HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2023-463 - Notice of Intention to Designate 40 Chapel Hill Drive
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Heritage Kitchener
DATE OF MEETING: November 7, 2023
SUBMITTED BY: Garett Stevenson, Manager of Development Review, 519-741-2200
ext. 7070
PREPARED BY: Jessica Vieira, Heritage Planner, 519-741-2200 ext. 7291
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 4
DATE OF REPORT: October 10, 2023
REPORT NO.: DSD-2023-463
SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Designate 40 Chapel Hill Drive under Part IV
of the Ontario Heritage Act
RECOMMENDATION:
That pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to
publish a Notice of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 40
Chapel Hill Drive as being of cultural heritage value or interest.
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to request that Council direct the Clerk to publish a Notice
of Intention to Designate the property municipally addressed as 40 Chapel Hill Drive
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
taken to the Heritage Kitchener Committee on August 1, 2023. On this meeting date,
the Committee recommended that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act,
the cultural heritage value or interest of 40 Chapel Hill Drive be recognized, and
designation pursued.
The key finding of this report is that the property municipally addressed as 40 Chapel
Hill Drive meets the criteria for designation under Ontario Regulation 9/06 (amended
by Ontario Regulation 569/22) and has been confirmed to be a significant cultural
heritage resource. The property is recognized for its design/physical,
historical/associative, and contextual value.
There are no financial implications.
Community engagement included informing residents by posting this report with the
agenda in advance of the Heritage Kitchener committee meeting, providing written
correspondence to the property owner, and consulting with Heritage Kitchener. In
addition, should Council choose to give notice of its intention to designate, such notice
will be served to the Owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust.
This report supports the delivery of core services.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
BACKGROUND:
The subject property is located on the east side of Chapel Hill Drive, between Caryndale
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Drive to the west and Evenstone Avenue to the east. The property contains a 20 century
building constructed in the Modern architectural style. The building is situated on a 6.98-
acre irregularily shaped parcel of land in the Doon South Planning Community of the City
of Kitchener within the Region of Waterloo. The principal resource that contributes to the
heritage value is the institutional building, known as the Carmel New Church and School.
Figure 1: Location Map of Subject Property
A full assessment of 40 Chapel Hill Drive has been completed and included a field
evaluation and detailed archival research. The findings concluded that the subject
property meets the criteria for designation. An updated Statement of Significance on the
August 1, 2023. On this meeting date, the Committee recommended that pursuant to
Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest of 40 Chapel
Hill Drive be recognized and designation pursued. This work was undertaken as part of the
City of Kitchener Municipal Heritage Register (MHR) Review, initiated in February of 2023.
The MHR to amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act
introduced in January of 2023 through Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. The City
contacted owners of listed properties through an initial letter dated May 23, 2023, to inform
them of this undertaking. Owners of properties recommended for designation were
Heritage Planner with any comments, questions, or concerns. Per standard procedure,
should Council support the Notice of Intention to Designate, Owners will be contacted a
third time through a Notice of Intention to Designate (NOID) Letter. An ad for the NOID will
also be published in a newspaper. Once the letter is served and the ad posted, there will
be a 30-day appeal period in which Owners may object to the designation.
REPORT:
Identifying and protecting cultural heritage resources within the City of Kitchener is an
important part of planning for the future, and helping to guide change while conserving the
buildings, structures, and landscapes that give the City of Kitchener its unique identity. The
City plays a critical role in the conservation of cultural heritage resources. The designation
of property under the Ontario Heritage Act is the main tool to provide long-term protection
of cultural heritage resources for future generations. Designation recognizes the
value; encourages good stewardship and conservation; and promotes knowledge and
understanding about the property. Designation not only publicly recognizes and promotes
awareness, but it also provides a process for ensuring that changes to a property are
appropriately managed and that these cha
value and interest.
Figure 2: View of Subject Property from 40 Chapel Hill Drive
Figure 4: Western Portion of the Building Encompassing the New Addition and School
Figure 3: Eastern Portion of the Building Encompassing the Chapel
40 Chapel Hill Drive is recognized for its design/physical, historical/associative, and
contextual values. It satisfies eight of the nine criteria for designation under Ontario
Regulation 9/06 (amended by Ontario Regulation 569/22). A summary of the criteria that is
met or not met is provided in the table below.
Criteria Criteria Met (Yes/No)
1. The property has design value or physical value Yes
because it is a rare, unique, representative or early
example of a style, type, material, or construction
method.
2. The property has design value or physical value Yes
because it displays a high degree of craftsmanship or
artistic merit.
