2.            DESIGNATION OF THE BURPEE HOUSE, 22 RIDEAU TERRACE UNDER PART IV OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

 

DÉSIGNATION DE LA MAISON BURPEE, SITUÉE AU 22, TERRASSE RIDEAU, EN VERTU DE LA PARTIE IV DE LA LOI SUR LE PATRIMOINE DE L’ONTARIO

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

 

That Council approve the designation of the Burpee House, at 22 Rideau Terrace under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as per the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value included as Document 3.

 

 

RECOMMANDATION DU COMITÉ

 

Que le Conseil approuve la désignation de la maison Burpee, située au 22, terrasse Rideau, en vertu de la partie IV de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario, conformément à la Déclaration de valeur ou de caractère sur le plan du patrimoine culturel ci-incluse sous le document 3.

 

 

 

 

Documentation

 

1.       Deputy City Manager's report Planning, Transit and the Environment dated 17 June 2010 (ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0129).

 

2.       OBHAC Extract of Draft Minutes dated 17 June 2010.

 

3.       PEC Extract of Draft Minutes dated 5 July 2010.


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee

Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa

 

and / et

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

June 17, 2010 / le 17 juin 2010

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, Services d’infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Acting Manager/Gestionnaire intérimaire, Development Review-Urban Services/Examen des projets d'aménagement-Services urbains, Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

(613) 580-2424, 22379 Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

 

Rideau-Rockcliffe (13)

Ref N°: ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0129

 

 

SUBJECT:

Designation of the Burpee House, 22 rideau terrace under part iv of the ontario heritage act

 

 

OBJET :

Désignation de la maison BURPEE, située au 22, terraSSe rideau, en vertu de la partie IV de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommend that Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council approve the designation of the Burpee House, at 22 Rideau Terrace under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as per the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value included as Document 3.

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité consultatif sur le patrimoine bâti d’Ottawa recommande au Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement de recommander à son tour au Conseil d’approuver la désignation de la maison Burpee, située au 22, terrasse Rideau, en vertu de la partie IV de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario, conformément à la Déclaration de valeur ou de caractère sur le plan du patrimoine culturel ci-incluse sous le document 3.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Burpee House is a two- and- a- half storey red brick house that was constructed circa 1908 Rideau Terrace.  The house, and its two neighbours to the west, were among the first in the area.  Prior to their construction, there appears to have only been one house on the street, which belonged to Margaret Currie, a market gardener, for many years.  Lawrence Burpee is listed as the owner and occupant of the property from its first appearance in the City Directory in 1908 until his death in 1946. Burpee’s widow, Maud, sold the house in 1947 a year after her husband’s death.

 

The proposed designation of this property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act is the result of a demolition threat to the building.

 

DISCUSSION

Ontario Heritage Act

 

Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act provides municipalities with the authority to designate properties of cultural heritage value. The Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee considers the designation and then makes a recommendation to Planning and Environment Committee (PEC) and City Council. Council’s decision can be appealed. If an appeal is submitted, a Conservation Review Board Hearing is held and its decision referred back to Council. Council may then choose to uphold or withdraw its original designation.

 

Official Plan

 

The Official Plan has heritage provisions in “Cultural Heritage Resources”, Section 2.5.5.2 and 2.5.5.5. These policies provide for the identification and designation of individual buildings under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act:

 

2.5.5.2 “Individual buildings, structures and cultural heritage landscapes will be designated as properties of cultural heritage value under Part IV of the Heritage Act.”

 

2.5.5.5 “ The City will give immediate consideration to the designation of any cultural heritage resource under the Heritage Act if that resource is threatened with demolition.”

 Provincial Policy Statement

 

Section 2.6.1 of the Provincial Policy Statement (2005) contains the following policy regarding the protection of cultural heritage resources: “Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved,”

 

Regulation 09/06

 

Regulation 09/06 (Document 5) sets out criteria for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.  It states that, “A property may be designated under Section 29 of the Act if it meets one or more of the following criteria for determining whether it is of cultural heritage value or interest …” These criteria are organized into three groups; design or physical value, historical or associative value and contextual value.

