Report to/Rapport au :
Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee
Comité consultatif sur la
conservation de l'architecture locale
and / et
Planning and Environment Committee
Comité de l'urbanisme et de
l'environnement
and Council / et au Conseil
16 January 2007 / le 16 janvier 2007
Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager/Directrice municipale adjointe
Planning, Transit and the Environment/ Urbanisme,
Transport en commun et Environnement
Contact
Person/Personne Ressource : Grant Lindsay, Manager / Gestionnaire,
Development Approvals / Approbation des demandes d'aménagement
(613)
580-2424, 13242 Grant.Lindsay@ottawa.ca
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee recommend that Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council not designate La Maison Jeanne D'Arc, 360 Kenwood Avenue, under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
2. That the following conditions form part of the Site Plan
Control Agreement for this property:
a.
The developer will provide "As Found" documentation of 360
Kenwood Avenue through photogrammetric recording or black and white digital
recording which is corrected for distortion/parallax, or hand-drawn recording.
This recording will be provided to the City Archives and the Institut Jeanne
D'Arc as an archival record.
b.
The stained glass windows will be retained and recycled on site in
existing or future buildings by the Institut Jean D'arc or developer.
c.
An interpretive sign will be incorporated on the perimeter stone
fence with a picture of the existing building and commemorative text. All costs
associated with research, design, production and maintenance will be paid for
by the developer.
RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT
1. Que
le Comité consultatif local sur la conservation de l’architecture recommande au
Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’environnement de recommander au Conseil municipal
de ne pas accorder la désignation visant la Maison Jeanne d'Arc, située au
360, avenue Kenwood, en vertu de la partie IV de la Loi sur le
patrimoine de l’Ontario.
2. Que l’entente de
réglementation de plan d’implantation ayant trait à cette propriété comporte
les conditions suivantes :
a.
Le promoteur fournira la
documentation « telle quelle » à propos du 360, avenue Kenwood,
au moyen d’enregistrements photogrammétriques, d’enregistrements numériques en
noir et blanc après correction de la distortion ou de la parallaxe, ou de
croquis. Le tout prendra la forme d’un dossier d’archives présenté à
l’intention des Archives de la Ville d’Ottawa et de l’Institut Jeanne d'Arc.
b.
Les vitraux seront conservés en vue
d’une réutilisation sur place, aux bâtiments actuels ou ultérieurs, par
l’Institut Jeanne d'Arc ou le promoteur.
c.
Un panneau d’interprétation sera
intégré à la clôture périmétrique de pierres, assorti d’une photo du bâtiment
sous sa forme actuelle et d’un texte commémoratif. Le promoteur acquittera tous
les frais liés à la recherche, à la conception, à la production et à
l’entretien.
BACKGROUND
La Maison Jeanne D'Arc, 360 Kenwood Avenue, was completed in 1934. Originally built as a home for handicapped children, it has served as a school, boarding house and convent since its construction. The Department received a written request on November 9, 2006 from Heritage Ottawa to consider the property for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. In addition to this letter there have been over 16 faxes, e-mails and phone calls and a petition signed by 160 area residents requesting the retention of this building. One letter has also been received supporting the demolition of the building.
Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act gives municipalities the authority to designate properties of cultural heritage value or interest. In order to be designated, the City's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) considers the designation and makes a recommendation to Planning and Environment Committee and City Council. The criteria for determining cultural heritage value or interest are prescribed by Ontario Regulation 9/06 and are: design value or physical value; historical or associative value; and contextual value. The criteria are included as Document 2. Photographs of the property are included as Document 3. The Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest as Document 4 and a Heritage Survey Form is included as Document 5.
