April 18, 2006

REPORT TO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMITTEE

SUBJECT: Intention to Designate under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act

John Ramer House and Barn

6278 19^th Avenue

Arbor Memorial Services Inc.

CONTACT/AUTHOR: Peter Wokral, Heritage Planner ext. 7955

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the John Ramer House and Barn– 6278 19^th Avenue be approved for designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act as a property of cultural heritage value or interest;

That the Clerk’s Department be authorized to publish and serve Council’s Notice of Intention to Designate as per the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act;

That if there are no objections to the designation in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be authorized to place a designation by-law before Council for adoption; and

And That if there are any objections in accordance with the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Clerk be directed to refer the proposed designation to the Ontario Conservation Review Board.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

Not applicable

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

Valerie Shuttleworth, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning & Urban Design

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

The building is listed on the Town of Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings

The John Ramer House located at 6278 19^th Avenue, is included in the Inventory of Heritage Buildings. The inventory provides a register of properties in Markham that are of cultural heritage value and interest.

Portions of this property are included in the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan which was created to protect environmentally sensitive landscapes from development .

The John Ramer House is a unique heritage resource

The John Ramer house is a unique and fascinating 2 1/2 storey structure of fieldstone brick and frame construction. The house is set far back from the road east of Highway 48 and north of 19^th Avenue near the cross roads community of Dickson Hill. The house was constructed in 1853 as a Georgian tradition stone house built into the side of a hill creating a walkout basement, rare for that period of construction. In 1890, a brick and frame third storey was added having Gothic Revival influences, and the main entrance was shifted to the former rear of the building.

John Ramer came to Markham Township in 1822 when he was a boy of twelve. The Ramers were originally from Germany, but came to Canada as Pennsylvania Germans and are considered to be the founders of the Mount Joy Community.

The John Ramer Barn is a classic example of a Pennsylvania style bank barn

The Ramer Barn is located within close proximity of the house and was built in 1869. Barns like the John Ramer Barn were constructed by Dutch and German immigrants throughout the 1700’s. This style was brought to Markham by Pennsylvania German families like the Ramers. The John Ramer barn exhibits all the typical design features of this early style barn.

The Statement of Significance- Reasons for Designation is attached as Appendix ‘A’.

The buildings have been evaluated using the Town’s heritage evaluation system

The buildings have been evaluated together by Heritage Markham and staff using the Town’s Heritage Building Evaluation System. The John Ramer House and Barn were evaluated as a Group 1 Heritage Buildings Group 1 buildings are those buildings of major significance and importance to the Town and worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

The buildings have been assessed using the Ministry of Culture’s Designation Criteria

The Government of Ontario on January 25, 2006 passed a regulation (O.Reg. 9/16) which prescribes criteria for determining a property’s cultural heritage value or interest for the purpose of designation. Municipal councils are permitted to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or interest if the property meets the prescribed criteria.

The purpose of the regulation is to provide an objective base for the determination and evaluation of resources of cultural heritage value. The prescribed criteria help ensure the effective, comprehensive and consistent determination of value or interest by all Ontario municipalities. The criteria are essentially a test against which properties can be judged; the stronger the characteristics of the property compared to the standard, the greater the property’s cultural heritage value. The property may be designated if it meets one or more of the criteria.

The subject property has cultural heritage value or interest as it meets the following criteria:

The property has design value or physical value because it:

Is a rare, unique, representative or early example of a style, type expression, material or construction method,

The property has historical value or associative value because it:

Has direct associations with a theme, event, belief, person, activity, organization or institution that is significant to a community;
Yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture, or

The property has contextual value because it:

Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area,
Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings

Heritage Markham has recommended designation

The designation process under the Ontario Heritage Act requires a municipal council to consult with its municipal heritage committee when properties are considered for designation. The historical research and heritage attributes related to this heritage resource were reviewed by Heritage Markham on June 11 2003 and the committee has recommended that the resources be designated as properties of cultural heritage value or interest.

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan contains Cultural Heritage policies related to the protection and preservation of heritage resources. These policies support the preservation of heritage resources on their original site, and the integration into new development proposals. The designation of this resource will ensure that its heritage attributes are addressed and protected.

The proposed designation of the John Ramer Barn would be a first for the Town of Markham

Typically barns are not designated by the Town of Markham as they are difficult to integrate into plans of subdivision. Heritage staff and Heritage Markham recommend the designation of the John Ramer Barn as it is a classic example of a rare form of barn and because there are no immediate development plans for the subject agricultural property. Designation would protect this valuable heritage resource in the interim so that it might be integrated in to whatever nature of development may occur in the future.

Provincial planning policies support designation

The Ontario Government’s current Provincial Policy Statement which was issued under Section 3 of the Planning Act and came into effect March 2005 includes cultural heritage policies. These policies indicate that significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved. Designation provides a mechanism to achieve the necessary protection. The policies further indicate that development and site alteration may be permitted on adjacent lands to protected heritage property where the proposed development has been evaluated and it has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the resource will be conserved.

Designation acknowledges the importance of the heritage resource

Designation signifies to both the owner and the broader community that the property contains a significant resource that is important to the community. Designation doesn’t restrict the use of the property. However, it does require the owner to seek approval for property alterations that are likely to affect the heritage attributes described in the designation by-law. Council can also prevent, rather than just delay, the demolition of a resource on a designated heritage property.

The designation of this cultural heritage resource is supported by staff.