 

Research conducted by staff confirmed that the designation of the Burpee House, 22 Rideau Terrace meets the above-noted policies.

 

The Burpee House meets the criteria for design or physical value as a good example of Edwardian Classicism, a style popular in Canada from 1900-1930. Edwardian Classicsm was a much simpler style than those of the late 19th century. It featured some elements of previous styles along with classical details such as a pediments and classical columns.

 

The Burpee House also meets the criteria for historical or associative value for its long association with Lawrence Johnstone Burpee, first secretary of the International Joint Commission from 1912-1946, ardent supporter of a national library for Canada and an accomplished scholar, historian and author. 

 

Conclusion

 

The Burpee House meets the criteria for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design and associative values and as such should be protected from demolition.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

CONSULTATION

 

Heritage Ottawa is aware of the proposed designation.

 

The owners of the property are aware of the proposed designation and support it.

 

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

 

 

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

 

There are no legal/risk management implications associated with this report

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

Objective E8: Operationalize the Ottawa 2020 Arts and Heritage Plan

Section 2.1.2 Identify and protect archaeological and built heritage resources.

 

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS TIMELINE STATUS

 

N/A

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1    Location Map

Document 2    Property Photos         

Document 3    Statement of Cultural Heritage Value

Document 4    Heritage Survey and Evaluation Form

Document 5    Ontario Regulation 09/06

 

DISPOSITION

 

City Clerk and Solicitor Department, Legislative Services to notify the property owner and the Ontario Heritage Trust (10 Adelaide Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of Council’s decision to designate the Burpee House, 22 Rideau Terrace, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

Planning and Growth Management to advertise the Notice of Intention to Designate according to the Act and subsequent Notice of the passage of the designation by-law.

 

Planning and Growth Management to include the property on the municipal heritage register.

 

Legal Services to prepare the designation by-law, submit it to City Council for enactment, serve the by-law and register it on title following passage by Council.

 

 


LOCATION MAP                                                                                                  DOCUMENT 1

 


PROPERTY PHOTOS                                                                                          DOCUMENT 2

 

 

 

 

 


STATEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE                                   DOCUMENT 3

 

Description of Property

 

The Burpee House, located at 22 Rideau Terrace is a two-and-a-half storey red brick house built c.1908 and located in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa.

 

Heritage Value

 

The cultural heritage value of the Burpee House at 22 Rideau Terrace is in its design value as a good example of Edwardian Classicism and in its historical value for its association with Lawrence J. Burpee.

 

The Burpee House is an example of early 20th century Edwardian Classicism. Edwardian Classicism was popular in Canada from 1900 to 1930. The style was, in many ways, a reaction to the excesses of 19th century architecture, and typically features classical details, plain unadorned surfaces and few decorative details. The house is a two-and-a-half story, red brick structure with a high hipped roof with deep overhanging eaves.  Features of the house associated with Edwardian Classicism include: hipped dormers, a large pedimented gable with two windows at the front, deep verge boards, a bay window and a two-storey front porch. The house has a rough cut stone foundation and window sills and smooth stone lintels. 

 

The house has historical value for its association with Lawrence J. Burpee, a noted scholar and civil servant in Ottawa. Burpee lived at this house from its construction c. 1908 until his death in 1946. In his professional life, Burpee was private secretary to three successive Ministers of Justice, librarian of the Carnegie Public Library in Ottawa and then became the first secretary of the International Joint Commission in 1912. He held this post until he died in 1946. Burpee spent much of his life ardently campaigning for the creation of a national library in Canada based on the model of the American Library of Congress.

