Meeting 01-2020
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City of Kingston Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 To: Chair and Members of the Heritage Kingston From: Lanie Hurdle, Chief Administrative Officer Resource Staff: Paige Agnew, Director, Planning, Building & Licensing Services Date of Meeting: December 19, 2019 Subject: Application for Heritage Permit under the Ontario Heritage Act Address: 76 Stuart Street (P18-355) File Number: P18-069-2019 Council Strategic Plan Alignment: Theme: Regulatory & compliance Goal: 3.2 Enhance public safety through active transportation and a focus on pedestrian access and enforcement. Executive Summary: The application is requesting approval to undertake significant masonry work to remove and reconstruct the main entrance limestone stairwell and knee wall on the main floor porch of Watkins Wing, Kingston General Hospital (Part IV Designation). The intention is to reinstate the stairwell, including steel handrail, to its original configuration, including salvage and/or repair of existing materials for re-use, where possible. The stairs have experienced a high level of deterioration and have been identified as hazardous. The stairwell and associated knee walls are significant features that contribute to the building’s heritage value, and should be reinstated to help preserve this valued heritage resource. Upon review of all the submitted materials, as well as applicable policies and legislation, staff recommend approval of the proposed scope of work, subject to the conditions outlined herein. 54 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 December 18,2019 Page 2 of 9 Recommendation: That Heritage Kingston recommends to Council: That alterations to the property at 76 Stuart Street (Watkins Wing), be approved in accordance with the details described in the application (File Number P18-069-2019), which was deemed complete on Friday, November 8th, 2019, with said alterations to include the deconstruction, repair (as required) and reinstallation of all stairwell elements, to match the feature’s original configuration; and That the approval of the erection be subject to the following conditions: 1. All masonry work shall be completed in accordance with the City’s Policy on Masonry Restoration in Heritage Buildings; 2. A Building Permit shall be obtained for reconstruction works. The application is to include a commitment to review from the project engineer and stamped drawings; 3. An Encroachment Permit shall be obtained, as required; 4. Existing material shall be salvaged and re-used to the greatest extent possible; and 5. Ensure any impact to exiting is reviewed with KGH and alternative arrangements are made including a temporary amendment to their existing fire safety plan, as required. 55 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 December 18,2019 Page 3 of 9 Authorizing Signatures: Lanie Hurdle, Chief Administrative Officer Consultation with the following Members of the Corporate Management Team: Peter Huigenbos, Acting Commissioner, Community Services Not required Brad Joyce, Acting Commissioner, Corporate Services Not required Jim Keech, President & CEO, Utilities Kingston Not required Desirée Kennedy, Chief Financial Officer & City Treasurer Not required Sheila Kidd, Commissioner, Transportation & Public Works Not required 56 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 December 18,2019 Page 4 of 9 Options/Discussion: Description of the Application The subject portion of the property at 76 Stuart Street is located on the south side of Stuart Street and relates to the Watkins Wing of the Kingston General Hospital. The subject property is located on the south side of Stuart Street, between Barrie Street and University Avenue. The property is part of the Kingston General Hospital, a National Historic site designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The property contains a number of 19th century limestone heritage buildings, including the subject of focus, Watkins Wing. The Watkins Wing, which includes portions of the original hospital building, was built in 1833 and enlarged in 1862. The building is a four-storey limestone structure and remains an active part of the hospital. Application (File Number P18-069-2019), with regard to the Watkins Wing/Main building, is requesting approval to deconstruct, repair and reinstate the main stairwell to its original configuration. The intent of the alteration is to once again make the stairwell safe and functional, while reconstructing the feature to its original reconfiguration so as to conserve the building’s heritage value. An engineering report, prepared by Fishburn Sheridan and Associates Limited, was submitted in support of this application (Exhibit C). The report notes that “the stairs leading to the entrance of Watkins Wing have experienced a high level of deterioration resulting in what has been identified as a hazard to building users.” It is believed that water infiltration and freeze/thaw cycles have contributed to the deterioration of the stairwell and knee wall. It is apparent that repairs have been made over the years, by means of repointing or application of additional mortar, to help preserve the feature’s worsening condition. However, many foundational stones have cracked and/or broken away, and the stair treads have deteriorated to the point where replacement has become necessary. The applicants are proposing to repair and/or replace the existing stones used in the stairwell and knee wall, including additional treatments to ensure the longevity of the feature that include; • Installation of a reinforced concrete foundation (including application of waterproof membrane to all exposed faces), • Stair treads reinstalled and/or replaced (where deteriorated) with similar limestone material (including bush hammered finish on exposed faces), • Stair knee walls reinstalled to their original configuration, using existing salvaged stones, doweled into the top surface to ensure stability, • Stair side wall stones, reinstalled or replaced (where deteriorated) with new materials to suit the original stair configuration. New materials to receive bush hammered finish to match existing stone (as required), • Landing knee wall stones will be repaired and reset in original locations. Provision will be made at the surface of the landing to provide a means of drainage from the landing 57 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 December 18,2019 Page 5 of 9 side of the stone wall in order to prevent additional infiltration of water into the stone and mortar joints, and subsequent damage from freeze-thaw cycles. Treatment might entail some form of inconspicuous drainage tubes installed through the mortar joints of the landing knee wall. Drainage detail yet to be confirmed. • Existing hand rail will be removed and reinstated following completion of masonry work. It shall be noted that the condition and configuration of the current stone foundation is unknown, as there are no original construction drawings for the building and no records of previous repair to the stairs. Therefore, design modification may be required depending on what conditions are found during the course of deconstruction. All of the repointing/masonry works should 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 recommend approval of the proposed applications, subject to the conditions outlined herein. 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, or submission materials may also be found by searching the file number. This application was deemed complete on November 8, 2019. 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 42(4). This timeframe will expire on February 6, 2020. 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.” According to an excerpt on the property from Canada’s Historic Places (Exhibit B), “the Kingston General Hospital was designated as a national historic site in 1995 for three reasons; • It is the oldest public hospital in Canada still in operation with most of its buildings intact and thus effectively illustrates the evolution of health care in Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries; 58 Report to Heritage Kingston Report Number HK-20-003 December 18,2019 Page 6 of 9 • The Main Building and the Watkins Wing are noteworthy for their lengthy association with the origins of hospitals as institutions of poor relief in the pre-Confederations era; and, • The Nickle Wing, Doran Building, Fenwick Opening Theatre,