3. The property has design or physical value because it No
demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific
achievement.
4. The property has historical value or associative value Yes
because it has direct associations with a theme, event,
belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is
significant to a community.
5. The property has historical or associative value because Yes
it yields, or has the potential to yield, information that
contributes to an understanding of a community or
culture.
6. The property has historical value or associative value Yes
because it demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of
an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is
significant to a community.
7. The property has contextual value because it is Yes
important in defining, maintaining or supporting the
character of an area.
8. The property has contextual value because it is Yes
physically, functionally, visually, or historically linked to
its surroundings.
9. The property has contextual value because it is a Yes
landmark.
Design / Physical Value
The design and physical value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive resides in its Modern architectural
style, laid out in an irregular floor plan and utilizing a mix of natural building materials
including stone, vertical wood siding and wood shingles. Geometric elements such as
octagonal entranceways, a pyramidal steeple, corner clerestory windows, and stained-
glass windows are also incorporated throughout the design. Within the 52nd Volume of the
Waterloo Historical Society (1963), the following commentary is offered on symbolic nature
of the architecture of 40 Chapel Hill Drive:
The new Church, like the old is based, architecturally, on certain symbols. Both are four-
square as was the holy city of Jerusalem. The building materials are primarily stone and
wood materials of construction mentioned so frequently in the Bible. The chancel has
three levels as does the roof, with the tower being the highest level. These are based on
Historical / Associative Value
The historical and associative value of 40 Chapel Hill relates to the original owners and
use of the property and building. The building was constructed by the Carmel Church of
New Jerusalem, who remain the owners to date. The building has always been used as a
church and this remains one of its dual uses, with the secondary use being a school. The
Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem is a society of the New Church, which is a Christian
th
denomination that follows the theological writings and interpretations of famous 18
century Swedish scientist, philosopher, and theologian Emanual Swedenborg. Such sects
can be referred to as Swedenborgians. The Pennsylvania groups of Swedenborgian were
one of the principal sources of immigration to Waterloo County, and later enabled the
emergency of the Berlin Association in the middle of the nineteenth century. The
Swedenborgians in Kitchener had at one point constituted the largest and most significant
Swedenborgian community in Canada. Notable residents which were part of this group
included Christian Enslin, Adam Ruby Sr, Charles A. Ahrens, and William Benton.
The property also provides some insight into patterns of growth and development within
the area. The subject property was located within an independent and self-sufficient
church community known as Caryndale. Urbanization and a growing population led to the
The associative value of the Carmel New Church also relates to the architect of the
th
building, John Lingwood. A prolific local architect in the mid-20 century, Lingwoods
architectural firm completed more than 700 projects in its lifetime, with a large portion of
the work being within the Waterloo Region. These projects ranged in function, scale, and
style and included modest homes, university buildings, civic buildings, and churches.
Some of his more significant work beyond the Carmel New Church includes the TD Bank
at the intersection of King and Francis Street and the former provincial courthouse at the
intersection of Frederick and Lancaster Street within the downtown area. Lingwood
contributed to the existing appearance of Kitchener and the larger Regions built
landscape.
Contextual Value
The contextual value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive relates to its importance in maintaining the
character of the church-centred community formerly known as Caryndale. Though the
areas title has changed from community to neighbourhood and it has grown significantly
through the construction of new subdivisions as well as infill development, the
predominant residential use of the area remains. The subject property and the surrounding
area have been identified as being a Cultural Heritage Landscape (CHL) by the City of
Kitchener Cultural Heritage Landscape Study approved by Council in 2015.
Heritage Attributes
The heritage value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive resides in the following attributesidentified
below.
All elements related to the construction and Modern architectural style of the building,
including:
o an irregular floor plan and massing;
o natural building materials such as stone, vertical wood siding and wood
shingles;
o geometric elements such as octagonal entranceways;
o pyramidal steeple and irregularly pitched roof;
o flat roof with raised secondary level;
o corner clerestory windows; and,
o stained glass windows.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM
of the Heritage Kitchener committee meeting.
CONSULT Heritage Planning staff have consulted with the Heritage Kitchener committee
regarding designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Property owners were invited to
consult via two separate letters dated May 23, 2023 and August 25, 2023.