 

Heritage Attributes

 

Key attributes of the Burpee House associated with Edwardian Classicism include:

 

·         High hipped roof

·         Smooth brick surfaces

·         Flat arched windows with smooth cut stone lintels and rough cut sills

·         Rough cut stone foundation

·         Two-storey bay window

·         Two-storey front porch

·         Hipped dormer windows

·         Deep overhanging eaves

·         Wide, plain vergeboard

·         Pedimented gable with shingled gable end

 


HERITAGE SURVEY FORM                                                                             DOCUMENT 4

 

 

 

HERITAGE SURVEY AND EVALUATION FORM

 

 

Address

22 Rideau Terrace

 

Building name

Burpee House

 

Construction date

c.1908

 

Original owner

Lawrence J. Burpee

 

 

 PHASE ONE EVALUATION

 

Potential significance

Considerable

Some

Limited

None

 

 

Design

 

2

 

 

 

 

History

3

 

 

 

 

 

Context

 

2

 

 

 

 

Phase One Score

 

                                       7   / 9

 

 

Phase Two Classification

 

         1

          

        2       

 

       3

 

         4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Design or Physical Value

 

 

prepared by Sally Coutts

 

month/year June 2010

 

Architecture (style, building type, expression, material, construction method)

 

 The Burpee House at 22 Rideau Terrace is a two-and-a half story, red brick structure with a high hipped roof with deep overhanging eaves.  There are hipped dormers on three of the roof faces and the fourth (front) features a large pedimented gable with two windows, deep verge boards and a shingled gable end. The front façade is further punctuated by a two- storey front porch, and a large bay window. On the bay, the windows feature rough cut sills and smooth lintels. The arches are flat and both the sills and lintels form a continuous stone band like a stringcourse.  The house has a rough cut stone foundation and window sills and smooth stone lintels.  Situated on a slope, the depth of the house’s stone foundation increases to the rear.

 

This house is an example of Edwardian Classicism, used extensively across Canada for domestic architecture from 1900 until the 1930s.  The style uses many elements of the 19th century styles, such as the Italianate and Queen Anne Revival styles, but elements associated with these styles are simplified and classical elements are introduced.  For example, this house has the high hipped roof and deep verge board associated with the Queen Anne, but typical of the simpler Edwardian style, the verge board is plain and the roof features fewer dormers and gables to break up its mass.  Windows are large, and front facades often feature a frontispiece or simple bay window. Unlike the more elaborate 19th century styles, there are no finials or cresting, and the eaves, while generous, are not bracketed, as was so often the case with 19th century buildings. In addition, Edwardian Classicist buildings featured smooth unembellished brick work, without the elaborate panels, and decorative brickwork associated with Queen Anne Revival buildings.  Edwardian Classicism was a transitional style, bridging the gap between the highly picturesque, decorated buildings of the 19th century and the rational, symmetrical structures of the Beaux Arts buildings of the 1920s. 

 

 

Craftsmanship/Artistic merit

 

The Burpee House, 22 Rideau Terrace is a well-crafted but simple house.

 

 

Technical/Scientific merit

 

 

 

Summary

The Burpee House is a good example of early 20th century Edwardian Classicism.

 

Sources

 

 

A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles (Broadview Press, 2004)

 

Ontario Architecture, A Guide to Styles and Building Terms (Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1990)  

 

 

 

 

Historical and Associative Value

 

 

prepared by Lesley Collins

 

month/year June 2010

 

Date of construction (factual/estimated)

 

 

c.1908

 

Themes/Events/Persons/Institutions

 

 

The Burpee House at 22 Rideau Terrace was built c.1908 and is one of the earliest buildings in the area between Rockcliffe Park and New Edinburgh. Lawrence Burpee moved from 351 Stewart Street to 22 Rideau Terrace in 1908 and lived here with his family until his death in 1946. Burpee’s widow sold the house in 1948. Burpee died while visiting his daughter and son-in-law in Oxford, England at the age of 73.