Official Plan policies related to the Ontario Heritage Act, state that "Individual buildings, structures and cultural heritage landscapes will be designated as properties of cultural heritage value under Part IV of the Act." (S. 2.5.5.2 p. 52)
It further states that "The City will give immediate consideration to the designation of any cultural heritage resources under the Heritage Act if that resource is threatened with demolition." (S. 2.5.5.5 p. 53)
Interest in the preservation of this building began following public notification of an application submitted in September of 2006 by Barry Hobin Architect and Uniform Urban Developments to rezone the large parcel of land bounded by Kenwood Avenue on the north, Edison Street on the east and Melbourne Avenue on the west from Institutional to a low density Residential use.
DISCUSSION
Recommendation 1.
Staff met on several occasions with the architect, Barry Hobin and developer, Uniform Urban Developments, to discuss the potential for retention of the main portion of 360 Kenwood Avenue as part of the proposed residential development. The development team does not support the retention and designation of the Maison Jeanne D’Arc as it does not believe that the building is architecturally distinguished. The team believes that the historic links between the area and the Institut Jeanne D’Arc will be maintained through the Institut's continued presence on the south end of the block. Analysis by the team revealed that the construction and layout of the building did not easily lend itself to adaptive re-use and that any project undertaken to convert the building to a new function could compromise its heritage character through the introduction of new windows, underground parking etc. The design team also believed that the scale of the proposed new development on the site would be much smaller than 360 Kenwood Avenue and thus be more compatible with the low house form buildings in the area.
The development team also noted that the cultural heritage value of the building had not been raised by the City or the community prior to the submission of their rezoning application in September and that retention of the building at this point could compromise the marketing and economics of the project.
The Department has considered the request for heritage designation and while the property does meet the requirements for heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, the Department believes that the arguments presented by the design/development team against pursuing the designation outweigh the heritage considerations in this instance.
Furthermore, the proposed residential development will contribute to the residential character of this neighbourhood. Uniform Developments, in association with Barry Hobin Architect, recently constructed a new residential development on the block immediately to the north of 360 Kenwood Avenue on the site of the former Ogilvy Estate. That project has been awarded an Award of Excellence from the City in recognition of its sensitive residential design within the context of the Westboro neighbourhood and the 1920s Ogilvy home that was retained on site.
Recommendation 2.
Notwithstanding the Department’s recommendation not to proceed with heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, La Maison Jeanne D’Arc does have sufficient heritage significance to warrant the addition of a number of conditions to the Site Plan Agreement. They are; archival documentation of the building, retention and recycling of architectural elements from the building (specifically the stained glass windows) and commemoration of the history of the property.
CONSULTATION
Heritage Ottawa requested this designation in correspondence attached to this report (Document 6).
Over 16 faxes, e-mails and phone calls as well as a petition signed by 160 area residents were submitted requesting the retention of this building. One letter has been received supporting the demolition of the building.
The Ward Councillor is aware of the proposed heritage designation .
All those who communicated directly with the Department through letter, fax or e-mail regarding the heritage designation of the property will be advised of the dates and times of the LACAC and Planning and Environment Committee meetings when the report will be considered.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
N/A
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Document 1 Location Map
Document 2 Photographs
Document 3 Criteria for
Determining Cultural Heritage Value
Document 4 Statement of
Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
Document 5 Heritage Survey
Form
Document 6 Request for
Heritage Designation
DISPOSITION
Planning, Transit and the Environment Department, Planning and Infrastructure Approvals Branch to incorporate the conditions included as Recommendation 2 as part of the Site Plan Agreement.
Ontario
Heritage Act
ONTARIO
REGULATION 9/06
No Amendments
criteria for
determining cultural heritage value or interest
Notice of
Currency:* This
document is up to date.
*This
notice is usually current to within two business days of accessing this
document. For more current amendment information, see the Table of Regulations –
Legislative History Overview.
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).
Transition
2. This Regulation does not
apply in respect of a property if notice of intention to designate it was given
under subsection 29 (1.1) of the Act on or before January 24, 2006.
