Report to/Rapport au:

Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee/

Comité Consultative local sur la conservation de l’architecture

Planning and Development Committee/

Comité de l’urbanisme et de l’aménagement

and Council/et au Conseil

 

06 February 2002/ le 05 fevrier 2002

 

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°:   ACS2002-DEV-APR-0035

 

SUBJECT:     Application to alter 149 Buena Vista road, in the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District

 

OBJET:          Demande de modification du 149, rue Buena Vista dans l’arrondissement historique de Rockcliffe Park

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

 

That the Planning and Development Committee recommend that Council approve the application to alter 149 Buena Vista Road in accordance with the plans filed by Robert Martin, Robertson Architects and Associates, received on January 22, 2002, included as Document 2.

 

(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 149, rue Buena Vista, en conformité avec les plans soumis par Robert Martin, Robertson Architects and Associates, Architects, le 22 janvier 2002, présentés comme Document 2.

 

(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 – 19 February 2002

 

LACAC supports the staff recommendation as presented.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The entire former Village of Rockcliffe Park was designated as a heritage conservation district under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1997.  This report has been prepared because the consent of City Council is required before an alteration to a building within the heritage conservation district can proceed.

 

The house at 149 Buena Vista Road is a two storey, red brick structure constructed in 1912. It is included on the former Village of Rockcliffe Park’s list of buildings of heritage significance within the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District.  It is located close to the western property line on a through lot that runs from Buena Vista Road to David Thomas Lane and features a wide side yard to its east.  A location plan is included as Document 1.  The house itself is a good example of an Edwardian foursquare dwelling.  Foursquares were a popular housing type of the 1910s and 1920s in Canada and many examples can be found across the country, designed in wood, concrete block or brick.  Characteristics of the type found at 149 Buena Vista include the square plan, restrained classically-inspired details, hipped roof, centrally placed door flanked by sidelights, and symmetrical fenestration, particularly on the front façade.  The house type was a reaction to the excesses of the Victorian era with its highly irregular plans and elaborate details.

 

DISCUSSION

 

The house at 149 Buena Vista retains a high level of integrity, as, with the exception of a garage addition to the rear of the structure, the house’s exterior has not changed since its construction.  The proposed intervention respects the character of the building and will not result in any substantive changes to the principal facades of its exterior.  The existing windows, cedar roof, front porch and other character-defining elements will be repaired and retained.  Because the garage is attached to the rear of the house and enjoys nonconforming rights to its location, it was decided that the new addition would be constructed to the east of  the house, to form an “L”.  The addition, which will contain a nanny suite in the basement, the kitchen and family room on the main floor, and a master suite above, is two storeys in height and lower than the original structure.  The details of the addition will take their inspiration from the original house – it will feature a verandah on the east and north facades with railings, columns and piers similar to the existing, wooden sash windows, stone foundations and will be of red brick construction.  Its truncated hipped roof will match the slope of the existing roof and the fascia and soffitts of the house will be continued.

 

The Development Services Department evaluates additions to buildings within the District according to the “Guidelines” for additions to historic buildings contained within the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation District.  This document received approval from the Council of the former Village of Rockcliffe Park.  One of the aims of these “Guidelines” is to ensure that the unique cultural landscape of Rockcliffe Park is preserved and that interventions to the heritage conservation district do not detract from distinctive character of the District; “New construction should be recommended for approval only where the siting, form, materials and detailing are sympathetic to the surrounding natural and cultural environment.”

 

The Department supports this addition.  It follows the guidelines and is respectful of the character of the original house, its setting and its relationship to Buena Vista Road. The building is set back from Buena Vista Road and is accessed by a circular drive. All major trees and the hedges separating it from the adjacent buildings will be preserved.  The house also has a playhouse that was constructed by the building’s original owners for their children.  It is the intention of the current owner to have the playhouse restored and relocated nearer the road where future generations of Rockcliffe Park residents can continue to enjoy it.

 

The “Guidelines” further state, “Alterations should be recommended for approval only where the change protects and enhances the existing historical and architectural character of the building and the site.”  Staff supports this alteration as the new addition respects the guideline above as it is set back from the street, to the rear of the original structure, is lower than it in height, and its design elements such as the windows, roofline, and details complement the architectural character of original house.

 

CONSULTATION

 

Adjacent property owners and residential tenants were notified by letter of the date of the LACAC and Planning and Development Committee meetings and were provided with comment sheets to be returned to LACAC. This is in accordance with the municipal public participation policies of the former City of Ottawa.

 

The Rockcliffe Park Residents’ Association was informed of the project and the Heritage Sub-committee of the Association commented on the proposal.

 

Councillor Jacques Legendre is aware of this project.

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

Document 1      Location Map

Document 2      Plans

Document 3      Photograph

 

DISPOSITION

 

The Department of Corporate Services, Statutory Services Branch, to notify the agents, (Robertson, Architects and Associates, 83 Holmwood Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 2P1), and Robert McElligott, (585 Manor Avenue, Ottawa, K1N 6G9), and the Ontario Heritage Foundation (10 Adelaide Street East, 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 1J3) of City Council’s decision.

 

 

Location Map                                                                                                       Document 1

 

 

 

Plans                                                                                                                    Document 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photograph                                                                                                           Document 3