Report to/Rapport au:

Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee/

Comité consultative sur la conservation de l’architecture locale

Planning and Development Committee/Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement

 

and Council/et au Conseil

 

August 27, 2001/ le 27 août 2001

 

Submitted by/Soumis par:  Ned Lathrop, General Manager/Directeur général

Development Services Department / Services d’aménagement

 

Contact/Personne-ressource:  Grant Lindsay, Manager, Development Approvals/ Gestionnaire, Approbation des demandes d’aménagement

244-5300 ext. 1-3242, grant.lindsay@city.ottawa.on.ca

 

 

Ref N°:   ACS2001-DEV-APR-0211

 

SUBJECT:     APPLICATION TO ALTER THE GLEBE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 690 LYON STREET, A BUILDING DESIGNATED UNDER PART IV OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT.

 

OBJET:          DEMANDE DE MODIFICATION DU CENTER COMMUNATAIRE GLEBE, 690 RUE LYON,  PROPRIÉTÉ DESIGNEE EN VERTU DE LA PARTIE IV DE LA LOI SUR LE PARTIMOINE DE L’ONTARIO

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend  that Council approve the “Application to Alter” for the Glebe Community Centre according to plans filed as Document 3.

 

(Note: Approval to Alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.)

 

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement recommande au Conseil municipal d’approuver « la demande de modification » du centre communautaire du Glebe conformément aux plans présentés comme Document 3.

 

(Nota : l’approbation de modification de cette propriété en vertu de la Loi sur le patrimoine de l’Ontario n’a pas pour effet de satisfaire aux exigences d’émission d’un permis de construction.)

 

Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee Recommendation – 18 September 2001

 

LACAC supports staff recommendation to alter the Glebe Community Centre, a building designated under part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, and recommends that Council approve the proposed design as presented in Document 3. A draft minute extract of LACAC Meeting 18 Sep 01 is attached.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The Glebe Community Centre, the former St. Paul’s Methodist Church, is located on Lyon Street between Second and Third Avenues (see Location Map, Document 1). It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act for architectural and historical reasons in 1996 (Bylaw 274-96, see Statement of Reason for Designation attached, Document 2). On December 19, 1997 the Department of Urban Planning and Public Works of the former City of Ottawa received an “Application to Alter” seeking City Council permission to alter the Glebe Community Centre. Before the “Application to Alter” was processed, capital funding for the project was removed from the City’s budget. The project was reactivated in 1999, and the “Application” renewed. Again, the project was removed from the City’s Budget. In 2001, municipal funding was approved. This “Application to Alter” has been prepared in response to a request to re-start the project. 

 

DISCUSSION

 

The proposed plans for the building are extensive but maintain its heritage character through the preservation and enhancement of certain key features (see drawings attached, Document 3). The proposed changes include:

 

Exterior

The north-south axis of the building will be reinstated through the creation of a new principal entrance at the south end of the building off Third Avenue. This grade level entranceway will be the main focus of the south façade. It will be reached from a sloped grade that will provide barrier-free access through a centrally placed door with a window above it. The new entrance will borrow from the classical language and symmetry of the former church and will rationalize what currently reads as the back of the building, complete with fire escapes, small sheds, poorly placed windows and exposed duct work. The present ramp for strollers and wheelchairs facing Lyon Street will be removed and the door redesigned to be a secondary entrance. The former entrance to the church, facing Second Avenue, at the top of a monumental flight of stairs, will be repaired and will serve as a terrace. The windows lighting the Main Hall will remain the same and the basement windows will be enlarged. Repairs will be made to the distinctive dome of the structure.

 

Interior

The former sanctuary of the church, now the Main Hall, including the dome, is also designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The rest of the interior is not designated. The proposed plans will level the floor of the Hall, refurbish the dome for safety and acoustical reasons (an intervention that will not affect its heritage character) and create a new, transparent wall at the south end of the Main Hall. The building’s mechanical room will replace the present nursery school area in the former gallery. The original interior light fixtures will be restored. Other changes to the interior do not affect its designated areas and are, therefore, not regulated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

The Development Services Department supports the proposed plans because they will bring the building up to contemporary standards while preserving its heritage character. In addition, the proposed plans will ensure that the Glebe Community Centre continues to function as the focus of one of the City’s distinctive central neighbourhoods. Finally, the Department supports the proposed changed because they reflect the objectives of the Heritage Chapter of the Official Plan of the former City of Ottawa which are:

 

To protect, improve and manage City-owner heritage resources in a manner that furthers the heritage objectives and policies of the Official Plan, and which sets an example of leadership for the community in the conservation of heritage resources…

 

CONSULTATION

 

There was extensive public consultation including public meetings and meetings with an advisory group during the planning stages of this project in 1997. Input from these meetings resulted in changes to the plans to the satisfaction of most community members.