Section 29(2) of the Ontario Heritage Act requires Council to consult with the Municipal
Heritage Committee (Heritage Kitchener) before giving notice of its intention to designate a
property. Heritage Kitchener will be consulted via circulation and consideration of this
report (see INFORM above). Members of the community will be informed via circulation of
this report to Heritage Kitchener and via formal consideration by Council. In addition,
should Council choose to give notice of its intention to designate, such notice will be
served on the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust, and published in the local
newspaper (The Record). Once notice has been served, the owner has the right of appeal
to the Ontario Land Tribunal. It should be noted that should Council decide not to proceed
with a N
Heritage Register until January 1, 2025, after which it will be removed according to the
changes enacted by Bill 23. Once removed, it cannot re-listed on the Register again for
five (5) years, i.e. January 1, 2030.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
Ontario Heritage Act, 2022
August Kitchener Municipal Heritage Register Review Update (DSD-2023-309)
REVIEWED BY: Rosa Bustamante, Director of Planning
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services Department
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A Statement of Significance for 40 Chapel Hill Drive
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
40 CHAPEL HILL DRIVE
Summary of Significance
Design/Physical Value Social Value
Historical Value Economic Value
Contextual Value Environmental Value
Municipal Address: 40 Chapel Hill Drive
Legal Description: PLAN 1123 PT BLK A
Year Built: 1964
Architectural Style: Modern
Original Owner: Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem
Original Use: Institutional
Condition: Good
Description of Cultural Heritage Resource
th
40 Chapel Hill Drive is a 20 century building built in the Modern architectural style. The building is
situated on a 6.98 acre irregularily shaped parcel of land located on the east side of Chapel Hill Drive
between Caryndale Drive and Evenstone Avenue in the Doon South Planning Community of the City
of Kitchener within the Region of Waterloo. The principal resource that contributes to the heritage
value is the institutional building, known as the Carmel New Church and School.
Heritage Value
40 Chapel Hill Drive is recognized for its design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual values.
Design/Physical Value
The design and physical value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive resides in its Modern architectural style, laid out
in an irregular floor plan and utilizing a mix of natural building materials including stone, vertical wood
siding and wood shingles. Geometric elements such as octagonal entranceways, a pyramidal steeple,
corner clerestory windows, and stained-glass windows are also incorporated throughout the design.
The front façade of this building is positioned at an approximately 20-degree angle to Chapel Hill
Drive, with the western portion of the building being closest to the street. The front façade can be
divided into three sections; the western-most section, the central section, and the eastern-most
section.
The western-most section of the building is comprised of a new addition built in 2001 that expanded
the capacity of the school. It is one-storey in height and has an irregular floor plan that predominately
utilizes rectangular shapes and a flat roof. A canted bay sits off-center within this section and is
composed of floor-to-ceiling windows, an entrance, and a pitched roof with asphalt shingles. The
cladding of the rest of the western-most section is comprised of a pink stucco or plaster material on
the upper two-thirds of the walls and a field-stone veneer on the lower third of the exterior.
The central section also utilizes rectangular shapes in its floorplan. It is one storey in height, with a
raised secondary level. The cladding is a confection of glass glazing extending over the upper two-
thirds of the wall and afield stone veneer on the lower third. The windows are equal in size and
intervals and appear to possess metal framing.
The eastern-most section of the building is comprised of the 300-seat chapel. It is the most distinctive
section of the overall building in terms of appearance, with the contemporary Scandinavian style
being evident. Stone, vertical wood siding, and wood shingles provide a rough and natural texture to
the building, a contrast to the straight and heavily geometric angels utilized in its massing. The
roofline of this section is the most distinguishable feature of the structure as a whole, being comprised
of a tall pyramid steeple that shares focus at the sanctuary with the corner clerestory window
opposite.
Within the 52nd Volume of the Waterloo Historical Society (1963), the following commentary is offered
The new Church, like the old is based,
architecturally, on certain symbols. Both are four-square as was the holy city of Jerusalem. The
building materials are primarily stone and wood materials of construction mentioned so frequently in
the Bible. The chancel has three levels as does the roof, with the tower being the highest level. These
are based on symbols becaus
Historical/Associative Value
The historical and associative value of 40 Chapel Hill relates to the original owners and use of the
property and building. The building was constructed by the Carmel Church of New Jerusalem, who
remain the owners to date. The building has always been used as a church and this remains one of
itsdual uses, with the secondary use being a school.
The Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem is a society of the New Church, which is a Christian
th
denomination that follows the theological writings and interpretations of famous 18 century Swedish
scientist, philosopher, and theologian Emanual Swedenborg. Such sects can be referred to as
Swedenborgians. The Pennsylvania groups of Swedenborgian were one of the principal sources of
immigration to Waterloo County, and later enabled the emergency of the Berlin Association in the
middle of the nineteenth century. The Swedenborgians in Kitchener had at one point constituted the
largest and most significant Swedenborgian community in Canada.
