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

 

 

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

                                            James Bliss House

                                            9231 Woodbine Avenue

                                            M K Li Holdings

PREPARED BY:               George Duncan, ext. 2296

 

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the James Bliss House – 9231 Woodbine 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:

The James Bliss House is a significant heritage building that is part of the Royal Bank branch at the south east corner of Woodbine Avenue and Sixteenth Avenue.  It is one of only two heritage properties outside of the proposed Buttonville Heritage Conservation District not protected by individual designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.  When Council approved the boundaries of the proposed heritage district at their January 31, 2006, meeting, it directed that a heritage designation proposal be brought forward for Council’s consideration.

 

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The purpose of this report is to recommend to Council that the “James Bliss House” (historical reference) be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.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 9231 Woodbine Avenue.  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 property is located within OPA 104 (Buttonville Core Area)

The subject property is located within the boundaries of OPA 104 (Buttonville Core Area Secondary Plan).  The designation of the James Bliss House is consistent with the Heritage and Urban Design policies of the Amendment

 

The property is located within the Buttonville Heritage Conservation District Study Area

The James Bliss House is located within the Buttonville Heritage Conservation District Study Area, but is outside of the recommended boundaries of the proposed district designation.  It is one of only two heritage properties outside of the proposed Heritage Conservation District not currently protected by individual designation under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

Council directed staff to bring this designation proposal forward

When Council approved the boundaries of the proposed Buttonville Heritage Conservation District at their January 31, 2006 meeting, the resolution included direction to bring forward a heritage designation report on this property.

 

The James Bliss House is a well-preserved example of a modestly-scaled 19th century tradesman’s house

The James Bliss House is a one and a half storey frame structure that has been preserved on its original site.  The 1868 building was restored and incorporated into a new branch of the Royal Bank in 1995.  Although the basic Georgian Tradition cottage form of the Bliss House is representative of the Buttonville area, the gabled entrance vestibule, with its delicate bargeboards, makes this a unique example of its type.

 

James Bliss was a carpenter and wagon maker whose shop once stood at the south east corner of Woodbine Avenue and Sixteenth Avenue.  The crossroads historically became known as Bliss Corners, a community distinct from the nearby mill village of Buttonville.

 

 

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 James Bliss House was evaluated as a Group 1 Heritage Building.  Group 1 buildings are those buildings of major significance and importance to the Town and worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage 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,
    • 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;
    • 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,
    • Is physically, functionally, visually or historically linked to its surroundings,
    • Is a landmark.

 

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.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan (and the Buttonville Core Area 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 its has been demonstrated that the heritage attributes of the resource will be conserved.

 

Designation will strengthen the heritage status of this significant resource

Heritage designation will strengthen the Town’s ability to provide for the long-term protection of the heritage resource.  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.

 

The owner has been notified of Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate

The owner has been notified of Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate the James Bliss House under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

 

The designation will only affect the heritage portion of the existing commercial building.

The Reasons for Designation – Statement of Significance, which describes the specific architectural attributes to be protected, only refers to the heritage portion of the existing commercial building.

 

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.

 

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 9231 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.                    Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Planning & Urban Design                      Commissioner of Development Services

 

 

 

Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\WOODBINE\9231\DSC designation May 16, 2006.doc

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Figure 1 – Owner/Agent and Location Map

Figure 2- Aerial Map

 

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

                          (includes a photograph of the James Bliss House)

 

 

Figure 1

 

M K Li Holdings         - Owner

c/o Mr. Martin Li

6 Cimmaron Ct.

North York, ON

M2H 3L9

 

Royal Bank of Canada       - Tenant                  Tel. 905-513-8508

9231 Woodbine Avenue

Markham ON

L3R 0K1

 

Location Map