 

Property owners, tenants and community groups were notified by letter of the nature of the project and the date of the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) and the Planning and Development Committee meetings and were provided with comment forms to be returned to LACAC. This is in accordance with the former Ottawa City Council’s public participation policy regarding the alteration of designated heritage buildings.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

Document 1      Location Map

Document 2      Statement of Reason for Designation

Document 3      Elevations

 

DISPOSITION

 

The Department of Corporate Services, Council and Committee Services Branch, to notify the applicant/ agent (Gordon Lorimer, Barry J. Hobin and Associated, Architects, 711 Bank Street, Ottawa, K1S 3V1) and the Ontario Heritage Foundation (10 Adelaide Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of City Council’s consent to alter the Glebe Community Centre, 690 Lyon Street.

 

The Ward Councillor is aware of this application.


Location Map                                                                                                                    Document 1

 


Statement of Reason for Designation                                                                                Document 2

 

 

The Glebe Community Centre at 690 Lyon Street is recommended for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act for historical and architectural reasons.

 

The Glebe Community Centre was constructed as St. Paul’s Methodist Church between 1914 and 1924 to the designs of the notable Ottawa architect Clarence J. Burritt. It became St. James United Church when most Methodist churches joined the United Church of Canada formed in 1925. The building was acquired by the City of Ottawa in 1973 which adapted it in 1974 and 1978 for use as a community center.

 

The history of the Glebe Community Centre as a religious building reflects the evolution of Canadian Methodism into the United Church and the lose identification of these stream of Christianity with the ideals of the Social Gospel movement and later more general social concerns. Throughout the history of the parish this was expressed by a strong support for traditional charitable activities, the provision of facilities for a prominent sport and recreational programme, and education as demonstrated by the frequent use of the structure by Carleton University between 1946 and 1959 (then located directly to the north).

 

The Palladian Revival style Glebe Community Centre, with its monumental rotunda form, is a Glebe landmark because of its copper clad dome (a rarity in Ottawa), the grand entrance portico, and the dramatic interior of the main hall – an integral component of the composition. The Glebe Community Centre is part of a string of imposing religious and educational buildings dating from the early 20th century which line the west side of Lyon Street between Glebe and Fifth Avenues. This linear arrangement in a residential area is unique in Ottawa, and expresses the early 20th century development of the Glebe as a prosperous residential district.

 

The designation includes the interior of the main hall of the Glebe Community Centre including its original cruciform configuration (the north and south branches are currently concealed by non-structural walls), the unobstructed large-scale windows, the uninterrupted space rising to the dome, and the extant detailing and fixtures.

 

This designation includes the St. James Tennis Clubhouse and tennis courts.

 

Elevations                                                                                                                          Document 3

 









Extract of Draft Minute

Local Architectural Conservation

Advisory Committee

18 September 2001

 

 

APPLICATION TO ALTER THE GLEBE COMMUNITY CENTRE, 690 LYON STREET, A BUILDING DESIGNATED UNDER PART IV OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT / DEMANDE DE MODIFICATION DU CENTRE COMMUNAUTAIRE GLEBE, 690 RUE LYON, PROPRIÉTÉ DÉSIGNÉE EN VERTU DE LA PARTIE IV DE LA LOI SUR LE PATRIMOINE DE L’ONTARIO

Ref N :  ACS2001-DEV-APR-0211

 

 

      Ms. Coutts indicated this building is designated under Part IV of Ontario Heritage Act  It was built in the 1920’s and served as a church until it was converted to a community centre in the 1970’s.  She provided a detailed description of the existing building, its site and the proposed changes noting that its character defining elements will be preserved and enhanced through this alteration. 

 

      Ms. Coutts and Mr. Lorimer answered detailed questions from members with respect to the proposed changes and the building’s functionality. 

 

      Member Keith felt the building will be greatly improved through the proposed changes and commended the architect for his work on the project.

 

      Moved by A. Keith

 

      That the City of Ottawa LACAC commend the architect, Mr. G. Lorimer of Barry J. Hobin & Associates for his work on this project.

 

                                                                                                            CARRIED

 

 

That the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee recommend that Council approve the “Application to Alter” for the Glebe Community Centre according to plans filed as Document 3.

 

                                                                                                      CARRIED

 

(Note: Approval to Alter this property under the Ontario Heritage Act must not be construed to meet the requirements for the issuance of a building permit.)