Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) - Municipal Heritage
March 18/04 Report
Room 110, City Hall

Committee:
D. Dent (Chair), J.Chlebowski (Vice Chair), W.Buchko, A.Charlton, B.Hoekstra, B.Murray, S.Wray, J.Feswick, R.McKee, D.Reid, A.French

Councillors: Maria Pearson and Brian McHattie (the required number of council representation mandated)

Clerk: Alexandra Rawlings. City Staff members at this particular meeting Bill (?) and David Cuming, Senior project manager Planning and Development.

Last LACAC meeting was held on Feb. 25th.

This committee is the newly combined Municipal Heritage Committtee of all the amalgamated LACAC's that formerly existed.They have been put under the new title Municipal Heritage Committee though this might be a contentious issue.

The meeting opened with greetings to all from Chair, Diane Dent.Also stating that as this is a staggered committee and date of notice will be April 1st. with three up for renewal by the Selection Board .

Item 1. Declarations of Interest: none

Item 2. Endangered Buildings : Gage House off list put Victoria Hall on list. Developers were going to tear down home ( Gage House).Devlopers told not to tear down as not permissable. Moved by A. Charlton to take Gage House off list and put Victoria Hall on Seconded. Carried.

Presentations: The Red Hill Designation-

Don't have reasons for designation . Discussed in 2001 and 2002. Difficult to put valley's under designation.The valley is under municipal ownership. No great benefit to do the work.

Barb: "Do we take it off or keep it on the list?"

Maria Pearson:Would be some initiatve re: Native Canadians. Do you want this tabled for later on?

Chair: "All the committee knows that Gore Park was an area we tried to designate. LACAC has an interest. Need some recommendations.

Brian McHattie:"It isn't worthwhile to let it fall between the cracks. Give opportunity to sign agreements with the Confederacy. No,(difficult to hear in this room.Speakers are all facing the Chair who is at the far end of room. will request to sit up near chair or at least to have a tape recorder there so conversations are picked up readily.) LACAC has an interest in the the Valley re: initiatives.Actual designation doesn't make sense. Barb: Like opportunity to develop a plan,not just a museum-like information. City has a policy won't designate without a request of owner -City is owner of Red Hill and of Gore Park.

Pearson :"Not sure of.Expressway any need of that will come in conjunction with that.

Chair :"LACAC heritage committee that they have opportunity to discuss."

Pearson:"Not sure of heritage issues."

McHattie :"Valley is rich in cultural and natural issues". City to be consulted on natural and cultural issues not just-designation .Request a presentation by Chris Murray on natural and cultural issues with Confederacy. Worthwhile for him to discuss heritage aspects. (see Appendix A attached to Agenda).

David Cuming: Nina Chappell . Marshall Lime Kilns-on Lincoln Alexander Expressway. 1980's 1990's city has done ...Watershed Management Plan has been involved for a long time. Chris Murray has been veiled in somewhat confidential manner because of sensative issues.There has been conversations/discussions on this.

Chair: "Received.This committeewould like to be involved in that. Cultural issues.

McHattie :"Needs to be discussed with Chris."

Chair :"Like it to be moved by- Donna Reid and seconded by Brian McHattie. Adopted unanimously."

Minutes: 4.1 Adopted .

4.1.1` Robin Mckee asked to have the capital letters removed from the 4.1 to lower case, the words being (Municpal Heritage) municipal heritage.

4.2 Business arising from minutes-

onto

4.2.4 Review of list of the City property inventory:

Reid:Trevor Hall -nil

Chair: Auchmar- Land Trust to be considered like Ruthven ?(B .McHattie)

Chair:"Action Committee to discuss new idea."

Chair: Hamilton City Hall? Jeff not here to discuss.------new City Hall?

McHattie: "Renovate building as stands. Adding a 2nd building to existing structure. We are trying to find rules of engagement. Get clear guidelines.Someone wants to rebuild from scratch-we decided to renovate and rebuild on this location."

David Cuming(?):"If you remember we did a proper reassessment . Reasons for renovation have been- This building has a cultural designation. Stan Bosco -1960's, Eaton's1949-1959 (I presume from this that he was the architect). Culmination of this man's work. This building is a rare piece of architecture -re: architectural magazine. City may be acting in bad faith: one hand they know essentially designated as a historical building. Next they are tryingto call developers to rebuild.

Pearson: ":Being on the Planning Committee (I think referring to D.Cuming) I want to know if it is on the list?"

Cuming:" Listed."

Chair: "Potentially listed doesn't always give the same as listed."

Cuming:"A Cultural Heritage Report ----------."

Chair: "Would help to have it on record.Councillors need to know-------------."

Bill (This gentleman came after the meeting started, I believe from staff-) : "This issue is supposed to be reconsidered, and a proposal to be carried forward. Not quite clear on this.

Chair: "Needs the info at finger tips."