Christian Enslin is one notable figure within what was then-Berlinhistory and was a prominent figure
within the Swedenborgian community. After immigrating from Germany to the Waterloo area in about
1830, Enslin practised his trade as a bookbinder the first in the area - before eventually expanding
his business into a bookstore and later taking an active role in journalism. He was instrumental in the
formation of the first Swedenborgian congregation within Waterloo County. Other prominent names of
this early group of Swedenborgian include Adam Ruby Sr., Charles A. Ahrens, and William Benton.
40 Chapel Hill Drive
occupied a 150-seat chapel built on the corner of Church and Benton Street. As the congregation
grew it moved to a new building on the corner of King and Water Street in 1870, which eventually
became the first to adopt the name Church of the New Jerusalem. Divisions within the congregation
that occurred in 1891 led to both the creation of a new group known as the Carmel Church Society
and the erection of a new church at 820 King Street West. Finally, in 1960, the Carmel Church
Society purchased the present-day property and approximately 500 acres of other holdings from
congregation member John Evans, with the plan to build an independent and self-sufficient church
community where families could be close to both the church and school. This community was named
Caryndale. Patterns of growth and urbanization lead to Caryndales eventual annexation into
K
The associative value of the Carmel New Church also relates to the architect of the building, John
th
Lingwood. A prolific local architect in the mid-20 century, Lingwoods architectural firm completed
more than 700 projects in its lifetime, with a large portion of the work being within the Waterloo
Region. These projects ranged in function, scale, and style and included modest homes, university
buildings, civic buildings, and churches. Some of his more significant work beyond the Carmel New
Church includes the TD Bank at the intersection of King and Francis Street and the former provincial
courthouse at the intersection of Frederick and Lancaster Street within the downtown area. Lingwood
contributed to the existing appearance of Kitchener and the larger Regions built landscape.
Contextual Value
The contextual value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive relates to its importance in maintaining the character of
the church-centred community formerly known as Caryndale. Though the areas title has changed
from community to neighbourhood and it has grown significantly through the construction of new
subdivisions as well as infill development, the predominant residential use of the area remains. The
subject property and the surrounding area have been identified as being a Cultural Heritage
Landscape (CHL) by the City of Kitchener Cultural Heritage Landscape Study approved by Council in
2015. Key characteristics of this CHL include diversely sized lots that are often well-landscaped and
follow the natural topography and drainage patterns of the land. Housing types are modest and not
consistent in architectural style, but rather reflect the popular styles of the time-period in which they
were built. Further, many members of the congregation reside in the surrounding homes with some
even being original residents of the former community.
The church is also physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to its surroundings. Though
the majority of the 503 acres of land on which the church was originally situated has been parcelled
and subdivided, the church remains in situ and continues in its original function.
In addition, the Church has a strong visual presence, being situated on the largest piece of land within
the neighbourhood and possessing a distinct architectural style. The tall pyramidal shaped steeple in
particular acts as a marker within the landscape.
Other Values
Social Value
The Carmel New Church and School has social value as a place of worship and education. This
building has been providing these services since its construction in 1964, and its operations were
central to the development and function of the surrounding community. It remains a prominent place
of importance within the Caryndale neighbourhood, with many near-by residents being members of
the Carmel New Church congregation. Places of worship often provide intangible community value,
serving as places where people gather and socialize in addition to providing comfort or support to
those who need it and creating community connections. Schools also contribute social value for a
community, acting as a source of socialization and learning for children.
Heritage Attributes
The heritage value of 40 Chapel Hill Drive resides in the following heritage attributes:
All elements related to the construction and Modern architectural style of the building, including:
o an irregular floor plan and massing;
o natural building materials such as stone, vertical wood siding and wood shingles;
o geometric elements such as octagonal entranceways;
o pyramidal steeple and irregularly pitched roof;
o flat roof with raised secondary level;
o corner clerestory windows; and,
o stained glass windows.
References
Bird, Michael. The Swedenborgian Community in Waterloo County: Two Religious Approaches to
Culture. Waterloo Historical Society, Volumes 61-65, 1973-1977.
N.A. Carmel Church of the New Jerusalem. Waterloo Historical Society, Volumes 51-55, 1963-1967
Mannell Steven. Images of Progress 1964-1966: Modern Architecture in Waterloo Region.
Photographs
40 Chapel Hill Drive
40 Chapel Hill Drive
40 Chapel Hill Drive
40 Chapel Hill Drive