HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2026-058 - Notice of Intention Designate 99 Strange Street
Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca
REPORT TO: Heritage Kitchener
DATE OF MEETING: March 3, 2026
SUBMITTED BY: Garett Stevenson, Director of Development and Housing Approvals,
519-783-8922
PREPARED BY: Victoria Grohn, Heritage Planner, 519-783-8912
WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward 9
DATE OF REPORT: January 22, 2026
REPORT NO.: DSD-2026-058
SUBJECT: Notice of Intention to Designate 99 Strange Street 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 99
Strange Street 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 99 Strange Street
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
The key finding of this report is that property municipally addressed as 99 Strange
Street 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. This property is recognized for its design/physical,
historical/associative, and contextual values.
There are no financial implications with this recommendation.
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.
BACKGROUND:
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99 Strange Street is a 20 century building constructed in the Collegiate Tudor
architectural style. The building is situated on a 2.92 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 within the City of Kitchener.
Figure 1: Location Map
A full assessment of 99 Strange Street 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 prope
heritage value was taken to the Heritage Kitchener Committee on August 5, 2025. On this
meeting date, the Committee recommended that pursuant to Section 29 of the Ontario
Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest of the Church 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 Review is the
ed in January of 2023
through Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act. The City contacted owners of the listed
properties through an initial letter dated May 23, 2023, to inform them of this undertaking.
The property owners were contacted via a second letter dated August 13, 2025. Staff have
been in contact with the Manager of Planning from the Waterloo Catholic District School
Board about this process, and have worked collaboratively to update the Statement of
Significance along with the identified heritage attributes.
Per standard procedure, should Council support the Notice of Intention to Designate
NOID. Once the letter is served on the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust, and
the newspaper ad is posted, there will be a 30-day appeal period in which the property
owner may object to the designation.
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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
ltural heritage
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
value and interest.
Figure 2: Front Façade
99 Strange Street is recognized for its design/physical, historic/associative, and contextual
values. It satisfies four (4) of the nine (9) 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 summarized in the table below.
Criteria Criteria Met
(Yes/No)
1. The property has design value or physical value because it is a Yes
rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type,
material, or construction method.
2. The property has design value or physical value because it No
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 because it Yes
has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person,
activity, organization or institution that is significant to a
community.
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5. The property has historical or associative value because it No
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 No
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 Yes
defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area.
8. The property has contextual value because it is physically, Yes
functionally, visually, or historically linked to its surroundings.
9. The property has contextual value because it is a landmark. No
Design/Physical Value
The property municipally addressed as 99 Strange Street demonstrates design/physical
value through its Collegiate Tudor architectural style. The original building was constructed
in 1929, with several later additions. The original building was constructed -
shaped plan, two-stories in height. The brick exterior, cast concrete decorative details, and
the central door with projecting decorative brick detailing are representative of the
architectural style.
Historic/Associative Value
The historic/associative value of the property relates to its original and continued use as a
school. The building was constructed in response to the influx of new families and
increased birth rates following WWI. The school
fourth church constructed in the City, and has direct association with the theme of
educational development in Kitchener.
Contextual Value
The building at 99 Strange Street is in its original location and has continued to serve as a
school since its construction. The property is physically, functionally, visually, and
historically linked to its surroundings, particularly in relation to the ad
Church. Both buildings were constructed around the same time and have served the
community since their construction.
Heritage Attributes
The heritage value of 99 Strange Street resides in the following heritage attributes:
All elements related to the construction and Collegiate Tudor architectural style of
the original 1929 building, including:
o Its location, massing, and orientation;
o Red brick construction;
o Roof and roofline;
o Cast concrete decorative details such as the school sign, banding, floral
motifs, and cross;
o Window openings with concrete sills; and
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o Front entrance door opening with multi light transom and decorative door
surround.
All elements related to the contextual value of the building including:
o Its location on the Strange Street streetscape; and
o
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 13, 2025.
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, 2027, 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, 2032.
PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES:
Ontario Heritage Act, 2022
Municipal Heritage Register Review August 2025 Update DSD-2025-317
REVIEWED BY: Sandro Bassanese, Manager of Site Plan
APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A Updated Statement of Significance
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STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE
99 Strange Street
Summary of Significance
Social Value
Design/Physical Value
Economic Value
Historical Value
Contextual Value
Environmental Value
Municipal Address: 99 Strange Street
Legal Description: Plan 375 Part Lot 493 & 494
Year Built: 1929
Architectural Styles: Collegiate Tudor
Original Owner:
Original Use: Institutional
Condition: Good
Description of Cultural Heritage Resource
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99 Strange Street is a 20 century building built in the Collegiate Tudor architectural style. The building
is situated on a 3.07 acre parcel of land located on the 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 resource that contributes to the heritage value is the institutional
building.
Heritage Value
99 Strange Street is recognized for its design/physical, historic/associative, and contextual values.
Design/Physical Value
The design and physical values relate to the Collegiate Tudor architectural style that is in good condition
with many intact original elements. The building features: red brick construction; flat roof, cast concrete
decorative details such as school sign, banding, floral motifs and cross; window openings with concrete
sills; and, front entrance door opening with multi light transom and decorative door surround. There
have been many additions to the original building since its construction in 1929. All of these additions
are located towards the rear of the original building.
Front Façade (East Elevation)
The original portion of the school was constructed in
Each end of this façade includes brick cast concrete detailing, including square motifs and concrete
banding on the upper and lower level. The central portion of this façade has a symmetrical design and
fenestration pattern, including fenestration pattern of multi-pane windows arranged grouping pattern of
one-three-one pattern on each storey with concrete sills. The central door includes a projecting
decorative brick detailing with concrete door surround, and concrete floral motifs. Above the concrete
banding on the upper storey level is a parapet with
building has a concrete foundation with windows on the basement levels.
Side Façade (South Elevation)
The façade continues the fenestration pattern of the front façade with two multi-pane window
groupings of one-three-one on each storey. The concrete banding extends onto this façade on the
upper and lower levels, with the concrete foundation and basement level windows.
Rear Façade (North Elevation)
The original portion of the school is not visible on this façade. This façade includes one of the modern
additions that was added on to the school. This façade mostly includes blank brick walls, with one
portion of the addition with windows and a rear doorway.
Side Façade (West Elevation)
The façade continues the fenestration pattern of the front façade with two multi-pane window
groupings of one-three-one on each storey. The concrete banding extends onto this façade on the
upper and lower levels, with the concrete foundation and basement level windows.
Historical Value
The historic and associative values relate to the original and continued use of the building as a separate
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increased birth rates following World War I. The original building was an eight-room school that was
constructed at a cost of $60,000. The building was the fourth catholic school in the area.
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. Magistrate W. F. Gleason (who was Father Gleason at the time) was the first pastor of thie
church, and he held that position until he died in 1965.
was being constructed. Even though the superstructure of the church was unfinished, it was dedicated
by Reverend Joseph Ryan on February 20, 1938, with the cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1937.
The school has associative value due to its direct associations with the theme of educational
development in Kitchener. The school was established in response to the growing population of
Kitchener in the 1920s, and it was the fourth school to be established in the City. The school has
continued to operate as such since its establishment.
Contextual Value
99 Strange Street has contextual value because it is physically, functionally, visually and historically
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 99 Strange Street resides in the following heritage attributes:
All elements related to the construction and Collegiate Tudor architectural style of the original
building, including:
o
o red brick construction;
o roof and roofline;
o cast concrete decorative details such as school sign, banding, floral motifs and cross;
o window openings with concrete sills; and,
o front entrance door opening with multi light transom and decorative door surround.
All elements related to the contextual value of the building, including:
o
o
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Photos
99 Strange Street
99 Strange Street
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99 Strange Street
99 Strange Street
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Deeksha Choudhry
99 Strange Street
Institutional
July 1, 2025
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