HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-054-07
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REPORT
PLANNING SERVICES
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Date: Monday, May 7, 2007 ~\Jo.,::t:tQPA-33~'0l
Report #: PSD-054-07 File #: PLN 34.11.12 By-law #:Jo07-/of
Subject: HERITAGE DESIGNATION
THE WALBRIDGE HOUSE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PSD-054-07 be received;
2. THAT the By-law attached to Report PSD-054-07 to designate The Walbridge House,
483 King Avenue East, Newcastle Village as a property of cultural heritage or interest
be forwarded to Council;
3. THAT the Municipal Clerk be authorized to carry out all actions necessary to complete
the process of property designation pursuant to the Ontario Heritage Act, RS.O. 1990,
c.O.18 and detailed within Report PSD -054-07;
4. THAT a further report addressing the future uses and options for the Walbridge House
be brought back to Council; and
5. THAT all interested parties be advised of Council's decision.
Reviewed by:
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Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
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May 1, 2007
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-6506
REPORT NO.: PSD-054-07
1.0 BACKGROUND
PAGE 2
1.1 On December 1ih, 2005, Confidential Report PSD-149-05 was forwarded to Council for
information and direction. The report addressed the property located at 483 King
Avenue East and outlined the property owner's offer to donate the building to the
Municipality, their offer to sell the property to the Municipality, and their intention to
demolish the building if it was not moved or the property was not purchased.
The report requested that Council provide staff with direction on whether to:
a) pursue moving the building to another location;
b) pursue purchasing the site and building from Dunbury Homes;
c) pursue designation under the Ontario Heritage Act which could delay the
issuance of a demolition permit; or
d) issue the demolition permit when the application is received.
In turn, Council passed the following resolution:
"WHEREAS the Ontario Heritage Trust considers the Walbridge House
to be of provincial cultural heritage value in its present location;
AND WHEREAS the Clarington LACAC and the Newcastle Village and
District Historical Society considers the Walbridge House to be of
cultural heritage value;
AND WHEREAS the property owner has indicated that they are willing to
donate the building to the Municipality, or are willing to sell the property
to the Municipality, and are proposing to obtain a demolition permit if the
building is not moved or the property is not sold;
AND WHEREAS initiation of the heritage designation process under the
Ontario Heritage Act will allow time for negotiation with the developer;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOL VED THA T the Council of the
Municipality of Clarington authorizes the Clerk to prepare the notice of
intention to designate pursuant to the provisions of the Ontario Heritage
Act and report back to Council following the prescribed notification
period;
AND FURTHER that planning staff be directed to prepare a feasibility
study for municipal use of the Walbridge House and consult with the
stakeholders groups and interested parties and report back to Council."
1.2 The Municipal Clerk prepared the Notice of Intention to Designate and forwarded it to
the owners of the property and to the Ontario Heritage Trust. The notice was published
in the local newspaper on December 21St, 2005, in accordance with the provisions of the
Ontario Heritage Act. The property owners filed an objection to the designation on
January 11th, 2006.
REPORT NO.: PSD-054-07
PAGE 3
1.3 Negotiations with the property owner did not bring about a successful conclusion. On
January 29th, 2007 Council passed the following resolution:
'THAT Staff be instructed to proceed with the Conservation Review Board
Hearing, and that the owner of 483 King Avenue East (Walbridge House) be
informed that the Municipality will be proceeding with local heritage designation
regardless of ownership of the building."
1.4 The Conservation Review Board hearing date was set for April 3rd and 4th, 2007. On
March 23rd, 2007, the property owner's solicitor notified the Ministry of Culture that they
were withdrawing their objection to the designation. As the objection has been
withdrawn it is now appropriate that the designation process continue. The process
involves:
· Designation by-law being passed by Council
· Publication of notice of designation in the local newspaper
· Certified copy of the by-law forwarded to the Ontario Heritage Trust
. By-law registered on title
1.5 The original Notice of Intention contained a statement of culture heritage value or
interest prepared based on the historical information that was available at that time.
Additional historical research has been conducted since the Notice was published on
December 21St, 2005. The By-law contained in Attachment 1 contains an updated
version of the statement of historical value or interest based on information collected by
Myno Van Dyke of the Newcastle Village and District Historical Society and the Ontario
Heritage Trust.
