Report to: Development Services Committee Date of Meeting: May 6, 2008

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

Abraham Koch House

7085 Fourteenth Avenue

Attilio Vettese

PREPARED BY: George Duncan, Senior Heritage Planner, ext. 2296

RECOMMENDATION:

That as recommended by Heritage Markham, the Abraham Koch House – 7085 Fourteenth 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 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.

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The purpose of this report is to recommend to Council that the “Abraham Koch House” (historical reference) be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act.

BACKGROUND:

The building is listed on the Town of Markham Register

The subject building is located at 7085 Fourteenth Avenue. It is included in the Markham Register of Properties of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest (“The Register”). The Register is the Town’s inventory of non-designated properties identified as having cultural heritage value and interest, Part IV (individual) designated properties, and Part V (heritage district) designated properties.

The Koch House is a heritage building in the Box Grove Secondary Plan Area

The Abraham Koch House is included on the list of heritage resources in the Box Grove Secondary Plan (Official Plan Amendment No. 92), which contains policies dealing with the appropriate treatment of heritage buildings within the context of new development.

The Koch House is an early example of a Georgian tradition farmhouse with a Pennsylvania German influence

The Abraham Koch House is a two storey red brick farmhouse set well back from the south side of 14^th Avenue, east of the Little Rouge River. It is of historical value as a farmhouse built by an early Markham family of Pennsylvania-German Mennonite background. Abraham Koch was the Canadian-born son of Pennsylvania German immigrants.

The Koch House is an early example of a brick farmhouse in Markham, locally rare for its full two storey form. The house possesses the classic simplicity and balance of the vernacular Georgian tradition. This conservative style of domestic architecture was widely adopted by the Pennsylvania Germans while living in the culturally diverse state of Pennsylvania during the 18^th century, and was brought to Markham with the early settlers in the early 1800s. The proportions of the house and its door and window openings suggest that the underlying structure may be a hewn log building that was later updated with a cladding of brick veneer.

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 Koch 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,
• 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 March 12, 2008 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 Box Grove Secondary Plan. Plan of Subdivision (SU 08 110200) and Zoning Amendment (ZA 08 110187) applications have been submitted for the subject property. The proposal is for a subdivision to contain 58 townhouse units and two single detached residential units. The single detached units are the existing heritage house and a non-heritage house. Both buildings are currently proposed to remain in their present locations.

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

The preservation of the heritage resource is consistent with Town policies

The Town of Markham Official Plan and the Box Grove Secondary Plan, contain 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.

Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate and comments on the development application have been provided to the applicant

Heritage Markham’s recommendation to designate the Abraham Koch House under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and comments on the development applications have been provided to the project planner and the applicant. The applicant’s agent has stated that the owner has no issue with the proposed heritage designation.

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 21^ST 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 7085 Fourteenth Avenue 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 - Building Photographs

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

Appendix ‘B’ – Heritage Markham Extract

FILE PATH:

Q:\Development\Heritage\PROPERTY\FOURTNTH\7085\DSCMay608.doc

FIGURE 1:

OWNER: AGENT:

Attilio Vettese Ms. Tanya M. Roman

c/o Martha Mingay Anison Management Inc.

Mingay & Vereshchak 20 Valleywood Drive

81 Main Street North Markham ON L3R 6G1

Markham ON L3P 1X7

Tel. 905-294-0550 Tel. 905-474-2514

Fax. 905-294-9141 Fax. 905-474-2517

LOCATION MAP: