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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-046-15 Planning Services Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: Planning and Development Committee Date of Meeting: September 14, 2015 Report Number: Resolution Number: PSD-046-15 PD-012-15 File Number: By-law Number: PLN 34.10.3 Report Subject: Ontario Heritage Trust Recognition Program Recommendations: 1. That Report PSD-046-15 be received; 2. That the Ontario Heritage trust be advised that the Council of the Corporation of the Municipality of Clarington nominates: a. Brian and Audrey Jose for recognition under the Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation for their significant contribution to the conservation of Clarington’s built heritage with restoring The Walbridge House; and 3. That Brian and Audrey Jose, the Ontario Heritage Trust, and all interested parties listed in Report PSD-046-15 be advised of Council’s decision. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Page 2 Report Overview The Ontario Heritage Trust requests Council endorsement of local volunteers for recognition under the Trust's Heritage Community Recognition Program. Brian and Audrey Jose have been recommended for recognition by The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society, Clarington Heritage Committee and Staff for their refurbishment of the Walbridge House. 1 . Background The annual Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Awards, administered by Ontario Heritage Trust, enables Council to recognize individuals and small project groups who have made significant contributions to heritage preservation in Clarington. Eligibility for nomination applies to any resident over the age of 18, who has made outstanding volunteer contributions in their local community in the area of built, cultural, or natural heritage preservation. Small project groups may also be considered for nomination where the effort is shared, such as the co-authors of a local history publication. The types of activity that qualify are defined below: 1.1 Built Heritage • leadership in the restoration and preservation of heritage structures; • outstanding contributions as a volunteer member of a municipal heritage committee or other organization dedicated to preserving heritage structures; and • significant fund raising to support the restoration of a historic structure. 1.2 Cultural Heritage • outstanding contributions as a volunteer with a historical society, museum, or historic site; • research or writing related to local history; • voluntary teaching of local history or traditions; • personal collections of local artifacts, heritage photographs or memorabilia that are shared with the community; and • volunteer participation in activities or events that protect, preserve or promote First Nations, Metis, Franco-Ontarian heritage or others. 1.3 Natural Heritage • significant volunteer work at a conservation authority/area or parkland; • outstanding contributions as a volunteer with a local natural heritage organization; • demonstrated leadership in the protection of natural heritage; and • significant natural heritage conservation activities by private landowners. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Page 3 1.4 Lieutenant Governor's Ontario Heritage Award for Lifetime Achievement • an individual who, for 25 years or more, has made exceptional contributions to built, cultural and/or natural heritage conservation. Staff consulted with the Clarington Heritage Committee, Newcastle Village and District Historical Society and the Clarington Museum about potential nominees. 2. Recommended Nomination Brian and Audrey Jose are nominated in the excellence in conservation category for their work in restoring The Walbridge House. The Clarington Heritage Committee during the spring of 2015 agreed that recognition of the Jose's for their purchase and refurbishment work on the Walbridge House was worthy of nomination. Since that time Staff have worked with Newcastle Village and District Historical Society to assemble the nomination materials. All nominations are to be endorsed by Council. Figure 1: The Walbridge House prior to refurbishment f - _ Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Page 4 Figure 2: The Walbridge House nearing completion of the refurbishment � a � ,"�•�_ -ate w � a Attachment 1 are the supporting reasons for Mr. and Mrs. Jose's nomination. The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society has provided additional supporting information, photographs of the various stages of construction are included on the blog the Jose's kept during the process and will be submitted as well. Attachment 2 is a listing of the previous nominations that have been submitted by Clarington for recognition of various individuals and groups. 3. Concurrence Not Applicable 4. Conclusion Staff have worked with the Newcastle Village and District Historical Society to document the reasons that Brian and Audrey Jose are being nominated as 2015 recipients of the Heritage Community Recognition Program awards in the built heritage category and recommend Council endorsement of the nomination. The Ontario Heritage Trust has confirmed that they are accepting nominations until September 30, 2015. Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Page 5 5. Strategic Plan Application Not applicable. Submitted by:--/lk-"/ Reviewed by: D ' . Crome, MCIP, RPP Franklin Wu, Direc or of Planning Services Chief Administrative Officer Staff Contact: Brandon Weiler, Planner, 905-623-3379 ext. 2424 or bweiler @clarington.net Attachments: Attachment 1 - Description of Activities/Achievements of Mr. and Mrs. Jose Attachment 2 - List of Ontario Heritage Trust Nominees from Clarington The following is a list of the interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Clarington Heritage Committee Newcastle Village District and Historical Society Ontario Heritage Trust Brian and Audrey Jose BW/FL/df Attachment 1 to Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Description of Activities/Achievements of Mr. and Mrs. Jose The application form includes the following six description categories that have to be answered in 250 words or less. Supplementary information such as photos of the refurbishment, the