Overview
The City of Ottawa is conducting a heritage study of the veterans’ housing subdivisions in Carlington North.
Wartime Housing Limited, a federal Crown corporation, built and managed houses for war workers and veterans during a nation-wide housing shortage following the Second World War. In Ottawa, houses were built by Wartime Housing Limited in several areas, including two subdivisions in Carlington North.
Council directed heritage planning staff to conduct a heritage analysis of the veterans’ housing subdivisions in Carlington North to determine cultural heritage value and to consider strategies for conservation and commemoration.
The heritage study includes an inventory of the building stock, historical research and analysis of the streetscapes and neighbourhood context of these two wartime subdivisions.
Study area
The study area is generally the area bounded by Carling Avenue to the north, Anna and Fisher Avenue to the east, General and Marshall Avenue to the south and Merivale Road to the west. The area is primarily residential and consists mostly of houses built by Wartime Housing Limited following the Second World War.
The veterans’ housing study area is based on the 1946 and 1947 subdivision plan boundaries.
Objectives
The goals of the study are to:
- Engage with and learn from residents and stakeholders about the history and importance of these veterans’ housing subdivisions
- Document all buildings and streetscapes in the study area
- Complete an analysis of existing streetscape character and neighbourhood context
- Conduct historical research related to the study area
- Recommend potential heritage conservation and commemoration approaches for the study area
The outcomes of this study are not yet determined. Future recommendations may include plaques and signage, listing properties on the Heritage Register, additional planning studies or a formal Heritage Conservation District study. Residents and stakeholders will be informed of the recommendations and invited to participate in the decision-making process.
Timeline
Summer 2021
- Prepare an inventory of buildings and streets
- Conduct research and analysis
- Launch web survey
Fall 2021
- Review survey results
- Prepare key findings
Winter 2022
- Share recommendations with community and stakeholders
Spring 2022
- Bring recommendations in a report to Built Heritage Sub-Committee and Council
As We Heard It Report – fall 2021
The City of Ottawa hosted a public information meeting on October 7, 2021 and collected feedback through an online survey until October 19, 2021. A summary of the responses is included in the As We Heard It Report [PDF 203 KB ].
Draft report and recommendations
At its meeting on May 11, 2022, City Council adopted the Carlington North Veterans’ Housing Study report (ACS2022-PIE-RHU-0009) and its five recommendations:
1. Approve the creation of the Veterans’ Housing Character Area
Based on the analysis of available heritage conservation tools and strategies, staff recommend that the study area be identified as a Cultural Heritage Character Area, known as the Veterans’ Housing Character Area.
Identifying the study area as a Cultural Heritage Character Area would not designate any properties under Parts IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act or result in the addition of any properties to the municipal heritage register as non-designated properties. Property owners would not be required to seek additional permits or other permissions to alter their properties.
2. Adopt the Veterans’ Housing Character Area Management Guidelines
Staff recommend that the study area be identified as a Cultural Heritage Character Area and that Cultural Heritage Character Area Guidelines be implemented, as per the provisions of section 4.5.1 (13) of the new City of Ottawa Official Plan.
Guidelines would function similarly to those in place in the Sandy Hill Cultural Heritage Character Area, providing guidance and recommendations to ensure that development is appropriate for the heritage character of the Veterans’ Housing Area and sensitive to its surrounding context. In addition, Cultural Heritage Character Area Guidelines would serve as a formal recognition of the cultural heritage value of the Veterans’ Housing Area. The draft guidelines and historical background are available online:
This document is an excerpt. Please email heritage@ottawa.ca for a copy of the full document.
3. Monitoring of Character Area Performance
Staff recommend that the performance of the Veterans’ Housing Character Area be monitored by staff for a period of three years and that the results of this monitoring be reported to Council following the conclusion of the three-year period.
4. Commemoration
Staff recommend that formal commemoration of the Carlington North Veterans’ Housing Area be designed in consultation with the community and installed in the area. Commemoration may include but is not limited to interpretive signage, plaques, and public art.
5. Evaluation of Potential Part IV Designations
Staff recommend that the following properties be assessed as candidates for potential designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
- Harrold Place Park
- 915 Merivale Road
Council approval of these recommendations achieves the study goal to “recommend potential heritage conservation and commemoration approaches for the study area.” The study is now complete and owners will be contacted by mail with an update.
The creation of the Veterans’ Housing Character Area and an associated commemoration strategy ensures that the historical significance of the veterans’ housing subdivisions is recognized and remembered.