O. Reg. 9/06, s. 2.
MUNICIPAL
ADDRESS: 360 Kenwood Avenue |
BUILDING
NAME: La Maison Jeanne D’Arc |
||
LEGAL
DESCRIPTION: |
LOT: |
BLOCK: |
PLAN: |
DATE OF
CONSTRUCTION: 1934 |
ADDITIONS: |
||
ORIGINAL
USE: School / Boarding House |
PRESENT
USE: Convent |
||
ORIGINAL OWNER: Institut Jeanne D’Arc |
PRESENT OWNER: |
PHASE ONE EVALUATION
POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE |
CONSIDERABLE |
SOME |
LIMITED |
NONE |
History |
|
2 |
|
|
Architecture |
|
2 |
|
|
Environment (landmark or design compatibility) |
|
2 |
|
|
Phase One Score 6 /9 |
Potential Heritage Building Yes |
Potential Heritage District Yes/No |
||
|
|
HISTORY Prepared
By: Sally Coutts Date: Oct. 2006
DATE OF
CONSTRUCTION (Factual) 1934
TRENDS
The Institut Jeanne D’Arc built the structure at 360
Kenwood Avenue in 1934 to serve as a home for handicapped children, although it
soon became a boarding house and school.
The Institut was founded in 1914 and Marie Thomas D’Aquin was its Mother
Superior from 1919-43. Its primary mission was to offer lodging to young women
moving to the capital. 360 Kenwood Avenue was one of a number of buildings
owned by the Insitut throughout Ottawa that served similar functions. These structures reflect the changing role
of women in the early 20th century when many young women moved to
the City from rural communities to find employment. These women needed safe, inexpensive accommodation and the
Institut’s boarding facilities met this need.
The Institut Jeanne D’Arc was a leader in French
language training and offered courses to English bureaucrats and community
leaders long before the public service had formal French language
training. In addition, it offered basic
secretarial courses designed for women interested in taking the civil service
exam. These services show that the Institut was a forward-looking organization
that was ahead of its time in acknowledging the importance of bilingualism and
a professional public service.
EVENTS
None known
PERSONS/INSTITUTIONS
Person
Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin, founder of the Institut
Jeanne D’Arc as associated with the Institut from her arrival in Ottawa in 1914
until her death in 1963. As such, she
directed an ever-increasing number of buildings where young women, newly
arrived in Ottawa could board, have dinner, or attend a social event, organized
schools for children and young adults, taught French to many of Ottawa’s
political and social leaders and founded and contributed to the Revue Jeanne
D’Arc.
In addition to
the work that she did for the Church, she was also a painter and a poet. She wrote under the name of Marie Sylvia and
was a member of the Société des Poètes Canadiens-français, Canadian Author’s
Association , the Canadian Women’s Press Club, among other authors’
groups. A volume of her poetry in
translation was published in 1929 and was well-reviewed in English Canadian
newspapers.
As a leader of the Roman
Catholic community, Mère Thomas D’Aquin was well known throughout Ottawa. In the last years of her life, her
contributions were widely acknowledged and she received the French Croix de la
Légion d’Honneur in 1956. As a leader
of the Roman Catholic community she met regularly with many of the political,
religious and social leaders of the era.
Institution
La Maison Jeanne D’Arc, 360 Kenwood Avenue, is
associated with the Institut Jeanne D’Arc, an important Roman Catholic
organization if Ottawa. The Institut
offered room and board to young women arriving from the country to work
in Ottawa and evolved into an organization that ran a number of boarding
facilities, schools and facilities for the aged.
The Institut was initially located on Water Street and
moved to 489 Sussex Drive in the 1920s, staying at that site until 1989. 360 Kenwood became the Maison-Mère for the
Order in 1954.
360 Kenwood is also one of at least four buildings that
still exist throughout Ottawa associated with the Institut Jeanne D’Arc. The others include its long time
headquarters at 489 Sussex Drive that has been converted to condominiums, 119
Daly Avenue, 118 Empress Avenue and 293 Stewart Street. .