2.0 COMMENTS
2.1 The Municipality retained an architect with a specialty in heritage conservation in
anticipation of the hearing. Michael McClelland is a principal of the firm ERA Architects
Inc., the firm specializes in heritage conservation; prior to entering private practice he
was employed as an architectural officer with the Toronto Historical Board. Michael's
report confirms and verifies the information that the Municipality, with the assistance of
the Newcastle Village and District Historical Society and Clarington Heritage
Committee, had previously presented. In addition his report provided the following
commentary:
liThe Walbridge House is a rare example of a simple early Georgian House in
relatively intact condition. Buildings of this period are unusual anywhere in the
province and they are an important record of early Canadian history. It is my
opinion that the property is worthy of designation under the Ontario Heritage Act
and that the Municipality acted appropriately in undertaking the process for
designation."
2.2 The Municipality, Newcastle Village and District Historical Society and Clarington
Heritage Committee have all supported an application to the Ontario Heritage Trust for
provincial designation. It is clear that the Province regards the property of provincial
culture heritage value and interest but prefer to have the Municipality designate the
REPORT NO.: PSD-054-07
PAGE 4
property rather than exercise their legislative power as they only would do so when
other avenues for protection have failed. The Municipality has submitted a Freedom of
Interest request to obtain the historical research that the province has compiled for our
records.
2.3 It is understood that any future use of the building may require restoration and/or
renovations to the original structure. Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act states that
Council, upon consulting with the municipal Heritage Committee, is to review any
alterations that are likely to affect the reasons for designation of the building, and to
provide its consent in writing. For example, should a future owner want to replace the
original windows, this would have to be approved by Council and the designation By-law
amended accordingly. The architectural elements that are architectural reasons why
the building was designated are detailed in Schedule "A" of Attachment 1. If a future
owner wanted to add a deck to the building and the work would not require removal of
any original features, it would only be necessary to obtain the approval of the Clarington
Heritage Committee. Any alterations that will not affect the reasons for designation,
such as installation of plumbing fixtures or kitchen cupboards, can be conducted at the
owner's discretion in conformance with the Ontario Building Code, if applicable.
3.0 CONCLUSIONS
3.1 It is recommended that the designation By-law be PASSED by Council (Attachment 1).
3.2 It is also recommended that a further report be brought back to Council which
addresses the future uses and options for the Walbridge House.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Designation By-law for the Walbridge House
Interested parties to be advised of Council's decision:
1319164 Ontario Limited
Sean Fraser, Ontario Heritage Trust
Rita Calderone, Ministry of Culture
Victor Suppan, Chair, CHC
Myno Van Dyke,
Leslie Wilson, NVDHS
Marcia J Taggart, Aird & Berlis LLP
Martha Rutherford-Conrad, Clarington Museum and Archives
Peter Rumgay
Michael McClellan, ERA Architects Inc.
Attachment 1
To Report PSO-054-07
THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
BY-LAW NO. 2007-_
being a by-law to designate the property known for municipal purposes as 483
King Avenue East, Part 9, Plan 40R-20610, Part Lot 26, Concession 1, former
Village of Newcastle, now in the Municipality of Clarington as a property of
cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act, R,S,O. 1990,
Chapter 0.18
WHEREAS the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S,O" 1990, c,O, 18 authorizes the Council of the Municipality to
enact by-laws to designate properties to be of cultural heritage value or interest for the purposes of the
Act;
WHEREAS the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington has caused to be served
upon the owner of the property known for municipal purposes at 483 King Avenue East, Part 9, Plan
40R-20610, Part Lot 26, Concession 1, former Village of Newcastle, now in the Municipality of
Clarington, Notice of Intention to Designate the aforesaid real property and has caused such Notice of
Intention to be published in the Canadian Statesman, a newspaper having general circulation in the
area of the designation on December 2'15t, 2005;
WHEREAS the reasons for the designation of the aforesaid property under the Ontario Heritage Act are
contained in Schedule "A" attached to and forming part of this By-law;
WHEREAS the Clarington Heritage Committee of the Municipality of Clarington has recommended that
the property known for municipal purposes as, 483 King Avenue East, Part 9, Plan 40R-2061 0, Part lot
26, Concession 1, former Village of Newcastle now in the Municipality of Clarington, be designated as a
property of cultural heritage value or interest under the Ontario Heritage Act;
WHEREAS the notice of objection to the proposed designation was withdrawn by the owner of the
property on March 23rd, 2007; and,
NOW THEREFORE THE COUNCIL OF THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF
ClARINGTON HEREBY ENACTS AS FOllOWS:
1, The property known for municipal purposes at, 483 King Avenue East, Part 9, Plan 40R-2061 0, Part
lot 26, Concession 1, former Village of Newcastle now in the Municipality of Clarington which is
more particularly described in Schedule "B" which is attached to and forms part of this by-law, is
hereby designated as a property which has cultural heritage value or interest under Section 29 of
the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S,O. 1990, c,,0,18,
2. The Solicitor for the Municipality of Clarington is hereby authorized to cause a copy of this by-law to
be registered against the title to the property described in Schedule "B" hereto.
3. The Municipal Clerk is hereby authorized to cause a copy of this by-law to be served upon the
owner of the property described in Schedule "B" hereto and on the Ontario Heritage Trust. The
Municipal Clerk also is authorized to cause notice of the passing of this by-law to be published in
the Canadian Statesman, a newspaper having general circulation in the area of the designation.
By-law read a first time this
By-law read a second time this
14th
14th
day of
day of
By-law read a third time and finally passed this
14th
day of
May
May
May
2007
2007
2007
Jim Abernethy, Mayor
Patti l, Barrie, Municipal Clerk
SCHEDULE 'A'
TO BY-LAW NO. 2007-
The Walbridge House is located at 483 King Avenue East in Part Lot 26, Concession 1, former
Village of Newcastle. The property was originally part of a 600 acre parcel which began at
Concession Road 3 extending southward to Metcalfe Street. In 1792 the land was a Crown
Grant to Rachel Cruickshank who apparently was a close personal friend of Mrs, John Graves
Simcoe (Elizabeth Postumus). In 1816 Rachel Cruickshank sold the land to Asa E. Wallbridge
for $1200. The combined enumeration and assessment roll for Clarke Township, Archives of
Ontario, indicates that Asa E. Walbridge built the house between 1825 and 1826. The
Walbridge House was a very large home for its time and had a total of six fireplaces.
Asa E. Wallbridge was born 1782 in Dutchess County, New York State. In 1809 he married
Hannah Every and they had five children. He was appointed a magistrate by the Province,
however, this may be a Justice of the Peace. In March of 1838, the Bond Head Harbour
Company received its charter and one of the founding Directors was Asa E. Walbridge. Asa E.
died in1860 in Newcastle Village.
Starting in 1805, the Methodists had what were called Saddlebag Preachers and the Smith's
Creek Circuit stretched from Belleville to York (Toronto). In 1824 a second preacher named
Rev. Anson Green was added to the circuit. On November 4th he preached the first Methodist
sermon at Asa E. Walbridge's house on the main road. Thus, a Methodist congregation was
officially founded in the Wallbridge House. In November of 1974, the 150th anniversary of
Methodisim in Newcastle was celebrated and the opening ceremonies took place at the home.
From 1950 to 1958 this house was known as the Gladibrae Tourist Home, a bed and breakfast
owned and operated by Harry and Louise Jose. Descendents of the Walbridge family
continued to reside in this home until 1987 when it was sold to a developer.
The house is a one and a half storey, five panel front, Georgian style home which exhibits a
profile and arrangement of exterior features favoured in the earlier decades of the 19th
century. It is unusually wide as its exterior dimensions are 43 feet in width by 34 feet in depth.
The original clapboard siding has been covered with aluminum, and the second floor dormer is
a 20th century addition. The original six over six, four over four, and three over one windows
remain, as does the original stone foundation. The ground flooring 5/4 inch pine rests on top
of logs, some of which are hand hewn, which rests on the outside stone foundation and
scattered inside stone pillars. There are 7" by 2" bricks on the back outer wall adjacent to the
clapboard siding. The front porch retains its six over six sidelights, its transom, 39" wide
entrance door, and entablature. Interior features include the servant's staircase, window
casings, interior doors and woodwork, wood flooring and pole rafters. The building retains its
centre chimney and there is evidence of a bread oven at its base. There are only 92 known
buildings in all of Ontario that are of this vintage. The Walbridge House may be the second
oldest house within the historic boundaries of the former Durham County and may be the
oldest building in Clarington on its original foundation.
SCHEDULE IB'
TO BY-LAW 2007-
ALL AND SINGULAR those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Municipality of Clarington, in the Regional Municipality of Durham and being more
particularly described as:
483 King Avenue East, Part 9, Plan 40R-2061 0, Part Lot 26, Concession 1, former Village of
Newcastle now in the Municipality of Clarington