HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2025-357 - Municipal Heritage Register Review - October 2025 Update
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Heritage Kitchener
DATE OF MEETING: October 7, 2025
SUBMITTED BY: Garett Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals,
519-783-8922
PREPARED BY: Deeksha Choudhry, Heritage Planner, 519-783-8912
DATE OF REPORT: September 10, 2025
REPORT NO.: DSD-2025-357
SUBJECT: Municipal Heritage Register Review Î October 2025 Update
RECOMMENDATION:
The pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or
interest be recognized, and designation be pursued for the following properties:
85 Strange Street
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS:
The purpose of this report is to recommend pursuing designation under Part IV of the
Ontario Heritage Act for one property that is currently listed as non-designated
properties of cultural heritage value or interest on the Municipal Heritage Register.
The key finding of this report is that the property possesses design/physical,
historical/associative, and contextual value and meet the criteria for designation under
Ontario Regulation 9/06 (amended through Ontario Regulation 569/22).
There are no financial implications.
Community engagement included consultation with the Heritage Kitchener Committee.
This report supports the delivery of core services.
BACKGROUND:
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On January 1, 2023, amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) came into effect
through Bill 23, the More Homes Build Faster Act. One of the primary changes introduced
was the imposition of a new timeline which requires ÐlistedÑ properties on the Municipal
Heritage Register to be evaluated to determine if they meet the criteria for heritage
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designation before January 1, 2025. Bill 200, the Homeowners Protection Act, 2024,
extended the time municipalities must designate properties listed on their municipal
heritage registers until January 1, 2027. Listed properties are properties that have not
been designated, but that the municipal Council believes to be of cultural heritage value or
interest. The criteria for designation is established by the Provincial Government (Ontario
Regulation 9/06, which has now been amended through Ontario Regulation 569/22) and a
minimum of two must be met for a property to be eligible for designation.
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
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A work plan to address these changes has been developed by Heritage Planning Staff
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with consultation from the Heritage Kitchener Committee on February 7, 2023.
Implementation of the work plan has now commenced. This report contains a summary of
the findings for the properties recently reviewed, and recommendations for next steps.
Progress on Work Plan Implementation
As part of the work plan proposed in February 2023, Heritage Planning Staff committed to
the review of 80 properties listed on the Municipal Heritage Register prior to January 1,
2025. As of the date of this report, a review has been completed for 94 properties. 1
property is before the Committee as of the date of this report to be considered for
designation. 41 properties have fully undergone the designation process. 38 properties are
currently undergoing the designation process and are at various stages of completion. 14
properties have been reviewed and determined that no action should be taken at this time,
and 1 NOID has been withdrawn by Council.
Bill 200, the Homeowners Protection Act, 2024, extended the time municipalities have to
designate properties listed on their municipal heritage registers until January 1, 2027.
REPORT:
Ontario Regulation 569/22 (Amended from Ontario Regulation 9/06)
Among the changes that were implemented through Bill 23, the Ontario Regulation 9/06 Î
which is a regulation used to determine the cultural heritage value or interest of a property,
was amended through Ontario Regulation 569/22 (O. Reg. 569/22). Where the original
regulation had three main categories Î design/physical, historical/associative and
contextual - with three (3) sub-categories for determining cultural heritage value, the
amended regulation now lists all nine (9) criteria independently.
The new regulation has been amended to the following:
1. The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique,
representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction
method.
2. The property has design value or physical value because it displays a high degree
of craftsmanship or artistic merit.
3. The property has design value or physical value because it demonstrates a high
degree of technical or scientific achievement.
4. The property has historical value or associative value 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 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 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 important in defining, maintaining or
supporting the character of an area.
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8. The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or
historically linked to its surroundings.
9. The property has contextual value because it is a landmark.
Also, among the changes brought about by Bill 23 are how properties can now be listed or
designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. They include:
Properties would warrant being listed on the CityÓs Municipal Heritage Register if
they met one or more criteria of O. Reg 9/06 (amended through O. Reg. 569/22).
Properties could be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act if they
meet two or more criteria of O. Reg 9/06 (amended through O. Reg. 569/22).
The following property was evaluated to determine their cultural heritage value:
85 Strange Street
The subject property municipally addressed as 99 Strange Street meets four (4) of the nine
(9) criteria of O. Reg 9/06 (amended through O. Reg. 569/22):
The property has design value or physical value because it is a rare, unique,
representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction
method.
The property has historical value or associative value because it has direct
associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution
that is significant to a community.
The property has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually or
historically linked to its surroundings.
The property has contextual value because it is important in defining, maintaining or
supporting the character of an area.