SUMMARY/COMMENTS
ON HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin
played an important role in the history of the Roman Catholic Francophone
community in Ottawa for much of the 20th century. Her actual direct
association with La Maison Jeanne D’Arc, 360 Kenwood Avenue may have been quite
limited, as it appears that she lived most of her life on Sussex Drive.
The work of the Institut
Jeanne D’Arc took place in a number of buildings throughout Ottawa, with the
block-long building on Sussex Drive serving as the headquarters of the Insitut
for many years. Since this building was
associated for the longest period with the Institut and the work of Mère Marie
Thomas D’Aquin, and was her home and office for most of her career, it best
represents her life and career in Ottawa.
It was sold in 1989 and converted to condominiums. The building on Kenwood became the Mother
House in 1954, and has thus played an important role in the life of Institut
since then.
HISTORICAL SOURCES
Rita McMurtie, Marquée du Signe de l’Accueil
ARCHITECTURE Prepared
By: Sally Coutts Date: October 2006
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN (Plan, Storeys, Roof, Windows, Material,
Details, etc.)
The original portion of the building, as
designed by Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin is a two-storey structure with a gable
roof. The first floor is sheathed in
stone and second floor in yellow brick.
There are three closely spaced gabled dormer windows on each roof slope.
The front door is asymmetrically placed in a round arched entranceway with one
multi-paned round arched window to the east and two to the west. The upper floor is also asymmetrical with
two very small round arched windows centered over the door and three
rectangular windows locate directly above the round arched windows. A handsome retaining wall surrounds the property. Proportionally, the windows are small
compared to the wall surface. There is a two-storey addition to the east of the
building.
ARCHITECTURAL STYLE
Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin, the mother
superior of the building, designed the building. In a newspaper article of the day, she stated that the windows
and doors were in the “style roman,” however the building cannot really be
described as an example of the Romanesque.
DESIGNER/BUILDER/ARCHITECT
Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin designed 360
Kenwood Avenue.
ARCHITECTURAL INTEGRITY
The original
building has changed little since its construction, although the later
two-storey addition is awkwardly placed to its west.
OTHER
SUMMARY/COMMENTS ON ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
360 Kenwood Avenue is a utilitarian structure of little architectural distinction. Its primary significance is derived from its status as the only known building designed by Mère Marie Thomas D’Aquin,
ENVIRONMENT Prepared
By: Sally Coutts Date: October 2006
HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT NAME (if any)
COMPATIBILITY WITH HERITAGE ENVIRONS
360 Kenwood Avenue is located on the block
surrounded by Kenwood Avenue, Melbourne, Clare and Edison. This entire block is occupied by buildings
associated with the Institut Jeanne D’Arc, some of which are converted
single-family dwellings and others that were built for institutional
purposes. The block is surrounded by
housing on all four sides.
COMMUNITY CONTEXT/LANDMARK STATUS
360 Kenwood is a well-known building within
the Westboro community.
SUMMARY/COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SIGNIFICANCE
This block of
institutional use buildings is a well-known local feature of Westboro.
REQUEST FOR HERITAGE DESIGNATION DOCUMENT
6
November 9, 2006
Nancy Schepers
Deputy City Manager
Planning, Transit and the Environment
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON
K1P 1J1
Dear Ms Schepers:
On behalf of Heritage Ottawa, I am writing to request that the building located at 360 Kenwood Avenue, formerly known as La Maison Jeanne d’Arc, be considered for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.
We feel that the architectural and historical significance of this building merits its consideration despite the fact that it does not appear on the City’s Heritage Reference List. We suspect that when the List was created in the late 1970’s the building was overlooked because, at that time, it would have only been 40 years old. If the List were being established today, it would obviously be included.
We hope that development proposed for the site will include the retention of this building as part of an imaginative and exciting infill project for the neighbourhood.
Yours sincerely,
Original
Signed By
David B. Flemming,
President