The President's Report
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Established in 1967 Spring 2000 Celebrating our 30th year Volume 27, No. 1 Dedicated to Preserving Our Built Heritage The President’s Report By Carolyn Quinn he year 2000 has been a busy one thereby eliminating any need for the con- Hills beyond. to date for Heritage Ottawa. Last struction of a huge supporting tower. The NCC recently unveiled Phase II Tyear ended on a positive note Upon hearing the results of Industry of its planning initiatives for "The Core with the success of our Annual General Canada’s work, Councillor Stephane Area of Canada’s Capital" referred to as Meeting in December where members Emard-Chabot immediately filed a the "concept plan" phase. The proposals had the opportunity to participate in an motion stating that CHUM had not essentially reveal planning concepts that important and valuable discussion on the provided accurate information to Council are aimed at transforming the Core Area future of the heritage conservation move- at the time of the original deliberations into a “showcase” or “destination” for the ment. Our guest speaker, architect Julian and, given Industry Canada’s findings, visiting tourist where Canada can be Smith, whose work in the field of heritage City Council could then consider the interpreted for all. Of the six initiatives restoration is well known in this city, led St.George’s site. The opportunity to proposed including Lebreton Flats, the discussion with a thought-provoking right a wrong was lost by a vote of 5:5 Chaudieres and Victoria Islands, lecture on the history of the heritage con- because of politics and pettiness. As a Connecting with Gatineau Park, Bank servation movement since result, CHUM Media on March 3, 2000 Street Axis and Industrial Land Scott the nineteenth century. received permission to build the tower. Paper, it is the Sparks Street Area initia- Earlier in the year, we learned that Around the corner at 2 Rideau tive that raises immediate concerns. Heritage Ottawa and other individuals and Street, plans for a $50 million re-devel- These planning principles that organizations including Councillor opment of the former Union Station favour the core-as- visitor- showcase Stephane Emard-Chabot, federal M.P. into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame approach, imposing a vision of what a Mauril Belanger and the Heritage are underway. Many concerns were national capital should look like, override Canada Foundation, were unsuccessful in expressed about the size of the pro- concerns related to heritage preserva- attempting to prevent CHUM Media from posed development and the aggressive tion. As such, a proposal that would see building a 45 metre tower at 87 George supporting structures in the form of a the demolition and relocation of Street in the heart of the Byward Market. pedestrian bridge over the Rideau canal heritage buildings in order to facilitate the City Council was given the opportunity to and two, two-storey enclosed linkages construction of a huge underground reconsider its August 1999 recommenda- connecting the site to the National Arts parking facility as a solution to the tour tion to Industry Canada that the Centre, the Rideau Centre and the bus problem is defended. In the process, construction of the tower be permitted. Congress Centre respectively. A revised the monument obsessed types will have The irony is, in the end, it was Industry plan is available for public consultation their open plaza, albeit reduced in size, Canada itself that provided City Council and Heritage Ottawa will continue to known locally as Metcalfe Lite. with that very opportunity. The result of defend the integrity of the federally des- Introducing a residential component their work showed that the roof of the ignated to the area can only help to revitalize adjacent St. George’s high-rise condo- heritage building, the Rideau Canal it, but the clear-cutting of the south side minium would be a very suitable location area as a National Historic Site, and of the block of Sparks Street between for CHUM’s communications equipment, the visual sight-lines to Parliament Hill, Metcalfe and O’Connor makes a mock- (previously denied by CHUM Media) the Chateau Laurier and the Gatineau Continued page 2 1 President’s Report… cance is the Hardy Arcade, mendations: firstly, that Sparks Street, (which has been recognized as such by south of Wellington and north of Queen the Federal Heritage Building Review between Bank and Elgin, be designated a ery of the NCC’s claim that the core will Office (FHBRO)), a modest but rare Heritage Conservation District; be “a model of urban ecology through the example in Canada of both Art Deco secondly, that Bank Street between protection of the built and natural environ- architecture and a shopping arcade. Gloucester and Albert be designated ment”. Both the demolition and relocation