Latest news with #BuiltHeritageCommittee
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
Ottawa to spend $500,000 to enhance façades of historic Bank Street buildings
The City of Ottawa is looking to make aesthetic improvements to the façade of commercial heritage buildings to strengthen the historic character of buildings in the Bank Street area of Centretown. A report for the Built Heritage Committee proposes establishing a $500,000 Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program to encourage the restoration and conservation of heritage buildings. Under the proposed plan, eligible owners could receive 75 per cent of costs up to a maximum of $75,000 to support heritage façade improvements and restoration. 'The objective is to encourage private investment in the revitalization of the Bank Street corridor as part of the broader revitalization plan for Centretown,' says the report for the June 10 committee meeting. 'Through aesthetic façade improvements such as signage, lighting, commercial storefront improvements and heritage conservation projects such as masonry conservation, private property owners can help contribute to a vibrant Bank Street. These efforts will help reinforce a special sense of place along Bank Street as a historic main street in the downtown core.' Staff say eligible work includes improvements and restoration of storefront windows, entrances, brickwork, cornices and architectural detailing, and heritage compliant awnings, signage, painting, and lighting. The report says while a Heritage Property Grant Program already exists, the need for additional investment on Bank and Somerset streets 'has been identified through the city's ongoing work on downtown revitalization.' 'With additional funding and tailored support, the City would empower property owners to meaningfully conserve heritage features while contributing to the vibrancy of this historic main street,' staff say. Buildings eligible for the funding must be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and be located on Bank Street, between Catherine and Albert Street, and a section of Somerset Street east of Bank Street. The proposed Centretown Heritage Façade Improvement Pilot Program would run between this summer and the end of December 2026.
Ottawa Citizen
22-05-2025
- General
- Ottawa Citizen
Coffman: Church of St-François-d'Assise is a heritage gem, Archdiocese objections aside
As a Hintonburger and an architectural historian, I was delighted when the Built Heritage Committee voted on May 13 to recommend heritage designation for the Church of St-François-d'Assise. Article content Article content It's a beautiful building, but beautiful is not all it is. For many, it's sacred space. For many more, it's a landmark. It bears witness to the heritage of Hintonburg. It anchors us in history and bestows a sense of place. Article content Article content But not everyone was as happy as I was. Most notably, Richard Pommainville, CAO of the Ottawa-Cornwall Archdiocese, spoke out in opposition to designation. Jesus wouldn't have supported designation, he argued, because it wouldn't have assisted the church's mission to bring the word of God. Article content I probably shouldn't get into a theological debate with the Archdiocese's senior administrator. But I will say that Jesus never took a position on Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, and that 1,700 years of Roman Catholic history affirm the value of beautiful architecture in bringing people closer to God. Article content On purely historical grounds, St-François-d'Assise easily merits designation. It's an exceptional example of early 20th-century Roman Catholic architecture. It displays a high degree of artistry and craftsmanship. It embodies the faith of the francophone Catholic community, which is a core element of Hintonburg's history. It's connected to many prominent citizens of the community's history. It has been the neighbourhood's most distinctive landmark for over a century. This incomplete list of attributes already exceeds the requirements for designation. Article content Article content So why the resistance? Some property owners who oppose designation do so because they fear that restrictions will be placed on what they can do with their building. Moreover, they don't see much in the way of support to help them meet the responsibilities that go with designation. In short, they see sticks, but not carrots. Article content Article content I get their point. Heritage legislation in Ontario could use a few more carrots. This would help us preserve our historic buildings, and persuade their owners of the value of designation. Article content The heritage 'sticks' that apply to a building like St-François – that is, the restrictions placed on owners – are not, in fact, very robust. You can do just about anything you want to a designated building – even demolish it – as long as you get permission from City Hall. Yes, that can take time, and money, and not all requests are granted. But that's as it should be. It shouldn't be easy to disfigure or destroy our built heritage.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa Mosque could be designated heritage buildings in Ottawa
The ByTowne Cinema and the Ottawa Mosque could soon be designated heritage buildings in the City of Ottawa. The Built Heritage Committee will vote Tuesday on recommendations to issue notices of intention to designate the ByTowne Cinema and the Ottawa Mosque as heritage buildings under the Heritage Act. ByTowne Cinema The two-storey building on Rideau Street that houses the ByTowne Cinema was originally constructed as the Nelson Theatre in 1947 and re-opened as the ByTowne Cinema in 1988. Staff say the building meets six of the nine criteria to designate it a heritage building. 'The property has cultural heritage value for its design, associative, and contextual values,' staff said in the report for the Built Heritage Committee. Staff say the building was listed on the City's Heritage Register in 2017, but changes to the Ontario Heritage Act through Bill 23 and Bill 2000 will result in the removal of the property from the city's Heritage Register if Council does not issue a notice of intention to designate the property. The report says the ByTowne Cinema is a 'representative example of a purpose-built post-war neighbourhood movie theatre.' 'A neighbourhood movie house refers to a smaller-scale, local theatre situated in a residential area,' staff said. 'Constructed in 1947, the ByTowne features typical elements of postwar neighbourhood movie houses, including a large lighted marquee, a former exterior ticket booth, as well as its two-storey massing, which was typical of the neighbourhood at the time of construction.' Nelson Theatre The Nelson Theatre opened on Rideau Street in Ottawa in 1947. The building is now the ByTowne Cinema. (City of Ottawa archives) Staff say the ByTowne Cinema has historical value, as it continues to operate as an 'independent repertory theatre.' 'The ByTowne is a landmark on Rideau Street and in Lowertown. Its prominent frontage on Rideau Street and its iconic marquee distinguishes it from surrounding contemporary buildings,' the report says. 'At night, the ByTowne's lighted marquee makes it highly visible on Rideau Street, uniquely reinforcing its status as a historic and familiar landmark on its streetscape.' Ottawa Mosque Staff are also recommending designating the Ottawa Mosque a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act, saying it was one of the earliest purpose-built mosque buildings in Ontario. Ottawa Mosque The Ottawa Mosque, on 251 Northwestern Ave., was built between 1973 and 1979. The Ottawa Muslim Association operates the Ottawa Mosque, which includes a library, educational programming and social services. 'It has cultural value for its design, associative, and contextual values and meets five of the nine criteria for designation,' staff say. The report says the Mosque is a 'unique and rare expression of a modernist place of worship' as the only 'modernist mosque in Ottawa.' 'The building is characteristic of the Modernist style with its simple form and use of contemporary construction materials,' staff said in the report for the committee. 'Finally, 251 Northwestern Avenue has design value as a representative example of a modernist mosque with traditional Islamic architecture features including its characteristic dome, minaret, and prayer hall with a square plan.' City staff met with the Ottawa Muslim Association last November to discuss the potential of designating the property a heritage building.
