Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLACAC - 1995-07-14LACAC\1995-07-14 LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 14, 1995 CITY OF KITCHENER The Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee met this date, under the Chairmanship of Councillor M. Wagner, commencing at 12:05 p.m., with all the following members present: Councillor T. Galloway, Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Mr. M. Badran, Mr. E. Bow, Mr. P. Bufe, Mr. R. Coo, Ms. P. Costigan, Ms. E. Esenberg, Mr. V. Tarbutt, Mrs. P. Wagner, Ms. D. Westman and Mr. M. De Groot. Regrets: Councillor Jake Smola, Ms. B. Buchanan, Ms. S. Burke and Mr. W. Ristau. Others Present: Mr. T.B. Stanley, Mr. L. Bensason, and Ms. D.H. Gilchrist. 1. MINUTES It was requested that the minutes of the June 2, 1995 LACAC meeting, as mailed to the members, be amended as follows: a) Page 30, Item #6 - to show that the Building Code requirement for the height of balcony railings is 42 inches; b) It should be noted that the sign proposed for the Walper is an internally lit sign and not a neon sign; c) Page 32, Item #11 - it should be noted that Ms. E. Esenberg was not in favour of the proposed location for the Reggie's sign. On motion by Mr. E. Bow, It was resolved: "That the Minutes of the regular meeting of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee, of June 2, 1995, as mailed to the members and amended, be accepted." SUMMER STUDENTS Mr. L. Bensason introduced Mr. P. Walberg, a planning student and Ms. R. Tzalmona, an architecture student, who are working on two projects for LACAC this summer. Mr. Bensason advised that the students would give a presentation later in the meeting. UPDATES a) "Take A Hike" Councillor M. Wagner advised that as Ms. P. Costigan was not able to assist with the "Take A Hike" program being sponsored by the Kitchener Public Library, Mr. R. Coo has volunteered to assist in this regard. It was noted that the hike is to take place on July 15, 1995 and not in the Fall as was originally planned. b) K.P.L. Heritage Week Councillor M. Wagner advised that the two topics for the K.P.L. Heritage Week this year will be the Clock Tower and Victoria Park's Centennial. c) Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation Councillor M. Wagner advised that the agendas and minutes for the Waterloo Regional Heritage Foundation are available and that a few members of LACAC are also members of the Foundation. He requested that those people bring forward items of interest from the Foundation to LACAC. LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMI1-FEE MINUTES JULY 14, 1995 - 35 - CITY OF KITCFIENER 3. UPDATES - cont'd d) Kaufman Footwear Councillor M. Wagner advised that the evaluation prepared on the Kaufman property by The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario has just been received. He advised that this matter would be discussed in more detail later in the meeting. 4. STUDENT SUMMER PROJECT Mr. P. Walberg addressed the Committee advising that the summer project has two focuses: a computer database which will include the properties listed on the Heritage Inventory and the Heritage Register and the continuation of property recording in the outer areas of the City where plans of subdivision and community plans are in process. With respect to recording properties, Mr. Walberg advised that they had completed the Doon South and Grand River South areas. They are working on three or four areas identified in the Staging of Development report. To date, they have recorded 26 properties and there have been a few properties in each area which could not be recorded. The students next gave a demonstration of the electronic database, advising that the software is a spreadsheet type program with a database. This spreadsheet program has the advantage of being able to import and export data; however, one of the drawbacks is its limited search capability. This program displays all of the data even though the inquirer may not be interested in all of it. The Committee members were provided with a hardcopy printout giving an example of the categories of information contained in this computer program and Ms. R. Tzalmona gave a demonstration of how the program works. She explained the categories of information being recorded and explained some of the problems in obtaining information. She estimates that approximately 400 properties would be entered into the program by the time the work term has ended. Mr. L. Bensason advised that the students would make another presentation to the Committee when the work term is complete. 