This attitude ignores the municipal her- a Heritage Conservation District; and of heritage buildings and the creation of a itage evaluation of the block that gives all thirdly, that the full length of Sparks Street, public square ignores the historic signifi- buildings a category 1 rating, the highest including Elgin from Sparks to Lisgar and cance of Sparks Street rating of heritage significance, with the extending east to the Rideau Canal be as an important cultural landscape. exception of 148 Sparks that has a cate- designated a National Historic District. In Ottawa, the town versus Crown gory 2 rating. Considering that the people of dichotomy has tended to work against Some of the buildings under threat of Ottawa have no recourse as voting those sites whose history is perceived demolition date back to the 1870s; their citizens to express their support, as too local in significance. Federal urban style and materials serve as a visual or otherwise, for the NCC’s urban planning sets priorities that aim at achiev- reminder of the early phase of develop- planning decisions, it is very timely ing national objectives that often jeopar- ment of one of Ottawa’s most prominent that the Central Area West Heritage dize municipal heritage. Arguably, Sparks commercial thoroughfares. The growing Conservation District Study will be Street is one of the few streets that role of Sparks Street as a financial centre going before City Council for considera- reflects both the history of Ottawa’s com- in the twentieth century can be seen tion on May 16th of this year. Certainly mercial development at the local level as in the modest example of Beaux-Arts these recommendations and the proposed well as the growth and expansion of the Classicism of the former Bank of Canada guidelines for the management and inter- federal government, and the city’s stories Building. The former Bowles Lunch, built pretation of our city’s heritage resources deserve their place alongside the national in 1913 at 134 Sparks Street, remains allow for greater municipal control ones. unique in Ottawa where the style and over them. The only building within the block in materials, Spanish Colonial Revival The first two recommendations question that the NCC seems prepared to sheathed in glazed terra cotta cladding, for designation will enable the City to acknowledge as having heritage signifi- were specific to this lunch restaurant type. review and approve the design of new The last of two examples in Toronto was construction and alterations to heritage demolished in the 1960s. buildings within the district. Demolitions of At the open house evenings where heritage buildings in the area can be NCC planners unveiled their most recent delayed during which time discussions proposals to showcase the Core Area, can be held with the property owner to every effort is made to stress that all consider alternative solutions. The third proposals are simply “concepts” that are recommendation for the creation of a being brought forward for public consulta- National Historic District, would be tion. But in reality, the NCC has been important in interpreting, commemorating given $40 million to purchase properties; and marketing the area locally, nationally $9.2 million has already been spent to buy and internationally. It could also enable 100 Sparks Street with a market value at access to cost-sharing funds and future the time of purchase of $2.7 million. The tax incentives from the federal govern- ment. It is hoped that our municipal coun- Heritage Ottawa is a non-profit eagerness to progress with the "conceptu- organisation dedicated to advocating al" plans becomes only cillors will see this as an opportunity to set the preservation, restoration, and too evident. a crucial example that demonstrates the adaptive re-use of the National Interestingly, the final report of importance of the city’s heritage resources Capital’s built and natural heritage. the Central Area West Heritage before municipal amalgamation is final- Conservation District Study, commis- ized. On a lighter note, Heritage Ottawa’s Membership fees: Individual $25 sioned by the City of Ottawa, that deals first Walking Tour of the 2000 season will Family $30; Student/Senior $15 with the identification, protection and man- be under way on May 28th at 2 p.m. from Patron $50; Corporation $75 agement of heritage resources in the 62 John Street in New Edinburgh. We have two new tours on offer this year, so Heritage Ottawa, 2 Daly Avenue, Central Area of Ottawa makes important Ottawa, ON, K1N 6E2, Tel. 230- recommendations that address the need members, look for your Walking Tour flyer 8841 to balance the civic realm and the capital to arrive soon. 1SSN 1483-9032 realm more effectively. Editor: James D. Georgiles The report makes three key recom- Layout: Tyrell Reproductions Ltd. 2 Bank of Canada Doors By James D. Georgiles models to the final stage.