Hamilton LACAC (Municipal Heritage Committee)
August 25, 2005
Start time: 12:05 pm

ABSENT
Councilors Pearson (vacation) and McHattie (personal).
There were only 7 citizen members present including the Chair.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
none

PREVIOUS MINUTES July 28, 2005
approved as revised

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

265 Mill Street South - Withdrawal of Designation Request
Staff as directed sent a letter to the property owners explaining the historical importance of the property and encouraged them to reconsider their decision in withdrawing their request to have the property designated.

Beach Lighthouse and House Keeper's Cottage
Prior to amalgamation, a plaque had been approved by the City of Hamilton . An error had been found with the plaque, but it appears that a correction plaque has never been produced.
To go to the Joint Plaquing Sub-Committee.

Smart-Turner Building , 191 Barton Street East , Hamilton , ON
Staff requested to provide justification for the name Smart-Turner Building versus Smart-Turner-Hayward Building .

Tivoli , 108 James Street North , Hamilton , ON : Protection Against Winter Conditions
Director of Building & Licensing requested to provide comments as to whether or not the Tivoli Theatre, 108 James Street North is adequately protected for winter conditions in relation to the Property Standards By-law. Inspection to be done and response submitted for September agenda.

Tivoli , 108 James Street North , Hamilton : Owners' Intentions
The owners intend to sell the property.
There are some internal problems like falling plaster that should be dealt with before winter.
No services have been reconnected.
The building is sealed and locked, and there have been no break-ins.

APPLICATIONS FOR HERITAGE PERMITS

Heritage Permit Application to Permit Alterations and Additions to a Designated Property at 129 York Road , Dundas
approved

REQUESTS FOR HERITAGE DESIGNATION

Recommendation to Designate 191 Barton Street East , Hamilton , ( Smart-Turner Building ) Owned by Hamilton Health Sciences
The proposed designation is under Council direction.
The building is of industrial heritage value and the property of industrial archaeological value.
There are no grants available to rehabilitate a designated heritage property, only loans.
HHS is planning to sever the property and for $1 sell it to The Mark Preece Family House group.
In light of the following presentation, despite a comprehensive Staff report recommending designation, deferred to October 27 by a vote of 5 to 1.

PRESENTATIONS

Elaine Scrivener, Executive Director - The Mark Preece Family House
The presenter requested deferral of the above recommendation (until an environmental assessment is done).
approved

Ray/Pearl North Heritage District Proposal, Lee Baxter
The presenter requested that the area of the Strathcona neighbourhood around Ray, King, Napier, Pearl ie. the old Loretta Academy area be designated. This area is currently scheduled for a redevelopment which designation would curtail considerably.
The committee unanimously requested Staff to report back on the possibility of designation.

Proposed Alterations (Marble Slabs and Glass Mosaics) to Hamilton City Hall; Gordan Kack, Vice President, MHPM Project Managers Inc.
Even though City hall is a designated property (despite the upcoming appeal with the OMB), permanent alteration work will proceed on the Council Chamber portion of the structure for "health and safety reasons" without a Heritage Permit.

York Boulevard Bike Lanes Class Environmental Assessment, Public Works
PW is seeking input because the High Level Bridge is designated. Alterations could involve widening the sidewalk and/or moving the lighting poles to permit the installation of bicycle lanes.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Delegation of Council Consent to Staff for Alternations to Designated Property under the Ontario Heritage Act
Currently Council can prevent demolition of a designated heritage building and must also approve alterations to such a building. The process involves LACAC who makes recommendations to Council on the advice of Staff, and usually takes from 30 to 60 days.

This new streamlined process which Staff and LACAC recommends to Council will give the Director of Development and Real Estate (Staff) the power to consent to alterations to property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act on advice of Staff and LACAC, thereby bypassing Council and shortening the process to 10 to 30 days.

NB. A draft By-law is appended to the proposal, which if approved by Council, puts all power respecting the granting of consents and approvals for the alteration of designated properties entirely in the hands of the Director of Development and Real Estate, thereby bypassing both LACAC and Council. This Appendix was, in effect, approved by LACAC along with the recommendation outlined above.

Stinson Street School ; Proposed Demolition
A letter has been sent to the Hamilton-Wentworth Board of Education informing them that the Stinson Street School , which they have slated for demolition, is a designated heritage building and therefore protected under the Ontario Heritage Act.

SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS

Joint Plaquing Sub-committee Minutes
Summer break - no meetings in July / August.

Heritage Permit Review Sub-committee
no report

 Education Sub-committee
no report - Chair absent (again)

Inventory and Research Sub-committee
no report - Chair absent

Policy Sub-committee
no report

Plaquing Priority Sub-committee
no report

FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE COMMITTEE

Victoria Hall
New owner will be adaptively reusing the building (and the MacKay Building next door). A Heritage Permit for any exterior alterations will be required.

Former CIBC Building, 281 Herkimer Street
Being listed as a surplus City property (donated to the City for use as a new Locke Street Library). Intention to designate.

Brabant Editorial; A House Divided Cannot Stand ( August 12, 2005 )

ADJOURNMENT
2:00 pm

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS
NB. No Outstanding Business was dealt with at this meeting.

Plaquing Requirements for 2006 Budget Consideration
That a proposal be put together and provided to Council, through the Hamilton Historical Board, stating the Plaquing requirements for the 2006 budget.

November Book Fair Volunteers
A. French has agreed to volunteer (with others), if next to Glanbrook table. Committee members to give consideration with respect volunteering at the November Book Fair.

St. Mark's Church
Structural assessment report not finalized. Staff is expecting the report from the consultant, prior to end of May.

Auchmar Estate - Proposed National Heritage Designation
Referral from May 11/05 Council. Item forwarded to the MHC for comment and a report to the Planning & Economic Development Committee.

Public Education of the Value of Heritage Buildings
This Item was referred to the Education Sub-committee for consideration.

Final Mission Statement
Members have been provided opportunity to submit comments. September meeting will be to hold final vote.

Archaeological Study of the Book House Property
A. Charlton advised that she has approached Swisscan about undertaking an Archaeological study and that they are presently thinking about the request. She also noted that archaeological work is needed on the site.

Possible Designation of the Second Book House and Cemetery
A. Charlton has contacted the Roman Catholic Diocese and sent them information regarding designation. She will follow up with them in this regard.

Hamilton Sign By-law
Councilor Pearson provided an update with respect to the process and the public meetings, which were currently being held. She asked staff to provide members of the Hamilton LACAC with a copy of the pertinent section of the draft by-law, once it has been completed.

ENDANGERED BUILDINGS LIST

(D = designated; ND = not designated; L = listed on the MHC list; NL = no status; NHS = National Historic Site)

The following were not dealt with at this meeting -

• Treble Hall, John Street North (L)
• Red Hill Creek Valley (L, ND)
• Lister Block, James Street North (D)
• Carnegie Gallery, Dundas (D)
• St. Marks (D)
• Tweedside Church (L)