5. UPDATES - WALPER PUB SIGN Mr. L. Bensason advised that the recommendations put forward by this Committee concerning new signage for the Walper Hotel building were approved by Council. Further, at the Council meeting of Tuesday, July 4, 1995, Council waived the requirement for Committee of Adjustment consideration of the projecting sign. Mr. Bensason advised that the Reggie's sign will be placed on the marquee, replacing the existing North American Trust sign. Also, he advised that the colour and graphics have been changed and the sign will be green with gold lettering. 6. REGION OWNED HERITAGE RESOURCES The Committee members were provided with a list of properties owned by the Region, located in the City of Kitchener, which may be of historic interest. Mr. Bensason advised that the list will be submitted to the Evaluation Sub-committee for their consideration with a report to come back to this Committee at either the August or September meeting. Mrs. P. Wagner requested that a letter be sent to the Regional Chair concerning the Governor's House and Gaol. Councillor Wagner agreed to send a letter in this regard. Concerning the former Registry Building, Councillor Wagner advised that it is now the Curling Hall of Fame and it is well underway with a curator working there full time. Mrs. Wagner advised that there is to be a meeting with the City and Curling the following week and suggested that a member of LACAC be in attendance. LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMI1-FEE MINUTES JULY 14, 1995 - 36 - CITY OF KITCFIENER 7. REQUEST TO ALTER - 191 KING STREET WEST (NATIONAL TRUST) The Committee members were in receipt of a request, including drawings, from National Trust, requesting permission to alter the designated building at 191 King Street West. Their request is to put a railing in front of the window on the main level, King Street elevation, to prevent people from sitting on the sill. Mr. Bensason advised that National Trust wishes to prevent people from sitting on the sill. He advised that an immediate decision is not required. He suggested the formation of a sub- committee to look into the request and report back at the August meeting. Mr. P. Bufe volunteered to head up a sub-committee to work with the owners and report back at the next meeting. 8. REPORT OF EVALUATION SUB-COMMITTEE Mr. V. Tarbutt introduced the report of the Evaluation Sub-committee, dated June 30, 1995, attached to the agenda. He advised that the meeting had lasted three hours and the result was three categories of properties. The type A properties are those being recommended for inclusion on the Inventory and there are 50 properties falling in this category. Type B properties are considered to be significant and there are 26 properties in this category. There are only 16 properties left in the type C category. Mr. Tarbutt stated that the recording sheets were completed very well and were very useful. He requested that in the future the street descriptions be more complete and that only one property be recorded per sheet. Mr. Tarbutt then explained the procedure used by the Evaluation Sub- committee in determining the category of each building. Mr. L. Bensason advised that he was at the meeting and stated that the forms were used to arrive at a general understanding; however, the photograph really carried a lot of weight. Only on a rare occasion was there difficulty in reaching a consensus on a category for a building. Mr. P. Bufe commented on the objectivity of the evaluation form and the people who completed them. Ms. D. Westman stated that the group covered all aspects of the evaluation very well: the historians provided valuable information, the photographs were good and the comments on the recording forms were very good. Mr. R. Coo suggested that it is important to have a meeting of the people doing the inventory. He felt it was unnecessary to complete a separate form for each house on a street when there are 10 or 15 of the same house on the street. Mr. Tarbutt explained the reasoning behind the design of the evaluation form and the methodology for assessing the building stock throughout the city. The form was never intended to be all encompassing and was only intended to cover architecture and not historic information. The Committee wanted to complete the recording as soon as possible. There was a lengthy discussion on the value of the recording form and whether a photograph is sufficient and whether the form is necessary. Mr. P. Bufe suggested altering the form to list three types of Kitchener vernacular to be checked off instead of written. Mr. Tarbutt stated that what is important is that nothing gets