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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2023-464 - Notice of Intention to Designate 54-68 King Street West 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 10 DATE OF REPORT: October 13, 2023 REPORT NO.: DSD-2023-464 SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Designate 54-68 King Street West 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 54- 68 King Street West 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 54-68 King Street West under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. An updated Statement of Signif taken to the Heritage Kitchener Committee on June 6, 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 54-68 King Street West be recognized, and designation pursued. The key finding of this report is that the property municipally addressed as 254-68 King Street West 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 north side of King Street West, on the north-east corner lot where King Street West and Ontario Street North intersect and west of the King th Street West and Queen Street North intersection. The building is a one-storey 20 century commercial building, built in the Modern architectural style with influences from different eras of architecture. The building is situated on a 0.36-acre parcel of land within the City Commercial Core of the City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo. The principal resource that contributes to the heritage value of the property is the commercial building. Figure 1: Location Map of Subject Property A full assessment of 54-68 King Street West 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 hener Committee on June 6, 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 54-68 King Street West 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. 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 contacted via a second letter dated August 25, 202 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 thes value and interest. Figure 2: Front Facade of Subject Property Figure 3: West Side Facade of Subject Property Figure 4-5: Architectural Detailing on Subject Property 54-68 King Street West 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 54-68 King Street West resides in its architecture and physical construction. The building is a unique expression of Modernist architecture that also utilizes classical and neo-classical motifs. It is this sophisticated blending of different styles from varying eras that make the subject property a significant piece of architecture within the community. Through its material use and other detailing it also displays a high degree of craftmanship. The façades are composed of Indiana limestone and green and white marble as well as bronze detailing. The building is only one-storey in height, but the ground floor possesses 30-foot-high ceilings which gives the appearance of two-storeys. Historical / Associative Value This site and building have significant association with banking institutions, most notably the Bank of Nova Scotia. The original building of this branch of the bank was established in 1912 and located north down the street, at the property municipally addressed as 100 King Street West within the Canadian Block. The bank moved from its original location to its current corner location in 1926, into the building formerly known as the Merner Block. The Merner Block had been a bank since the turn of the century, being formerly occupied by the Union Bank prior to its occupation by the Bank of Nova Scotia. Due to a need for increased space, the Merner Block was demolished in 1962 and replaced with the existing one-storey building. This building also has significance due to its association with programs and initiatives undertaken by the bank that reflected how such institutions and their processes changed and developed over time. It reflects the economic climate of both the area and, to some degree, the country at the time of its construction. The building is also a demonstration of the work and skill of an important local architect, who has been recognized by the Ontario Association of Architects for his contributions to the field. Kitchener architect Carl Albert Rieder made significant contributions to the development of the Modernist style of architecture in Southwest Ontario and in the Waterloo County region specifically over the 47-years of his career. His name can be linked to over 400 buildings, including collegiate and university projects, public buildings, ecclesiastical works, industrial facilities, and private residents that display innovative designs. Within Kitchener some of his most notable work includes Eastwood Collegiate Institute (1955-56), Highland Baptist Church (1958), and the Kitchener Public Library (1959-61). Contextual Value The contextual value of 54-68 King Street West relates to its importance in maintaining the commercial character of the surrounding area, as well as its physical, functional, visual, and historical link to its surroundings. The building is located at the intersection of King Street West a primary road within the downtown core area and Ontario Street, and it has occupied this site since 1926. It is within the Downtown Cultural Heritage Landscape, which is within the City Centre District and is an area that has historically been recognized as the heart of the downtown and a focal point of the Region. The area is occupied by a mix of uses, with hotels, banks, and other commercial enterprises being the original anchors of the commercial core. While this area has continued to evolve, many of the late- thth 19 century and early-20 century commercial structures remain today. In addition, the distinct architectural style of 54-68 King Street West and its location on a corner lot along a primary road makes the building prominently visible and easily recognizable. Heritage Attributes The heritage value of 54-68 King Street West resides in the following: All elements related to the construction and architectural style, including: o Limestone façade; o White marble panels set in bronze mullions; o Bronze mullions with pyramidal projection at each intersection; o Limestone slab inscribed o Moulded cornice; o Roof and roofline; o Windows and window openings; and, o Doors and door openings. 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 vance 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 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 Bill 23 Municipal Heritage Register Review (DSD-2023-225) REVIEWED BY: Rosa Bustamante, Director of Planning APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services Department ATTACHMENTS: Attachment A Statement of Significance for 54-68 King Street West STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE 54-68 KING STREET WEST Summary of Significance Design/Physical Value Social Value Historical Value Economic Value Contextual Value Environmental Value Municipal Address: 54-68 King Street West Legal Description: PLAN 383 PT LOT 5 PLAN 401 PT LOT 2 PT LOT 7 Year Built: 1963 Architectural Style: Modern with influences from different eras of architecture Original Owner: Bank of Nova Scotia Original Use: Bank Condition: Excellent Description of Cultural Heritage Resource th 54-68 King Street West is a one-storey 20 century commercial building, built in the Modern architectural style with influences from different eras of architecture. The building is situated on a 0.36-acre parcel of land and is located on the north side of King Street West, between Ontario Street North and Queen Street North in the City Commercial Core of the City of Kitchener within the Region of Waterloo. The principal resource that contributes to the heritage value is the commercial building. Heritage Value 54-68 King Street West is recognized for its design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual