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A virtually 100-year-old heritage residence throughout from Rideau Corridor can be changed with a duplex, in a case town’s heritage committee chair hopes is an exception, not a rule.
Ottawa Metropolis Council has authorised a plan for a developer to construct a duplex on the property throughout the street from the Governor Normal’s residence. The property has two addresses: 1 Maple Ln and 112 Lisgar Rd.
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The three-storey English nation cottage-style constructing is stuffed with mould and has sat vacant for years, metropolis workers say.
Its demolition was authorised by town’s Constructed Heritage Committee final month.
Since then, metropolis workers have labored with the applicant to scale back the scale of the substitute duplex, Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Rawlson King advised council final week. King can be chair of town’s heritage committee. Metropolis council signed off on a brand new plan that reduces the constructing’s footprint to cowl about one-third of the lot, growing the “gentle landscaping” on the property.
“Whereas some in the neighborhood aren’t happy with the scope of the discount, I consider we owe it to the Rockcliffe Park Residents Affiliation for his or her interventions all through the method,” King mentioned. “Their enter inspired candidates to change their design, make the most of complimentary supplies, and decrease the substitute constructing’s footprint.”
Michele Hayman, vice-president of the Rockcliffe Park Residents Affiliation’s heritage committee, beforehand advised town’s heritage committee she was “dismayed” that the historic home “has been so badly uncared for for thus lengthy that engineering reviews and heritage workers say the one choice is demolition.” She mentioned the tactic of “demolition by neglect” is utilized by some homeowners and builders to avoid heritage protections, and the Rockcliffe Park Heritage Conservation Plan says demolition of any such constructing ought to solely be permitted in extraordinary circumstances, like hearth and pure catastrophe.
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King mentioned he was assured town has taken steps to beef up its bylaw enforcement to guard heritage properties.
“I admire the lack of a heritage residence in Rockcliffe Park won’t be taken calmly throughout town and by residents,” he mentioned. “Residents really feel this is because of demolition by neglect, and rightly, don’t need demolition by neglect to turn out to be a software for redevelopment.”
The town can’t compel each heritage property proprietor to protect and shield their heritage properties, he mentioned, however the metropolis “should guarantee we proceed to reinforce our enforcement capability to stop it,” he mentioned.
“I’m inspired by the instruments town is setting up to make sure Maple Lane is the exception, not the rule.”
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