lost. It may be a lot of work, but previously buildings were getting lost and now they are not. Mrs. P. Wagner requested and Mr. V. Tarbutt agreed that the person who completed the recording would be invited to the Evaluation Sub-committee meeting where those buildings would be evaluated. Mr. P. Bufe suggested that a video recording be used to provide a context of setting for these buildings. Mr. Tarbutt agreed that a video would be of value. LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMI1-FEE MINUTES JULY 14, 1995 - 37 - CITY OF KITCFIENER 8. REPORT OF EVALUATION SUB-COMMITTEE - cont'd Councillor Wagner summed up the discussion as follows: 1. A video of each street should be taken; The person doing the recording should be invited to the Evaluation Sub-committee meeting; 3. The information can be changed or added to over time. On motion by Mr. P. Bufe, it was resolved: "That the addresses contained in the Evaluation Sub-committee report be added to the Inventory; and That the properties on the existing Inventory be moved to category B, if not contained in the Evaluation Sub-committee report and be re-evaluated; and, That the Inventory may be changed and corrected in the future; and further That those completing the recording must report on all buildings even if they are on the Inventory." On motion by Mr. V. Tarbutt it was resolved: "That the evaluation process be revised to include a video recording of the area; and That the site surveyors be invited to the Evaluation Sub-committee meeting; and That the Evaluation Sub-committee reports include all categories of buildings; and further That at each Evaluation Sub-committee meeting, the first order of business be to take care of any problems or matters remaining from the previous meeting." 9. 410 KING STREET WEST - KAUFMAN FOOTWEAR Councillor M. Wagner advised that there had been a meeting between Kaufman's, the Mayor and staff earlier in the day. Mr. T.B. Stanley advised that the purpose of the meeting was to bring the Mayor up to date on their plans for the property and to work expeditiously to have the fourth floor converted to offices. At the end of the meeting, it came to staff's attention that Kaufman's intends to demolish most of the outbuildings on the property. Mr. L. Bensason referred to the recently received evaluation of the property prepared by The Architectural Conservancy of Ontario and their estimation that the outbuildings should be seen in the context of the redevelopment of the whole site. He advised that Kaufman wants to demolish the outbuildings immediately as there is a plant shut down and the work is better completed when there are no employees on site. It was suggested that, at the close of this meeting, the members view this property. Mr. V. Tarbutt suggested that this Committee should decide how they want to handle the designation and they should decide fairly soon. LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION ADVISORY COMMI1-FEE MINUTES JULY 14, 1995 - 38 - CITY OF KITCFIENER 9. 410 KING STREET WEST - KAUFMAN FOOTWEAR - cont'd Mr. Bensason advised that Kaufman's will be coming to the Committee in the next few weeks concerning the fourth floor windows. He suggested that LACAC should be in a position at that time to advise on what they want to designate. Mr. R. Coo and Mr. V. Tarbutt agreed to convene a meeting of the Sub-committee, to which Counsellor Wagner would be invited, to assess the Committee's position vis-a-vis designation. It was suggested that this property become the Committee's number one priority. 10. DESIGNATION SUB-COMMITTEE Mrs. P. Wagner advised that she has not heard from any of the members regarding designation of the properties they are researching. She requested that they provide her with their reports. 11. PIONEER TOWER WEST - CIRCULATION OF PLAN OF SUBDIVISION Mr. L. Bensason advised that he and Ms. Burke had viewed the Dawnglo Farms property. The house is a frame house possibly dating back to the 1860's. The house has been altered inside. The two barns are significant. Mr. Bensason suggested that the farm complex is owned by one of the two founding families and should be retained as a complex. He advised that LACAC will be circulated with the plan of subdivision and will be asked to comment at the next meeting. Concerning the J.H.S. subdivision application, Mr. Bensason advised that there would be a post- circulation meeting with Ms. J. Given, Senior Planner, in the Schmaltz Room on Wednesday, July 19, 1995 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon. 12. ADJOURNMENT On motion the Committee adjourned at 3:00 p.m. Dianne H. Gilchrist