HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-13-026 - Listing of 60 Victoria St N as a Non-Designated Property of Cultural Heritage Value
REPORT TO:
Heritage Kitchener
DATE OF MEETING:
April 2, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Brandon Sloan,Manager of Long Range & Policy Planning
PREPARED BY:
Leon Bensason, Coordinator, Cultural Heritage Planning
(519-741-2200 ext. 7306)
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
10
DATE OF REPORT:
March 19, 2013
REPORT NO.:
CSD-13-026
SUBJECT:
LISTING OF 60 VICTORIA STREET NORTH AS ANON-
DESIGNATED PROPERTYOF CULTURAL HERITAGE
VALUE OR INTEREST ON THE MUNICIPAL HERITAGE
REGISTER
RECOMMENDATION:
1. That pursuant to Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Rumpel Felt Co.
building constructed in 1913 and municipally addressed as60 Victoria Street
North be listed on the Municipal Heritage Register as anon-designated property of
cultural heritage value or interest, in accordance with the Statement of
Significance attached as Appendix 'A' to Community Services Department report
CSD-13-026.
BACKGROUND:
Changes made to the Ontario Heritage
Act through the passage of Bill 60, now
afford municipalities the opportunity to
list properties that have not been
designated under the Act but that the
municipality believes to be of cultural
heritage value or interest on the
Municipal Heritage Register. Further,
the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS)
issued under Section 3 of the Ontario
Planning Act, has been amended and
listed
by local jurisdictions. Together, the
amendments made to the Ontario
Heritage Act and the Provincial Policy
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Statement of the Planning Act, offer an opportunity for the City of Kitchener to update the
Heritage Kitchener Inventory of Historic Buildings and strengthen efforts to conserve properties
identified as being of cultural heritage value or interest to the municipality.
On November 27, 2006 Council approved a 4-step process for listing non-designated property
of cultural heritage value or interest on the Municipal Heritage Register, as outlined in Staff
Report DTS-05-213.
The process involves the following steps:
1. Initial evaluation by a recorder through completion of a survey form and taking
photographs (only where properties are visible from the public realm).
2.
photographs; undertaken by an evaluation sub committee comprised of City Staff and/or
-listed property and notify the property owner of the heritage
interest in the property. Property owners are invited to make comment and attend the
Heritage Kitchener meeting where their property will be considered for possible listing on
the Municipal Heritage Register.
3. listed
properties; considers the comments of the property owner (if made); and makes a
recommendation to City Council.
4. City Council makes a decision on whether or not to list the properties on the Municipal
-designated property of
Listing non-designated properties on the Municipal Heritage Register is an important step in
with regard to obtaining heritage approvals, meaning property owners do not require a heritage
permit or City approval to make alterations. Listing on the Municipal Heritage Register does
increase the amount of time the City has to process demolition applications (up to 60 days), and
does have implications in ensuring that the City is consistent with the Provincial Policy
Statement when processing Planning Act applications.
REPORT:
The property municipally addressed as 60 Victoria Street North and commonly known as the
Rumpel Felt Co. building is currently identified on the Heritage Kitchener Inventory of Historic
Buildings. The property is occupied by a complex of former industrial buildings including the
original three storey brick factory constructed in 1913, and three contemporary additions
constructed circa 1942, 1962 and 1968.
In 2012, the City received Official Plan Amendment and Zone Change applications for 60
Victoria Street North and adjacent properties, to facilitate the redevelopment of the subject
properties as a multi-modal transportation facility. In accordance with the Provincial Policy
Statement of the Planning Act, a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) was made a submission
requirement of the Official Plan Amendment and Zone Change applications.
A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) prepared by The Landplan Collaborative Ltd. dated April
5, 2012 and revised November 22, 2012 was submitted in relation to the subject Official Plan
Amendment and Zone Change applications. The HIA concluded that only the 1913 portion of
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the Rumpel Felt Co. building was of cultural heritage value or interest, and identified the
following specific heritage attributes:
original 1913 facades (Victoria St. N., adjacent to 50 Victoria St. N., and rail side);
riveted shear plate column construction;
goods lift (circa 1913);
door hardware;
original boiler;
wooden pipes (presently used as top course of north retaining wall to north parking lot);
entry columns and architrave to the roof of the entry porch; and
the massing of the building itself, for its larger contribution to public spatial and historical
experience.
In addition to identifying specific heritage attributes, the following conclusions and
recommendations were made in the HIA:
that conservation measures be embodied in the adaptive re-use of the circa 1913
building through the preservation of its facades and the conservation of its heritage
attributes;
that the Rumpel Felt Co. building be listed on the Municipal Heritage Register in the
short term and designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in the longer term;
and
that a Conservation Plan for the 1913 portion of the Rumpel Felt building be completed
at the appropriate time in the planning process.
The conclusions and recommendations of the HIA were presented and discussed at the
nd
October 2 2012 meeting of Heritage Kitchener. The Committee expressed general support for
the HIA and resolved to request that City staff proceed to list the Rumpel Felt property on the
Municipal Heritage Register. The HIA was formally approved by the Director of Planning on
November 30, 2012.