 

22 Rideau Terrace is associated with Lawrence Johnstone Burpee. Lawrence Burpee was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1873, the son of Lewis Johnstone Burpee and Alice DeMill. Burpee began working in the civil service in 1890 as private secretary to three successive Conservative Ministers of Justice. Burpee married Maud Hattington of Ottawa in 1899 and they had five children. In 1905, Burpee was appointed as the librarian of Ottawa’s Carnegie Library where he worked diligently to broaden the library’s collection of both English and French books. Burpee held this post until 1912 when he was appointed as the first Secretary of the Canadian Section for the International Joint Commission (IJC), a post he held until his death in 1946.

 

The IJC was established in 1912 through the Boundary Waters Treaty (1909) and is the oldest bi-national organization between the United States and Canada. The IJC was established to deal with issues of water quality and quantity along the Canada/US border.

 

In his personal life, Burpee was an accomplished writer, publishing his first book, Canadian Novels and Novelists in 1901. Burpee published extensively in the areas of Canadian bibliography, geography and history. Some of Burpee’s other works include: A Bibliography of Canadian Fiction (1904), Canadian Life in Town and Country (1905), A Little Book of Canadian Essays (1909) An Index and Dictionary of Canadian History(1911), and Sandford Fleming, Empire Builder (1915).

 

Burpee was also heavily involved in various societies and organizations in Canada. He was one of the founding members of the Canadian Geographical Journal and the Canadian Historical Society, and the national president of the Canadian Author’s Association. He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, the oldest society of scientists and scholars in the country. He received the Tyrell Gold Medal from the Royal Society and the Medaille de Vermeil Award from the Académie Française for his work in Canadian history. In 1936 he was elected a life member of the National Geographic Society in the United States.

 

Burpee is best known for his lifelong promotion and support of the creation of a national library in Canada. Burpee spent ten years of his life campaigning ardently for a national library. Burpee became president of the Ontario Library Association in 1910 and in February 1911, he published an article entitled, “A Plea for a National Library” which had originally been delivered as a speech to the Ontario Library Association. The article noted that with the lack of a national library, “Canada enjoys the dubious distinction of ranking with Siam and Abyssinia in at least one respect….” Dolores Donnelly, a faculty member in the Faculty of Library Science at the University of Toronto and the author of a historical analysis of the National Library of Canada, notes that this quote was revived and reused for many years in the campaign for a national library.

 

Burpee believed that the Library of Parliament was not sufficient to serve the entire country. In “A Plea for a National Library” Burpee argued that, “the Library of Parliament is legislative library, pure and simple; it was created to serve the needs of parliament, not of the public.” He also argued that a national library must be a repository of the work of a nation and could be combined with the national archives.  He advocated that the federal government ought to consider a model like the American Library of Congress which combined the legislative library, national archives and national library in one institution. The Library of Congress also provided lending services for some of its materials unlike the strict reference function of the British Museum or the Bibliotheque nationale in Paris. The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Herbert Putnam endorsed Burpee’s concepts in 1911. In 1916, after fire gutted the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings with the exception of the Library of Parliament, Burpee took the opportunity to write to Prime Minister Borden to urge that in re-designing the building, space should be allocated for a new national library. Ultimately, in 1947, a year after Burpee’s death, the federal government commissioned a study that would eventually lead to the establishment and construction of the National Library of Canada on Wellington Street in 1953. Donnelly notes in her history of the National Library that even 40 years later, the general principles of Burpee’s ideas for a national library were incorporated into the final library system. These remain today.

 

After Burpee’s death, the house was sold to J.Francois  and Alison Delaute. Francois Delaute served as secretary to Governor General Vincent Massey in the 1950s. In the late 1970s the Burpee House was owned and occupied by the Honourable John A. Fraser, former Speaker of the House of Commons.

 

 

Community History

 

 

The Burpee House is located near the border of New Edinburgh and Rockcliffe Park and is one of the earliest houses built in this area. The former village of New Edinburgh was originally settled in the 19th century as a company town associated with Thomas McKay’s mill at Rideau Falls.