Do not know name of speaker here(young woman) speaks: "Cultural Heritage Assessment. No standing Committee. The info, why listed and what significance it has. It was issued in the the Heritage News. Assessment done then. We don't have access to information. Now here we are again and council why are they raising this now when it has been discussed over again when we went through this on the Mary St. Bridge, the Red Hill Expressway------------------------.'"

Chair: "Policy-is it so that----something new or is it more practice? Is it practice not policy? The City will step in if owner wants to buy into designation. Oh, that LACAC is always there at the last minute-we nearly lost the old Library by one vote.

Cuming:" Designation is just one way . automatically. Gage House old farmsted . a whole series of designations-time consuming to put together a wish list of properties that need to be designated. 3-5 yrs.cultural-course of action where this Committee can provide to council.This committee advises to council property A,property B ,etc.

McHattie:"Bring this forward in next meeting.In practical terms and we have to choose for developers.Our job to sway as to the best Heritage designation root. City been discussing for 2 years at least. Folks on council need to understand.

Chair:"Most of us may not understand the aspect of architectural significance of this building."

Board Member: "Most gratifying to hear that we are making a decision on what we are doing. LACAC has not got a dead issue, but have tried to deal with this, but as the Standing Committee we need.."

Chair :April LACAC (zoning) bi-law and how we designate to be discussed further. Move us on Victoria Hall on list.Up for sale and being rnovated.

Robin McKee: Bank of Montreal-?

D. Cuming : 5.1 on the list.

4.2.3 - attached to March's Agenda. Concerning Municipal Heritage members and contact numbers.

4.2.4 - Cuming: (Includes list of city owned designated properties-see attachment with Agenda.) "Pulled out to the best of our ability about 25 properties."

Robin: How many for sale?"

Chair: "Is Auchmar?"

Cuming: Real state holdings. Release some of these properties back to private sale? Auchmar is special..House may go back to private, but . There are 1,700 properties.This is an ongoing process."

Chair : "We are passionate, patient, and caring."

Chair : "Assessment criteria."

Young Lady speaking:"Have we got our designation criteria-?"

Chair; "Look at page three." Carried.

Unknown speaker: "Page 8? Talk about after business arises.4.2.9?"

4.2.5 - Cultural heritage assessment for City Hall-already discussed.

4.2.6 - Draft Letter to owners of heritage buildings -see Item 4.2.6 attached to Agenda Verbal update by A.Rawlings.

D.Cuming's suggested changes, such as, try to add major source of funding. Limited public/private--( i.e.Hamilton Community Foundation is private, but not for profit organization.)

Idea moved by Sylvia Wray to have letter changed,seconded by-------.--------.

Chair: "Thank Anne for the letter."

Designated districts.Voted by Committee.-CARRIED.

Board Member:"Is there a mailing list of who would see the letter?"

A.Rawlings:"Yes,we send out a letter to the last assessed owner of the property."

4.2.7 - progress on nominees for OHF Awards-

Chair: "Anyone have named person?"(to my knowledge no reply, but this maybe incorrect).

4.2.8 - disposition of cheque from sale of posters of Haida.Board member had cheque in hand of 40 Agenda dollars.

4.2.9 -Name Change of Committee-D.Cuming_"In 1975 -the then known LACAC-reason for name change 2002. The Gov't.Effecincy Act stated that LACAC's would become the Municipal Heritage Committees. Recognized that it was above just buildings.Ministries rationale that represents various communities modelled on the Hamilton Historical Board and how long people served.Refer to page 8 of Agenda. Including 6 Nations becoming more complex.

Chair: "Silly,it does seem silly.Gov't.says it is necesary."

Barb ?:"Look at web-site. It doesn't say the name has to change. Hamilton Municipal Advisory Committee", suggested.

Barb(same person,unsure)?:"Efficiency Act-3 have been on this ..Quite clear on existing committees name change. New name arbitrarily introduced on Agenda's site. Been in existance for 3 or 4 years with amalgamated city. Not interested in mediating. Orientations,workshops, invite Recreation and Culture as a resource. To see what our Committee will be like in the future." Tabled.

Chair: "Betty Thompson--------------------------------------?"

Robin M:"Dunnville, put on by the ministry for old and new Historical people. April 24th/04. Heather Thompson begins at 9:00am to 3:00pm.

Name of Committee? (could be reference to Hamilton Municipal Advisory Committee suggestion) .

Chair: "Blame Conservative Gov't!"

Robin M.:"They are wrong!"

Chair :"Let's have a quiet meeting on this."

Robin: Item 7.2 -Last page.(could refer to past Agenda) M.Hert.(didn't get name) in small letters put in "advisory". Carried.

5.1 Applications for Heritage permit-

Robin M.:" 52 James St S. not 51."

At this point the meeting had past 1:15 and I had to depart.Sorry about this.Hope you can make some sense of it all.Jane E.

Numerous attachments of which I may not have all as there may have been some handed out after I left..I shall list;

Agenda-Mar.18th/04 with attachments to Planning and Development 5.1 and,8.1,9.2 referring to Historical Plaques,and name change of Committee.