It is acknowledged that 60 Victoria Street North is expected to be part of a larger
redevelopment, and that the Rumpel Felt Co. building is likely to be the subject of adaptive re-
use. This may involve future alterations and/or additions, including alteration to heritage
attributes and of the spatial and visual relationship of the 1913 building with surrounding
buildings. However, in approving the HIA and listing 60 Victoria Street North on the Municipal
Heritage Register, the City will be better positioned to address the conservation of the 1913
portion of the Rumpel Felt Co. building during the site development process. Completion of a
Conservation Plan at the Site Plan application stage will result in the owner and future
development interests identifying how heritage attributes and character defining features can be
preserved, restored and effectively incorporated into the multi-modal transportation facility.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The City has its own unique culture and heritage. The City has places, spaces and stories that
enrich, enlighten, and guide growth and development. These cultural heritage resources are
integral to the identity of the City, but they also play a significant role in economic development
by helping to enhance quality of life, strengthen distinctiveness, stimulate revitalization and
attract tourism. Under the Ontario Heritage Act, the City can designate properties of cultural
heritage value or interest. The City can also list non-designated properties of cultural heritage
value or interest on the Municipal Heritage Register. Designation publicly acknowledges a
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and future generations. Listing also publicly
provides the opportunity to consider appropriate conservation options before demolition and as
part of the planning process. As a result, the process of listing property on the Municipal
Development
Heritage Register supports the Strategic Plan Community Priority, and the
strategic direction that includes honouring and protecting our heritage.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
N/A
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
Following the approval of -step listing process, an
information package was mailed to the property owner. The information package included a
letter that describes the heritage interest in the property and the listing process, including how
the property owner can make comment; a copy of the Municipal Heritage Register brochure;
and, a copy of the Statement of Significance which describes the historic place, identifies the
key heritage values, and lists the principal heritage attributes.
Inritten correspondence was received from
the property owner. The owner expressed support for listing 60 Victoria Street North, and
requested that the City consider making a few minor changes to the Statement of Significance.
1913 building and are considered to be a design/physical attribute, Staff advised that original
windows should continue to be referenced in the Statement of Significance. The property
CONCLUSION:
Identifying specific local cultural heritage resources is a vital first step toward upholding the
Rumpel Felt Co. building has
undergone athorough and objective evaluation through both the Heritage Impact Assessment
process and non-designated property of cultural heritage value or
interest on the Municipal Heritage Register.
It is concluded that the Rumpel Felt Co. building constructed in 1913 and municipally addressed
60 Victoria Street Northmeets a non-designated property of
cultural heritage value or interest on the Municipal Heritage Register. The Statements of
Significance outlining the value and interest of the property is of this
report.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
Community Services Department
Attachment:
Appendix A: Statement of Significance
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APPENDIX A
Statement of Significance
RUMPEL FELT BUILDING
60 VICTORIA STREET NORTH
Municipal Address:
60 Victoria Street North, Kitchener
Legal Description:
Plan 374, Lot 15 Part Lot 13 and 14;
Registered Plan 58R6453 Parts 4to 6
Year Built:
1912-1913;
Additions circa 1942, 1962 and 1968
Architectural Style:
Vernacular Industrial
Original Owner
: Walter Rumpel
Original Use
:Factory
Description of Historic Place
60 Victoria Street North is a 0.29 hectare lot located at the northwest intersection of
Victoria Street North and Duke Street West in the City Commercial Core Planning
Community in the City of Kitchener within the Region of Waterloo. The property is
comprised of a three-storey brick building, known as the Rumpel Felt Building,
constructed in 1913 in a vernacular industrial architectural style, with contemporary
additions constructed circa 1942, 1962 and 1968.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
The Rumpel Felt Building located at 60 Victoria Street North, is a complex of former
industrial buildings, including the original three-storey brick factory constructed in 1913
and three contemporary additions to the east constructed circa 1942, 1962 and 1968.
The building contributes to the remaining industrial landscape formed by a density of
structures along the main rail line (the Canadian National Railway line) and streets of
The 1913 portion of the Rumpel Felt Building
is recognized for its historical/associative, design/physical and contextual value.
The historical/associative value of the property lies in its association with the industrial
landscape known as the Berlin Industrial/Warehouse District and its connection to the
regionally significant themes of Transportation (the railway), the Manufacturing Industry
and Urban Development in Berlin/Kitchener. The Berlin Industrial/Warehouse District,
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located in the west end of downtown Kitchener, encompasses the remaining factories
along King Street and Victoria Street, and is physically and visually linked to the railway
tracks and train station. The early development of the district was centred around the
main rail corridor and was linked to the local economy and the community. As a
significant built heritage resource in the Berlin Industrial/Warehouse District, the
Rumpel Felt Building contributes to the understanding of the twentieth-century industrial
culture in Berlin/Kitchener and its connection to its urban development.