Heritage Kitchener Committee Options
Option 1 Î Pursuing Designation for this property
Should Heritage Kitchener committee vote to start pursuing designation for this property,
staff will then contact the respective property owners to inform them and to start working
with them towards designation. Staff will then bring a Notice of Intention to Designate back
to the Committee to initiate the designation process. Should a property owner object to
their property being designated, they can submit an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal
(OLT) to rule on the decision. If the OLT determines that the property should not be
designated but remain listed, it will be removed from the Municipal Heritage Register on
January 1, 2027.
Option 2 Î Deferring the Designation Process
Should Heritage Kitchener vote to defer the designation process for these properties, they
will remain listed on the CityÓs Munic ipal Heritage Register until January 1, 2027, after
which it will have to be removed. The process of designating these properties can be
started at any time until January 1, 2027.
Option 3 Î Not Pursuing Designation for these properties
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Should Heritage Kitchener vote not to pursue the designation of this property, they will
remain listed on the CityÓs Municipal Heritage Register until January 1, 2027, after which it
will be removed. Once removed, these properties will not be able to be re-listed for the
next five (5) years i.e. Î January 1, 2032.
It should be noted that, per the endorsed work plan, staff are currently undertaking
evaluations for high priority properties that are in located in areas of the City that are
experiencing significant redevelopment.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This report supports the delivery of core services.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Capital Budget Î The recommendation has no impact on the Capital Budget.
Operating Budget Î The recommendation has no impact on the Operating Budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM Î This report has been posted to the CityÓs website with the agenda in advance
of the council / committee meeting.
CONSULT AND COLLABORATE Î The Municipal Heritage Committee (Heritage
Kitchener) have been consulted at previous meetings regarding the proposed strategy to
review the Municipal Heritage Register of Non-designated Properties and participated in
the assessment of the properties subject to this report.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
Heritage Kitchener Committee Work Plan 2022-2024 Î DSD-2023-053
Bill 23 Î Municipal Heritage Register Review Î DSD-2023-225
Kitchener Municipal Heritage Register Review Î August Update 2023 Î DSD-2023-
309
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î January 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-022
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î March 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-093
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î April 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-131
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î May 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-194
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î June 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-250
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î August 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-333
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î September 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-361
Municipal Heritage Register Î October 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-426
Municipal Heritage Register- November 2024 Update Î DSD-2024-444
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î March 2025 Update Î DSD-2025-031
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î April 2025 Update Î DSD-2025-108
Municipal Heritage Register Review Î August 2025 Update Î DSD-2025-317
Ontario Heritage Act, 2022
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REVIEWED BY: Sandro Bassanese, Manager of Site Plan
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A- Updated Statement of Significance Î 85 Strange Street
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STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
85 Strange Street
Summary of Significance
Social Value
Design/Physical Value
Economic Value
Historical Value
Contextual Value
Environmental Value
Municipal Address: 85 Strange Street
Legal Description: Plan 375 Lot 1 Part Lot 493
Year Built: 1937 (Church) & 1948 (Rectory)
Architectural Styles: Neo-Gothic
Original Owner: St. JohnÓs Roman Catholic Church
Original Use: Institutional
Condition: Good
Description of Cultural Heritage Resource
85 Strange Street consists of two buildings, which were once individual buildings but are now
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connected: the 1937 Church and the 1948 Rectory. Both buildings were built in the 20 century in the
Neo-Gothic architectural style. The buildings are situated on a 0.88 acre parcel of land located on the
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west side of Strange Street between Dominion Street and Waverly Road in the Cherry Hill Planning
Community of the City of Kitchener within the Region of Waterloo. The principal resources that
contributes to the heritage value are the institutional buildings.
Heritage Value
85 Strange Street is recognized for its design/physical, historic/associative, and contextual values.
Design/Physical Value
The design and physical values relate to the Neo-Gothic architectural style that is in good condition
with many intact original elements. The Church building features: a rectangular plan; red brick
construction; one large gothic arch window per bay; buttressing between bays; wood front entrance
door with concrete gothic arch door surround; large gothic arch stained glass window above front
entrance door; two small octagonal steeples with bells flank the front façade; and, decorative concrete
details. The Rectory building features: a square plan; hip roof with dormers; red brick construction; front
entrance concrete pediment with cross and inscription reading ÐSt. JohnÓs RectoryÑ; wood paneled door
with sidelights; and, hung windows with concrete surrounds.
