Report to: Development Services Committee                            Date of Meeting: May 16, 2006

 

 

SUBJECT:                          Intention to Designate under Part IV

                                            of the Ontario Heritage Act

                                            Abraham Strickler House

                                            6297 Major Mackenzie Drive, East

                                            Temara Developments Inc.

PREPARED BY:               Peter Wokral, Heritage Planner, ext. 7955

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the Abraham Strickler House –6297 Major Mackenzie Dr. E. 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 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:

The Abraham Strickler house located at 6297 Major Mackenzie Drive is a fine example of an 1850’s Classical Revival farmhouse featuring elegant proportions and sophisticated decorative brickwork.  The house is listed in the Inventory of Markham Heritage Buildings and has been rated as a Group 2 building , worthy of preservation, but is not currently designated.  The subject property is located within a plan of subdivision that makes no provision for the retention or integration of this important heritage resource despite being listed as a potential heritage resource within the Greensborough secondary plan.  Therefore it is recommended that Council designate the Abraham Strickler house under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act to ensure that this significant heritage resource is integrated and preserved within the context of imminent new development.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

1. Purpose                2. Background         3. Discussion             4. Financial         5. Environmental

 

6. Accessibility       7. Engage 21st             8. Affected Units       9. Attachment(s)

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to recommend to Council that the “Abraham Strickler House” be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

 

 

BACKGROUND:

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

The subject building is located at 6297 Major Mackenzie Dr. E..  It is included in the Markham Inventory of Heritage Buildings.  The inventory provides a register of properties in Markham that are of cultural heritage value and interest.

 

The building is located within the Greensborough Planning District

The subject building is located within the Greensborough Planning District Secondary Plan in an area designated for Urban Residential use.

 

The Abraham Strickler House is a fine example of a Georgian Tradition farmhouse of the 1850’s period

The Abraham Strickler farmhouse house is a 1 1/2 storey structure of solid red brick with yellow brick accents.  The house is T-shaped in plan with a moderately pitched roof and distinctive classical eave returns constructed of wood.  The facades are arranged symmetrically featuring original 6 over 6 windows and a prominent central entrance with a glazed transom and sidelights.  The brickwork is noteworthy for its use of the Flemish bonding pattern on the principal façade as well as the highlighting of the plinth, quoins, belt course and flat arches with contrasting yellow brick.

 

The house was built for Abraham Strickler circa 1850, who arrived in Markham Township in a Conestoga wagon as a boy with his mother Barbara Ramer Strickler, his uncle, an aunt, and three of his siblings in 1825 from Pennsylvania.  Barbara was the daughter of Abraham and Magdalena Ramer who had immigrated to Markham 16 years earlier in the year 1809.  The Ramers are a prominent Pennsylvania German family considered the founders of the Mount Joy community, so named after their farm they left behind in the United States.

 

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

 

The building has been evaluated using the Town’s heritage evaluation system

The building was evaluated by Heritage Markham and staff using the Town’s Heritage Building Evaluation System.  The Abraham Strickler House was evaluated as a Group 2 Heritage Building. Group 2 buildings are those buildings of significance and worthy of preservation.  Group 2 buildings are also considered worthy of designation under the Act.

 

 

 

The building has 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 and,
    • Displays a high degree of craftsmanship or artistic merit
  • 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; and
    • Yields, or has the potential to yield, information that contributes to an understanding of a community or culture
  • The property has contextual value because it:
    • Is important in defining, maintaining or supporting the character of an area, and
    • 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 April 12, 2006 and the committee has recommended that the resource be designated as a property of cultural heritage value or interest.

 

The building is located within a future development area

The building is in private ownership within a future development area of the Greensborough Secondary Plan and is listed as a heritage building having local and architectural significance (See Appendix B).  The land around the Abraham Strickler house is designated for use as Urban Residential.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan (and the Greensborough Secondary Plan), contains Cultural Heritage policies related to the protection and preservation of heritage resources and how they are to be treated within the development process of an area.  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. 

 

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 will help facilitate the integration of the resource into the planning process

Heritage designation will strengthen the Town’s ability to provide for the appropriate integration of the heritage resource into development proposals.  It will enhance the resource’s status during changes in ownership and offer protection from potential alterations that may affect the heritage attributes and value.

 

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.  The owner was notified of the recommendation for designation prior to the Development Services Committee meeting.

 

 

FINANCIAL TEMPLATE (Separate Attachment):

Not applicable

 

 

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

 

ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS:

Not applicable

 

 

ENGAGE 21ST CONSIDERATIONS:

Heritage designation helps achieve a quality community by recognizing, promoting and protecting heritage resources, which strengthen the sense of community.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Acceptance of this recommendation to designate the property located at 6297 Major Mackenzie Drive East under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act will require the Clerk’s Department to initiate the following actions:

 

  • publish and serve on the property owner, the Ontario Heritage Trust and the public through newspaper advertisement, Council’s notice of intention to designate the property as per the requirements of the Act: and

 

  • prepare the designation by-law for the property

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED BY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – Owner/Agent and Location Map

Figure 2- Aerial Map

Figure 3- Building Photographs

 

Appendix ‘A’ – Statement of Significance/ Reasons for Designation

Appendix ‘B’ – Greensborough Secondary Plan Heritage Policies and Map

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\MAJORMAC\6297\Revised Report to DSC May 16 2006 Designation.doc

FIGURE  1

 

 

FILE PATH:   Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\MAJORMAC\6297\Revised Report to DSC May 16 2006 Designation.doc

 

 

OWNER/AGENT:         Temara Developments Inc.

                                        7050 Weston Road, Suite 303

                                        Woodbridge, ON

                                        L4L 8G7

 

                                        Tel:

                                        Fax:

 

LOCATION MAP