The historical/associative value of the Rumpel Felt Building also lies in its association
with the felt manufacturing industry in Berlin/Kitchener and numerous important
members of the community that have been associated with the property. The felt
company, originally known as the Berlin Felt & Boot Company, was founded by George
Rumpel in 1875 on the adjacent property to the west at 50 Victoria Street North. The
1913 portion of the Rumpel Felt Building at 60 Victoria Street North was built by Walter
Rumpel who succeeded his father George Rumpel as manager of Rumpel Felt
Company. The company was managed by the Rumpel Family for over a century in a
series of successors - including George Rumpel (1875-1916), Walter Rumpel (1916-
1944), John W. Rumpel (1944-1966), and David Rumpel (1966-2007) - before the
company ceased production in 2007.
Constructed between 1912 and 1913, the original portion of the Rumpel Felt Building is
representative of a vernacular industrial architectural style and is characteristic of early
twentieth-century industrial complexes in Berlin/Kitchener. Typical of the style is its load
bearing brick and riveted shear plate column construction, three-storey height, rhythmic
large-arched window openings providing ample natural light into the factory production
spaces, and a modest design with a decorated main entrance.The remaining
equipment also contributes to the design value of the property, including the original
boiler, wooden pipes, and goods lift (circa 1913). The original 1913 portion of the
Rumpel Felt Co. building reinforces the character of the Berlin Industrial/Warehouse
District, which is defined by multi-storey structures, three-to-five storeys in height,
designed for industrial use with a principal structure that may contain several additions
to its massing. The massing of these structures can be attributed to various historic
development forces, including the vernacular industrial building technology.
Contextually, the property supports the character of the industrial landscape and has a
significant spatial and visual relationship to the other contributing built heritage
resources and streets in the district and the adjacent railway. The Rumpel Felt Building
is among a cluster of built heritage resources that contribute to the industrial landscape,
including: Kaufman Lofts (formerly the Kaufman Rubber Company Factory), the
Breithaupt Block (formerly the Merchants Rubber Co. Ltd. Building), 283 Duke Street
(formerly the Hibner Furniture Co. Ltd. Building), andthe Lang Tannery, (formerly the
Lang Tanning Co. Building).Consistent with the siting of the historic industrial buildings
in the district, the Rumpel Felt Building was organized along the rail line and
constructed immediately adjacent to the property line with a main entrance fronting
directly onto the public right-of-way on Victoria Street North. As one of the remaining
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vestiges of the former industrial landscape, the Rumple Felt Building could be
Description of Heritage Attributes
Key attributes that express the historical/associative value of 60 Victoria Street North
include:
The painted sign above the first storey of the front (south) façade of the 1913
portion of the factory that read and,
The painted sign below the roof line of the rear (north) façade of the 1913 portion
Key attributes that express the design/physical value of 60 Victoria Street North
include:
Elements related to the construction of the 1913 portion of the factory as a
representative example of a vernacular industrial architectural style and early
industrial complexes in Berlin/Kitchener, including:
original 1913 facades (Victoria St. N., adjacent to 50 Victoria St. N., and
o
rail side) including:
the brick facades; and
the original window openings;
original multi-paned windows with metal mullions and pivoting panels;
o
riveted shear plate column construction;
o
goods lift (circa 1913);
o
historic door hardware;
o
original boiler;
o
wooden pipes (presently used as top course of north retaining wall to
o
north parking lot); and
entry columns and architrave to the roof of the entry porch; and,
o
Key attributes that express the contextual value of 60 Victoria Street North include:
Elements related to the massing and siting of the 1913 portion of the factory that
contribute to the remaining industrial landscape known as the Berlin
Industrial/Warehouse District, including:
The north-south orientation of the building and construction to the property
o
line fronting onto Victoria Street North;
Its three-storey massing at the property line fronting onto Victoria Street
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North; and,
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Its proximity to the rail line.
o
References
Kitchener, City of (2012) Heritage Kitchener Committee Minutes. October 2, 2012
Landplan Collaborative Ltd. (2012) Heritage Study and Heritage Impact Assessment.
Proposed Region of Waterloo Multimodal Hub: 16 Victoria Street North, 50 & 60
Victoria Street North, and 520 & 510 King Street West, Kitchener. Prepared for
the Region of Waterloo for the City of Kitchener by the Landplan Collaborative
Ltd with John MacDonald Architect Inc. on April 5, 2012.
Waterloo, Region of (2006).Cultural Heritage Landscapes in Waterloo Region: A
Framework for Inventory, Assessment and Policy Development.Prepared by
Envision Consulting Group and Andre Scheinman Heritage Preservation
Consultant.
Photos
60 Victoria Street North, front elevation facing Victoria Street North
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60 Victoria Street North, rear (north) elevation facing the rail line (June 2011)
60 Victoria Street North, riveted shear-plate construction (June 2011)
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60 Victoria Street North, westelevationadjacent to 50 Victoria Street North, June 2011
60 Victoria Street North, large-arched windows with brick voussoirs and multi-pane windows with metal
mullions and pivoting panels (June 2011)
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60 Victoria Street North, historic door hardware (June 2011)
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