value in addition to its economic value. Design/Physical Value The design and physical value of 54-68 King Street West resides in its architecture and physical construction. The building is a unique expression of Modernist architecture that also utilizes classical and neo-classical motifs. It is this sophisticated blending of different styles from varying eras that make the subject property a significant piece of architecture within the community. Through its material use and other detailing it also displays a high degree of craftmanship. The façades are composed of Indiana limestone and green and white marble as well as bronze detailing. The building is only one-storey in height, but the ground floor possesses 30-foot-high ceilings which gives the appearance of two-storeys. South (Front) Façade The front of the building faces King Street West, and is a limestone façade with five bays. The four bays off-set to the west are original, while the fifth to the east is an addition. The addition is identifiable by the differing colour of the surrounding masonry, and further it visually alters the composition of the front façade. The first and third bay from the west as well as the fifth bay addition are composed of a screen of twelve white marble panels set in bronze mullions, with triple windows below. The marble panels are arranged three across and four high, and where the mullions meets there is a projecting pyramidal decorative element. The second bay from the west contains glazed double-entrance doors flanked by a window and located above the entrance, a limestone slab inscribed with the Bank of Nova Scotia Coat of Arms. The first three bays and the fifth additional bay are framed by green marble. The fourth bay is limestone arranged in an ashlar pattern. A modeled cornice adds further interest to a flat roofline. West (Side) Façade The west side façade faces Ontario Street North and is composed of five bays, evenly spaced and similar in appearance to the white marble bays on the front façade, with triple casement windows below. The molded cornice continues along the roofline. East (Side) Façade The east side contains the new bay addition. The east façade directly abuts the adjacent property, and most of this façade is not visible. The molded cornice from the front and rear extends briefly on either side, before terminating. It then becomes a flat parapet. North (Rear) Façade The rear façade is composed of white brick, except for a narrow vertical strip of limestone on the western side that is arranged in the same ashlar pattern as that of the front and west side façade. The molded cornice continues along the roofline. There is a small brick addition one-storey in height that contains a door this is the only opening on the rear façade. Historical Value The historic and associative values of 54-68 King Street West relate to its association with banking institutions, most significantly the Bank of Nova Scotia. The original building of this branch of the bank was established in 1912 and located north down the street, at the property municipally addressed as 100 King Street West within the Canadian Block. The bank moved from its original location to its current corner location in 1926, into the building formerly known as the Merner Block. The Merner Block had been a bank since the turn of the century, being formerly occupied by the Union Bank prior to its occupation by the Bank of Nova Scotia. Due to a need for increased space, the Merner Block was demolished in 1962 and replaced with the existing one-storey building. Construction of the new building began in 1963 and lasted approximately a year, and the branchs official reopening occurred early in 1964. The project cost approximately $500,000 and provided almost twice the floor area as the original building. According to John S. Proctor, then the executive vice-president of the Bank of Nova Scotia, the new building reflected the continuously improving economic climate in Canada. The bank was designed by Kitchener architect Carl Albert Rieder. Over the 47 years of his career, Carl Rider made significant contributions to the development of the Modernist style of architecture in Southwest Ontario and in the Waterloo County region specifically. His name can be linked to over 400 buildings, including collegiate and university projects, public buildings, ecclesiastical works, industrial facilities, and private residents that display innovative designs. Within Kitchener some of his most notable work includes Eastwood Collegiate Institute (1955-56), Highland Baptist Church (1958), and the Kitchener Public Library (1959-61). In 1968 this branch location was selected to be one of fifteen branches to implement new Cheque Guarantee Card, which was the first instance in which coloured photographic ID was used in banking operations. In 1969 it became the last branch in the area to stock gold in the form of coins, wafers, and bars. In 1995 it became the centralized location for Kitchener-Waterloo Commercial Business Activities, staffing specialized teams to service Mid-Market and Corporate Independent Business sector. This site and building have significant association with banking institutions, as well as association with programs and initiatives undertaken by the bank that reflect how such institutions and their processes have changed and developed over time. It reflects the economic client of both the area and, to some degree, the country at the time. Further, the building is a demonstration of the work and skill of an important local architect, who has been recognized by the Ontario Association of Architects for his contributions to the field. Contextual Value The contextual value of 54-68 King Street West relates to its importance in maintaining the commercial character of the surrounding area, as well as its physical, functional, visual, and historical link to its surroundings. The building is located at the intersection of King Street West a primary road within the downtown core area and Ontario Street, and it has occupied this site since 1926. It is within the Downtown Cultural Heritage Landscape, which is within the City Centre District and is an area that has historically been recognized as the heart of the downtown and a focal point of the Region. The area is occupied by a mix of uses, with hotels, banks, and other commercial enterprises being the original anchors of the commercial core. While this area has continued to evolve, many of thth the late-19 century and early-20 century commercial structures remain today. In addition, the distinct architectural style of 54-68 King Street West and its location on a corner lot along a primary road makes the building prominently visible and easily recognizable. Other Values Economic Value Within Canada, banking institutions act as both major employers and essential contributors to the Canadian economy, contributing approximately 3.8% to Canadas Gross Domestic Product. As of January 1, 2023, Scotiabank specifically has over 90, 000 employees and assets of over $1.3 trillion. As such, branch locations possess and reflect economic value. Heritage Attributes The heritage value of 54-68 King Street West resides in the following: All elements related to the construction and architectural style, including: o Limestone façade; o White marble panels set in bronze mullions; o Bronze mullions with pyramidal projection at each intersection; o o Moulded cornice; o Roof and roofline; o Windows and window openings; and, o Doors and door openings. References Images of Progress 1946-1996: Modern Architecture in Waterloo Region Kitchener- Kitchener- Kitchener-Waterloo Record-W Commercial Business Activ-W Waterloo Historical Society, Volume 95 Photographs Front Elevation (South Façade) Rear Elevation (North Façade) Side Elevation (West Façade) Detailing of White Marble Bays Detailing of Limestone Inscription Above Front Entrance