, Senior Heritage Planner Michelle Drake laid out in very strong<\/strong> language her \u201csignificant concerns with the proposed demolitions.\u201d\u00a0 She cited \u201cthe clear goals, policies and guidelines within the [District] Plan, which strongly discourage demolition.\u201d\u00a0 She went on to state, the \u201cPlan requires that protection, retention and adaptive reuse of existing buildings be given priority over redevelopment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heritage Conservation Districts (HCD) are created after much consultation with area residents, plus expertise from City planning staff and paid consultants.\u00a0 Boundaries are carefully and thoughtfully delineated<\/strong> to preserve our built heritage and provide stability for an area deemed worth protecting, often one thought to be under threat in future.<\/p>\n

The Civic Centre Neighbourhood HCD is of significant cultural heritage value given the heritage attributes found within its architecture, streetscape and historical associations.\u00a0 The designation of the Civic Centre Neighbourhood as a HCD was meant to protect and preserve the heritage assets and character that exist in the area<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

When proposals come forward that could destroy the very thing that Districts were meant to protect, area residents have good reason to wonder about the future of their neighbourhood.\u00a0 It has the result of introducing instability into an area.\u00a0 This negatively affects neighbouring properties, creating a domino effect<\/strong>, reaching well beyond the boundaries of the redeveloped property.<\/p>\n

Local, Regional and Provincial Policy discourage<\/strong> demolition<\/strong> of protected heritage properties:<\/p>\n