Heritage Committee
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City of Kingston Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 To: Chair and Members of Heritage Kingston From: Lanie Hurdle, Commissioner, Community Services Resource Staff: Paige Agnew, Director, Planning, Building & Licensing Services Date of Meeting: June 20, 2018 Subject: Application for Heritage Permit Address: 76 Stuart Street – Kingston General Hospital (P18-355) File Number: P18-055-2018 Executive Summary: The subject property at 76 Stuart Street is located on the south side of Stuart Street and includes Kingston General Hospital. The property contains a number of 19th century limestone heritage buildings. It is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and is a National Historic Site of Canada. The Watkins Wing, which includes portions of the original “Main Building” of the hospital, was built in 1833 and enlarged in 1862. The application also includes the 1895 Fenwick Operating Theatre. These are limestone structures that are still an active part of the hospital. An application for alteration under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act (File Number P18-055- 2018) has been submitted to gain approval to repoint and repair a number of large sections of the stone walls of the building, including portions of the north, east, west and south facing walls, and to install new copper flashing, as necessary. This application was deemed complete on May 22, 2018. The Ontario Heritage Act provides a maximum of 90 days for Council to render a decision on an application to alter a heritage building under Section 33(4). This timeframe will expire on August 20, 2018. Upon review of all the submitted materials, as well as applicable policies and legislation, staff have no concerns with the proposed scope of work, subject to the conditions outlined herein. 194 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 June 20, 2018 Page 2 of 7 Recommendation: That alterations to the property at 76 Stuart Street (Watkins Wing, including the Fenwick Operating Theatre), be approved in accordance with the details described in the application (File Number P18-055-2018), which was deemed complete on May 22, 2018, with said alterations to include the cleaning, repointing and repair of the exterior limestone building; and That the approval of the alteration be subject to the following conditions: 1. The existing stone pattern shall be retained through the repointing, with as much retention and reuse of stones as is possible and in accordance with prudent construction practice; 2. Any replacement stones shall be sourced, cut and finished to match the existing stones, as closely as possible; 3. All masonry work, including cleaning, pointing and repairs, shall be completed in accordance with the City’s Policy on Masonry Restoration in Heritage Buildings; 4. Root protection of the blue spruce tree at the northwest corner of the building, shall be undertaken in the form of a two metre high plywood or metal hording fence; and 5. An Encroachment Permit shall be obtained, as required. 195 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 June 20, 2018 Page 3 of 7 Authorizing Signatures: Lanie Hurdle, Commissioner, Community Services Gerard Hunt, Chief Administrative Officer Consultation with the following Members of the Corporate Management Team: Jim Keech, President & CEO, Utilities Kingston Not required Desirée Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer & City Treasurer Not required Denis Leger, Commissioner, Corporate & Emergency Services Not required 196 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 June 20, 2018 Page 4 of 7 Options/Discussion: Description of Application The subject property at 76 Stuart Street is located on the south side of Stuart Street and includes the Kingston General Hospital campus (Exhibit A – Context Map). The property contains a number of 19th century limestone heritage buildings. It is designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and is a National Historic Site of Canada (Exhibit B – Designating By- Law). The Watkins Wing, which includes portions of the original hospital building, was built in 1833 and enlarged in 1862. It is a four-storey limestone structure that is an active part of the hospital. The application also includes the two-storey limestone Fenwick Operating Theatre, built in 1895, and located on the south side of the Watkins Wing. An application for alteration under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act (File Number P18-055- 2018) has been submitted to gain approval to clean, repoint and repair stones, and to install new copper flashing, as necessary, to a number of large sections of the stone walls of the building, including portions of the north, east, south and west facing walls. The applicant has submitted a detailed condition assessment report and repointing/repair plans (Exhibit C –Concept Plans), prepared by Fishburn Sheridan & Associates Limited. All submission materials are available online through the Development and Services Hub (DASH) at the following link, DASH, using “Look-up a Specific Address”. If there are multiple addresses, search one address at a time. Submission materials may also be found by searching the file number. This application was deemed complete on May 22, 2018. The Ontario Heritage Act provides a maximum of 90 days for Council to render a decision on an application to alter a heritage building under Section 33(4). This timeframe will expire on August 20, 2018. Reasons for Designation The subject property was designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act in 1984 through By-Law Number 84-275. The subject property was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995. The buildings included in the National Historic Site designation are the original hospital building (Main Building, 1833-5) and its two lateral wings (The Watkins Wing, 1862, and the Nickel Wing, 1890-1), the Fenwick Operating Theatre (1895), the Doran Building (1892-4), the Ann Baillie Building (1903-4) and the Empire Wing (1914; 1924-4). The designating by-law under the Reasons for Designation notes: “The central, original section of Thomas Rogers’ hospital building 1833-1835, now a National Historic Site, served as the Parliament Building from 1841 to 1843, and since 1845 has been the Kingston Hospital.” The list of heritage attributes, as noted in the statement of significance for the Kingston General Hospital National Historic Site of Canada (Exhibit C) includes: 197 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 June 20, 2018 Page 5 of 7 “-the classical design, domestic proportions and limestone construction of the Main Building and the Watkins Wing; -features of the Main Building, including its low, hipped roof punctuated by massive chimneys, its identical front and rear facades with a frontispiece on each, and its large windows and balconies on each storey to provide cross-ventilation; -the sober design and classical features of the Nickle Wing, Doran Building, Fenwick Operating Theatre,…; -the limestone construction of exteriors of the late 19th and early 20th century buildings, maintaining the architectural character set by earlier hospital buildings; -features of the Fenwick Operating Theatre (1895), including its semi-circular plan, two- storey height, and physical connection to the Main Building;” Cultural Heritage Analysis Parks Canada’s Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada, Standard 8, directs property owners to: “maintain character-defining elements on an ongoing basis. Repair character-defining elements by reinforcing their materials using recognized conservation methods. Replace in kind any extensively deteriorated or missing parts of character-defining elements…” The stone construction of Kingston General Hospital is an important character-defining feature and heritage attribute of this nationally significant heritage property. The applicants have provided a detailed assessment of the current condition of the stone walls, including elevation plans showing the deteriorated areas (Exhibit C). Some stone replacement will be required. Staff have included a recommended condition of approval that all stones be sourced, cut and finished to match the existing stones, as closely as possible. A further condition has been recommended requiring the retention of the existing stone pattern in any repairs. The proposed works to repair the stone walls will improve the longevity of the building by restricting water penetration into the structure. The limestone surfaces of these, some of the oldest parts of the hospital, are heritage attributes of national significance. The north walls are highly visible from Stuart Street. Staff supports the proposed work as it will conserve this treasured Canadian heritage asset and prominent element of the streetscape and the area for years to come. All of the cleaning/repointing/masonry works shall be completed in conformity to the City’s Masonry Policy. Upon review of all of the submitted materials, as well as applicable policies and legislation, staff have no concerns with the proposed applications, subject to the conditions outlined herein. Previous Approvals P18-355-059-2011 Window replacement, south side of Watkins Wing 198 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-18-042 June 20, 2018 Page 6 of 7 P18-355-012-2013 Install four free standing exterior signs along Stuart Street P18-355-024-2013 Window replacement, north side of Watkins Wing P18-355-077-2014DA Replace roofing at Kidd House P18-355-035-2015DA Replace roofing at Watkins Wing P18-355-083-2015DA Replace roofing at Richardson House