reasons for heritage designation and letter of support from Newcastle Village and District Historical Society will also be attached to the nomination. Introduction: Brain and Audrey Jose purchased this property in May 2012. The home had been used as a sales and contractors office (1987-2006). The Municipality designated the house in 2007 after an appeal to the Conservation Review Board. When the Jose's purchased the home it had been vacant for some 6-7 years, lived in at time by vagrants' and a number of animals. The roof and basement had been leaking. The home suffered an interior fire in 1941 and there had been some alterations that affected the structure of the home. The Jose's are descendants of the original owner Asa E. Walbridge. The house is one of the oldest homes in Durham Region on its original foundation. Over the past 2-3 years the Jose's with their contractor Jim Sculthorpe and under the watchful eye of(Aunt) Erla Jose have brought the house back to its grandeur of earlier days. Leadership: The Jose's initiated a discussion with the developer/owner of the property. The developer had no interest in conserving the house and was allowing it to disintegrate. The Jose's purchased the property not having seen its condition but rather based on their memory from many years earlier. They Jose's retained a knowledgeable contractor willing to work with the structure, salvage materials and accentuate its historical attributes. A mason restored the stone foundation, a master carpenter exposed the wood post and beam along with its joinery to conserve the integrity with which the house had originally been constructed in 1819. It is the collaboration of the contractor, his craftsmen and the Jose's that has rejuvenated the house while conserving its most noteworthy aspects. This is not a restoration or a renovation the work has demonstrated and embodied the conservation ethic but also incorporated new materials to make the house livable and meet code. Commitment: Patience is required to conserve a loved family treasure. The Jose's took a risk when purchasing the house that its bones were solid and flexible. In many ways it was an act of faith. They then entrusted that faith to their contractor (along with a limited budget) and ample time. The contractor worked with the Municipality's Heritage Committee, Staff and the process for the salvage of materials from buildings being demolished to make way for Highway 407. Taking materials and fitting them into the house. The true test is when family members come to see the home and marvel at how it has not changed. Creativity: Creativity is the combination of everyone working together to achieve that same goal. There are a number of ingenious ways the Jose's and their contractor have showcased the homes' heritage physically. However there have been many other creative ways this house continues to capture people's imaginations. Brian took up the challenge of communicating about the house while it was undergoing its transformation by blogging at becominghome.ca/ The approach the Jose's took with the developer was unconventional but proved successful. Local historical authorities spread the word about the house during the bleak years when it was vacant, through newspaper articles, having it listed on the most endangered sites and keeping its plight in front of the local Council. Impact: Many different groups and agencies have a vested interest in this property. The Newcastle Village and District Historical Society has championed the designation and refurbishment of the home. The Clarington Heritage Committee have worked with the owners and contractor to ensure that they have maintained the integrity of the reasons for designation. The Municipality has contributed by providing Community Improvement Plan grants for building facade, code and permits. The Municipality also provides heritage incentive grants that can be applied for annually for ongoing enhancements and repair. The Municipality attempted to work with the previous owner to redevelop the home, including offers for development credits and enhanced zoning. It was not until the Jose's became involved that the developer was willing to relinquish the property. Quality of Conservation: The Jose's have not yet moved in; however their belongings have been shipped from England and are stacked in the various rooms as the moulding and doors are being reinstalled. The house is becoming a home again, Brian and Audrey already have favourite spaces that they like to sit or look out from. The house will be showcased during Doors Open 2016 when the celebration of World Newcastle's will be in Newcastle, Ontario. The 200th anniversary of the first service for Methodism will be November 5th, 2024 and the house is ready to host and carry on for another 200 years because of the high calibre and quality of its conservation. Attachment 2 to Municipality of Clarington Report PSD-046-15 Ontario Heritage Trust Nominations Year Nominee Cate,gory Staff Report 1998 Sher Leetooze Volunteer Service, writing Volunteer Service, Preservation of Phyllis Dewell, Helen Schmid, Cultural Heritage and and Natural 2001 Frank Lockhart Heritage respectively PD-058-01 Dianna Grandfield (Mavis Preservation of Cultural Heritage Carlton, Nancy Miller, Garfield (Bowmanville Book), volunteer 2002 Shaw) ; Janie Dodds service, respectively 2004 Jack Gordon Preservation of Cultural Heritage 2005 Tenzin and Norman G altsan Built Heritage Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Built Heritage and Cultural Myno Van Dyk, Jim and Heritage (Tyrone Mill), Natural Margaret Coombs, Robert Heritage Hawk Ridge Farm, 2006 Shafer, Iry and Kaye Harrell respectively PSD-117-06 2008 William Calver (Military History) Preservation of Cultural Heritage PSD-079-08 Ed Vanhaverbeke, Gabbie 2011 Kirkwood Built Heritage, Youth Award PSD-055-11 Jenni Knox, Bill Patterson, Built Heritage, Lifetime Enfield United Church Achievement and Volunteer 2012 Volunteers Service PSD-038-12 Preservation of Cultural Heritage Garfield Shaw, Karin Murphy (writing), volunteer service (photo and David Reesor, Frank inventory) Lieutenant Governor 2013 Stapleton Award PSD-056-13 Preservation of Cultural Heritage, Lifetime Achievement and 2014 Ron Alldread, Susan Laing Volunteer Service PSD-051-14 i