 

 

Designer/Architect

 

Unknown

 

Summary

 

The Burpee House is historically significant as one of the earliest houses on Rideau Terrace and for its long association as the home of Lawrence J. Burpee a significant scholar and public servant who was integral in the development of the National Library in Canada.

 

 

Sources

 

Kitchen, Paul. “The Call for a National Library.” National Library News.  Vol. 32, no. 5 May 2000.

Victoria University Library Special Collections. “Lawrence J. Burpee (1873-1946).” http://library.vicu.utoronto.ca/special/F04burpeefonds.htm

 “Lawrence J. Burpee Noted Scholar Passes.”  The Evening Citizen.  October 15, 1946.

Donnelly, Dolores. The National Library of Canada.  Canadian Library Association. 1973

Burpee, Lawrence Johnstone. “A Plea for a National Library.” The University Magazine.

“Governor General receives $50,000 boost in allowance.”  Ottawa Citizen. January 30,1953.

Might’s City Directories, 1904-1993

 


 

 

Contextual Value

 

 

prepared by Lesley Collins

 

month/year June 2010

 

 

 

 

 

Community Character

 

 

This area remained relatively undeveloped until the early 20th century. Today, Rideau Terrace is an eclectic mix of residential buildings from early 20th century single family dwellings to a large 1960s apartment building and modern row houses.

 

Context/Links to Surroundings

 

 

This house is one of three red brick houses in a row along Rideau Terrace. All three houses are examples of Edwardian Classicism and form a cohesive group along the street. These three houses and the small clapboard gable ended house at 20 Rideau Terrace appear to be the earliest buildings remaining on the street.

 

 

Landmark

 

 

Summary

 

The Burpee House is one of the last remaining early 20th century houses on Rideau Terrace and has a strong connection with the two neighbouring properties at 26 and 28 Rideau Terrace.

 

 


ONTARIO REGULATION 09/06                                                                        DOCUMENT 5

 

 

ONTARIO REGULATION 9/06

CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING CULTURAL HERITAGE VALUE OR INTEREST

Consolidation Period: From January 25, 2006 to the e-Laws currency date.

No amendments.

This is the English version of a bilingual regulation.

Criteria

1.  (1)  The criteria set out in subsection (2) are prescribed for the purposes of clause 29 (1) (a) of the Act. O. Reg. 9/06, s. 1 (1).

(2)  A property may be designated under section 29 of the Act if it meets one or more of the following criteria for determining whether it is of cultural heritage value or interest:

1. The property has design value or physical value because it,

i. is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type, expression, material or construction method,

ii. displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit, or

iii. demonstrates a high degree of technical or scientific achievement.

2. The property has historical value or associative value because it,

i. has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community,

ii. yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture, or

iii. demonstrates or reflects the work or ideas of an architect, artist, builder, designer or theorist who is significant to a community.

3. The property has contextual value because it,

i. is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,

ii. is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings, or

iii. is a landmark. O. Reg. 9/06, s. 1 (2).


Designation of the Burpee House, 22 rideau terrace under part iv of the ontario heritage act

Désignation de la maison BURPEE, située au 22, terraSSe rideau, en vertu de la partie IV de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario

ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0129                                                    Rideau-Rockcliffe (13)

 

Member Fyfe declared a conflict of interest on this item and left the room for the duration of discussion.

 

Sally Coutts, Heritage Planner, thanked the committee for allowing the addition of this late item to the agenda and explained that the proposed designation of this property under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act is the result of a demolition threat to the building.  She noted the house has been on the City’s Heritage Reference List for several years.  It has recently been placed on the market and interest has been expressed in terms of its demolition and replacement with a new structure.  Out of courtesy to the potential purchaser, and given the reduced meeting schedule of Committees and Council in the coming weeks, staff brought this forward as quickly as possible after determining that the house meets the criteria of the Act for designation.  Ms. Coutts provided a PowerPoint presentation, outlining that staff supports the designation because the house meets the criteria for design or physical value as it is a good example of Edwardian Classicism, and also meets the criteria for historical or associative value for its long association with Lawrence Johnstone Burpee, first secretary of the International Joint Commission from 1912-1946, ardent supporter of a national library for Canada and an accomplished scholar, historian and author.