Main Church
The main church building is of red brick construction,and features a steep gable roof with a
rectangular plan. On the front façade, two small octagonal steeples flank each side of the façade, with
a large central gothic arched stained glass window. Below the centrally located gothic arched stained
glass window is a projecting central entrance with concrete door surround. There are two small gothic
arched stained glass windows on each side of the central door with decorative concrete surrounds.
There is also a large, mounted cross above the main entrance mounted on a concrete parapet.
Decorative details include horizontal concrete banding that extends throughout the façade.
The side elevations have seven (7) buttresses, dividing the elevations into 6 bays, with a projecting
side entrance on each façade. The projecting entrance has decorative concrete banding that extends
from the main façade, and two concrete quatrefoil motifs. There is a single arched gothic window with
horizontal concrete banding on the upper levels. Each bay of these elevations include long arched
gothic stained glass windows with brick lintels. The concrete foundation is visible with a pair of square
3-over-3 windows on the lower level. Towards the rear of the façades, there is another projecting area
with a flat roof. The rear façade of the church has hexagonal in massing with a small gothic arched
window on each side a chimney.
The Rectory Building
The Rectory was built in the Neo-Gothic architectural style and is 2.5 storeys in height, and is of red
brick construction. It includes a central projecting gable entrance made of concrete, with a cross
carved in the gable end. There are paired 3-over-3 hung windows on each side of the entrance, as
well as on the upper floor, with decorative concrete surround. There appears to be a small dormer on
each elevation of the residence. The building also appears to have a single-storey addition with a flat
roof and four (4) single pane windows that connects it to the main church. The side elevations of the
building include paired 3-over-3 hung windows with decorative concrete surround and a bay window
on one of the side elevations. The rear elevation of the building includes a garage attached to the
main building with a steep gable roof pitch and square windows.
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Historical Value
The historic and associative values relate to the original and continued use of the building as church.
The St. JohnÓs church was the fourth church to be constructed in the City, necessitated by the growth
of the City in 1937. The parish of approximately 220 families living within the boundaries of Highland
Road, Victoria park, and Waterloo, and King Street was formed in May 1937, by the late Most Rev. J.
T. NcNally. Father William F. Gleason was the first pastor of the church. He had come from the Church
of Our Lady in Guelph, and he held this position until he died in 1965.
The church used the adjacent schoolÓs (St. JohnÓs Catholic School) basement for Sunday mass until
February 1938, while the new church was being constructed. Even though the superstructure of the
church was unfinished, the cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1937 by Reverend W. Beninger, C.R.,
and dedicated by Reverend Joseph Ryan on February 20, 1938. The basement of the school was used
until February, 1938. The finishing touches on the church were complete in 1953, transforming the
interior of the church from a plain concrete-block structure into a complete church. The start and
completion of the construction of church was done under Father Gleason.
Father Gleason was also responsible for constructing the rectory on the property. He rented a house
which served as a temporary rectory, and then moved into the present building in May 1948, when it
was constructed.
Contextual Value
85 Strange Street has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually and historically
linked to its surroundings. The building is in itÓs original location, and has continued to serve as a church
since it was built. In particular, part of itÓs contextual value is tied to the adjacent St. JohnÓs Catholic
School. These buildings were built around the same time, and have served the same communities
since their construction. Due to this, the buildings maintain a relationship to each other.
Heritage Attributes
The heritage value of 85 Strange Street resides in the following heritage attributes:
All elements related to the construction and Neo-Gothic architectural style of the Church building,
including:
o ItÓs location, orientation, and massing;
o a rectangular plan;
o red brick construction;
o roof and roofline;
o windows and window openings, including:
one large gothic arch window per bay;
large gothic arch stained glass window above front entrance door;
Appearance of the 3-over-3 square hung windows.
o buttressing between bays;
o door openings, including:
wood front entrance door with concrete gothic arch door surround;
o two small octagonal steeples with bells flank the front façade;
o Horizontal concrete banding; and
o Decorative concrete quatrefoil motifs; and
o Any other decorative concrete details.
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All elements related to the construction and Neo-Gothic architectural style of the Rectory building,
including:
o a square plan;
o roof and roofline, including:
hip roof with dormers;
o red brick construction;
o front entrance concrete pediment with cross and inscription reading ÐSt. JohnÓs RectoryÑ;
o doors and door openings, including:
wood paneled door with sidelights; and,
o window openings, including:
hung windows with concrete surrounds.
All elements related to the contextual value of the buildings, including:
o ItÓs location on the Strange Street streetscape, and
o ItÓs relationship to the adjacent St. JohnÓs Catholic School.
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Photos
85 Strange Street
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85 Strange Street
Deeksha Choudhry
85 Strange Street
Institutional
July 1, 2025
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