Legal Provisions

Part IV, Section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act states that “the register may include property ... that the council of the municipality believes to be of cultural heritage value or interest”, without being designated. Also, “Where the council of a municipality has appointed a municipal heritage committee, the council shall, before including a property ... or removing the reference to such a property from the register, consult with its municipal heritage committee.”

Heritage Planning staff makes editorial corrections to the Municipal Heritage Register as new information is found without announcing each change to the Development & Heritage Standing Committee. However, additions or deletions of property must be considered by the Committee and approved by Council.

The Ontario Heritage Act requires the owner of a property listed on the register to give the City sixty days notice of proposed demolition. This notice requires additional information about the property to be submitted along with the request. During the sixty days notice period City Council (after standing committee consultation) may initiate designation or decide to take no action.

Discussion:

RECOMMENDATION I: ADDITIONS

Recommendation I is a proposal for addition of 31 new properties on to the Heritage Register for recognition and protection. These new listings are broadly grouped as 17 Riverside West Area properties, 8 Ford City Area properties, 2 Mid-century architecture properties and 4 others:

• Visual survey conducted in areas bounded by Riverside Drive West, Randolph Place, University Avenue West, and Vista Place, identified many potential heritage resources in the area. A piece in The Border Cities Star 1924 article recognized that the Town of Sandwich was experiencing new growth in those years and featured some of the beautiful homes constructed.1 Thus, some houses are proposed to be formally recognized on the Register.

• Ford City has strong automobile history and roots with the Ford Motor Company of Canada. Historical buildings are a tangible reflection of the history of the area and its associated growth during the early decades of the 20th century. The Ford City Community Improvement Plan recently adopted by Council recommends review of properties along Drouillard Road for consideration on the Heritage Register. Properties on Drouillard Road from the Riverfront to Richmond Street were considered. The identification of these heritage resources will further strengthen the character of the area, and support anticipated redevelopments.

1 The Border Cities Star. “Sandwich- Beauty Against Rich Historic Background”. Published on July 5, 1924, Third Section, p.1- 3.