 

Responding to a question from Member Doutriaux, Ms. Coutts verified that the Burpee House has a strong connection with the two neighbouring properties at 26 and 28 Rideau Terrace, which also appear similar and were likely constructed around the same time, and she agreed that the three together could create a historical cluster.  Responding to a question from Member Zdansky, she noted the interior of the house is not being recommended for designation and verified that the exterior is largely original and intact.

 

Robin Fyfe, Routeburn Urban Developments expressed opposition to the proposed designation, explaining Routeburn has entered into a conditional agreement to purchase the property in order to demolish it and redevelop the site with a new three-storey triplex.  Mr. Fyfe provided details of the tentative design for the triplex, noting there is great demand for this type of housing in this neighbourhood and in fact, there is already a waiting list of interested purchasers. 

 

He explained that Routeburn has had significant experience dealing with heritage preservation and adaptive reuse and, having looked at this house inside and out, it never occurred to the company to see if there was any heritage interest in this property because the house is not unique in terms of heritage architecture.  Mr. Fyfe said there are hundreds of houses in Ottawa that are similar in appearance.  He added this house is in extremely poor condition, having been used as a ‘flop house’ and student rental for the past 20 years.  A contractor for Routeburn has advised it would cost at least $300,000 to even bring the house up to an acceptable standard, noting the house contains knob and tube wiring, lead pipe, a leaky roof, mould, crumbling brick, poor insulation, and uneven and unstable floors.  Mr. Fyfe noted City staff expressed no interest in seeing the interior of the house because it does not affect the proposed designation of the exterior, but Routeburn does not believe that such economic consideration should be totally dismissed. 

 

Mr. Fyfe remarked that the fact that Lawrence Burpee lived in the house for 30 years was not remarkable in any way, and suggested his achievements are not particularly memorable or noteworthy, particularly in the context of the time he lived in this house.  Mr. Fyfe suggested that instead of designation, Routeburn would happy to install a commemorative plaque on their proposed triplex, memorializing Mr. Burpee and his various accomplishments.  He suggested the committee could think of the triplex as ‘future heritage’.  He concluded by stating that Routeburn are civic-minded developers who want to do the right thing, to keep the economy rolling, provide jobs and create a beautiful new building with a unique housing type that is in high demand, which is not possible if the house is designated.  Bill Metz, co-owner of Routeburn was also present.

 

The committee also received the following correspondence:

·  Submission dated 14 June 2010 from Ian Burton, co-owner of the house, offering comments for the City’s consideration prior to making a determination on designation.

·  Submission (undated) from Elizabeth May, co-owner of the house, providing details about the ownership of the house from 1947 to present.

 

Some members expressed mixed feelings about the proposed designation, not wanting to oppose modernization and development without cause, especially given the fact that there are many similar houses in Ottawa, but at the same time wanting to preserve heritage where feasible.  Other members supported the designation, suggesting the developer could proceed with adaptive re-use and indicating that the economic argument should not be the deciding factor about whether to designate.

 

Moved by Virendra Sahni:

 

That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommend that Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council approve the designation of the Burpee House, at 22 Rideau Terrace under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as per the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value included as Document 3.

 

                                                                                                   CARRIED

 

YEAS (6):         J. Doutriaux, E. Eagen, M. McGregor, V. Sahni, E. Zdansky and J. Baltz

NAYS (2):         P. Maheu, C. Mulholland


DESIGNATION OF THE BURPEE HOUSE, 22 RIDEAU TERRACE UNDER PART IV OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT

DÉSIGNATION DE LA MAISON BURPEE, SITUÉE AU 22, TERRASSE RIDEAU, EN VERTU DE LA PARTIE IV DE LA LOI SUR LE PATRIMOINE DE L’ONTARIO

ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0129                                                              Rideau-Rockcliffe (13)               

 

Committee received the following correspondence with respect to this matter, which is held on file with the City Clerk:

·         E-mail dated 14 June 2010 from Ian Burton

·         E-mail dated 2 July 2010 from Joan Mason and Paul McConnell on behalf of the New Edinburgh Community Alliance (NECA)

·         Comments dated 5 July 2010 from Jennifer Lynch

 

Sally Coutts, Heritage Planner, provided an overview of the property and staff’s rationale for recommending designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.  She did so by means of a PowerPoint presentation, a copy of which is held on file with the City Clerk.

 

Ms. Coutts noted the property had been on the City’s Heritage Reference List, and when it came to staff’s attention that it was on the market staff undertook some research and determined the building had significance.

 

In response to questions from the Chair, Ms. Coutts confirmed that the property in question was on the market, and confirmed that the current owners were on record as supporting the designation.  She further noted that they had received correspondence from another individual interested in purchasing the property as a single family dwelling if it was designated.

 

Committee then heard from the following public delegations:

 

Joan Mason, President of the New Edinburgh Community Alliance (NECA) spoke in support of the designation of the subject property, expressing a desire to preserve both the building and the history it embodied.  She emphasized that the home should be preserved, not only to honour a fine example of Edwardian Classicism, but also to honour its prominent Canadian inhabitants and to educate and inform.  She encouraged Committee to support designation.

 

Pierre Richard, resident, spoke in support of designation.  He noted that the present owners supported designation, and others were interested in purchasing the house.  He suggested the property had contextual value because it was important in defining, maintaining and supporting the character of the area and it was functionally, visually, physically, and historically linked to its surroundings.  He noted the owners of the adjacent property, an Edwardian or Victorian type house, had beautifully preserved it while creating a functional modern home.

 

Alan Cohen, Soloway Wright, spoke against designation on behalf of Robin Fyfe and Bill Metz, who had an agreement of purchase and sale on the property.  He was accompanied by January Cohen, Soloway Wright.  Mr. Cohen suggested that Routeburn Urban Developments, his clients’ firm, had provided tasteful and elegant infill throughout Ottawa.  He noted they had received number of heritage awards, including from the City, for their buildings such as the World of Maps building, the Ottawa Board of Education Office, 30 the Driveway and the Monastery of the Precious Blood.  He noted that in investigating the property, it had never occurred to this clients that the building was of such merit as to be deserving of heritage status.

 

With respect to the building itself, Mr. Cohen suggested that the building was in a state of disrepair, and maintained that its qualities had been overstated in the report and in staff’s presentation.  He displayed several photographs of the subject property.  He suggested that in order to designate a building under part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, that building needed to have significant architectural or historical importance.  He proposed that the building in question was not significant, noting there were other better-preserved Edwardian style buildings in the community.

 

Mr. Cohen also wished to clarify the position of the registered owners of the property, Elizabeth May and Ian Burton.  He noted that while Ms. May had expressed her support for the designation, Mr. Burton had sent an e-mail to staff in which he indicated that, although he was disinclined make a formal protest or voice strong opposition to the heritage designation, he did not think designation would be a very sensible or well reasoned decision.  Mr. Cohen proceeded to read Mr. Burton’s e-mail into the record, in its entirety.  A copy of the message is held on file with the City Clerk.

 

Mr. Cohen also spoke to the issue of nomenclature and history, noting that other than in the staff report, nobody referred to 22 Rideau Terrace as the “Burpee House.”  He noted that he knew one of Lawrence J. Burpee’s grandsons, who had never mentioned his grandfather or his prominence.  He suggested that if he had to search on Wikipedia for the identity of Mr. Burpee, he was not sufficiently prominent to have a building designated in his name.  In conclusion, he recommended that the building was not significant enough to be designated under the Act.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Doucet, Mr. Cohen confirmed that his clients had a signed agreement of purchase and sale for the property, conditional on his clients obtaining variances, and that condition had been waived.  Mr. Cohen indicated that he had been previously unaware of the aforementioned offer from another party to buy the property with a heritage designation.  He noted this revelation had raised some questions in his mind with respect to a dispute between the seller’s agent and his client.

 

Sheila Burpee Duncan, granddaughter of Lawrence J. Burpee, spoke in support of designation.  She wished to highlight the accomplishments of her grandfather and his contributions to Canadian history.  She noted the following accomplishments:

·         Author of over a dozen books, including The Discovery of Canada, The Search for the Western Sea, Pathfinders of the Great Plains, Among the Canadian Alps, Sanford Fleming Empire Builder, An Historical Atlas of Canada, Index and Dictionary of Canadian History, and The Makers of Canada

·         Founder and/or president of the Canadian Historical Association, Canadian Authors’ Association, Royal Society of Canada.

·         Founding editor of the Canadian Geographic Journal. 

·         Recipient of honourary doctorate from the University of Toronto.

·         Founding secretary of the International Joint Commission, a fundamental model for how adjoining countries deal with cross border disputes.

·         Ottawa’s first Chief Librarian

In conclusion, Ms. Burpee Duncan suggested that the house in question was reflective of her grandfather, as it was rational and not elaborate.

 

Philipp L. Hahn, resident of 26 Rideau Terrace, the adjacent property, spoke in support of designation.  He noted that his wife had put much effort and resources into their home to maintain the character of the street.  He suggested that character would be negatively impacted by removing the house from the subject property and replacing it with a building in a style that has yet to be determined. 

 

Having concluded public delegations, the Chair turned the recommendations back to Committee for discussion and debate.

 

Councillor Legendre, as Ward Councillor, spoke to the proposed designation.  He noted that the Ontario Heritage Act provides that a property may be designated for various reasons, one of which is a rare unique representative of an early example of style or type.  He suggested that, while the subject property was representative of such a style, it was not exceptional. 

 

The Councillor noted that the historical or associative value of the subject property was one rationale given for its designation.  He urged Committee not to give much weight to the historical rationale, with no disrespect to the contributions of Mr. Burpee.  He suggested the historical argument for designation would have been stronger had Mr. Burpee’s prominent activities taken place in the house, and noted that the home was not known in the Community as the “Burpee House.” He suggested a more appropriate acknowledgement of Mr. Burpee’s contribution would be to do so at the National Library.

 

With respect to the building itself, Councillor Legendre suggested that, while the previous owners may have supported designation, there was little evidence that they had taken good care of the property.  He circulated a photograph of the house, a copy of which is held on file with the City Clerk.  In conclusion, Councillor Legendre indicated that he supported the designation, on balance, because the house was representative of a certain style.

 

Councillor Holmes noted that the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) and the City’s professional staff supported designation.  She noted the subject property met the heritage value criteria as an example of Edwardian Classicism, and met the historical value criteria as the home of such an eminent person with a significant role in both Ottawa and Canada.  She acknowledged the position of the developer, noting it was difficult for smaller developers to find developable land within the greenbelt; however, she expressed her intention to support the staff report.

 

Councillor Doucet noted he was in a difficult position, as he knew Elizabeth May well and was neighbours with Bill Metz, who had done good work in his ward.  He suggested he had a conflict of interest, and indicated he would not vote on the matter.   

 

Tim Marc, Senior Legal Council noted that, while it was up to an individual Councillor as to whether or not he declares a conflict under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act, he suggested Councillor Doucet’s comments did not reflect a pecuniary interest and thus he was not legally in conflict.

 

Councillor Doucet left his seat and did not participate in the decision on the matter.

 

Committee then approved the report recommendation, as presented:

 

That the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommend that Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council approve the designation of the Burpee House, at 22 Rideau Terrace under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as per the Statement of Cultural Heritage Value included as Document 3.

 

CARRIED