Downtown Whitby Heritage Conservation District Study. Phase 1 Report. January 2013

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1 Phase 1 Report January 2013

2 Credits Consultants Christopher Borgal, Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects (GBCA) Paul Dilse, Heritage Planning Consultant Owen Scott, The Landplan Collaborative Ltd. David Capper, Weston Consulting Planning & Urban Design Planning Department Staff Committee Robert Short, Maria McDonnell, Stephen Ashton, John Taylor Project Steering Committee Tom Anderson, Whitby Chamber of Commerce Janet Battersby, Corporate Services Department, Town of Whitby Daniela Burgi, Public Works Department, Town of Whitby Sheila Daubeny, Building Department, Town of Whitby Steve Edwards, Community Marketing & Services Department, Town of Whitby Smiljka Knaflic- Mijacevic, Planning Department, Town of Whitby Rick McDonnell, LACAC Heritage Whitby Committee Lisa Shkut, Planning Department, Town of Whitby John Stafford, Downtown Whitby Development Steering Committee Brian Winter, Whitby Archives, Whitby Public Library Graphics Sandra Iskandar & Robert Brough, GBCA James Newbegin & Lukas Walker, Planning Department, Town of Whitby Acknowledgements The Town of Whitby gratefully acknowledges funding provided by the Government of Ontario. A special thank you to Brian Winter, longstanding archivist for the Town of Whitby who retired in

3 Why is the Town conducting the study? Official Plan policy identifying Downtown Whitby or a portion of it as an area to be examined as a heritage conservation district Recommendation from an Ontario Association of Architects program known by its acronym CAUSE to designate Downtown Whitby as a heritage conservation district Strategic Action Plan for the Downtown Whitby Development Steering Committee, calling for a study to assess the feasibility of establishing a heritage conservation district (similar action proposed by the Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee) Designation of Downtown Brooklin as a heritage conservation district and commercial success following its designation Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport award of a matching grant for the Downtown Whitby Heritage Conservation District Study Award of the to a team of consultants led by Goldsmith Borgal & Company Ltd. Architects the firm responsible for the design of the Station Gallery expansion and the restoration of All Saints' Anglican Church At what point are we in the study process? Phase I Timeline Identifying Areas for Study in Downtown Whitby (Winter/Spring 2012) Town Council s award of contract Consulting team s study of the history and present- day appearance of the entire downtown area Meeting of the project steering committee and consulting team to discuss survey findings and to consider specific areas for further investigation as prospective heritage conservation districts Byron Street North, March 2012 Consulting team s identification of heritage conservation district study areas Public information session to hear from the public on the appropriateness of the suggested heritage conservation district study areas Meeting of the project steering committee and consulting team to reflect on public comment and determine the boundaries for the focussed study area (three contiguous districts and lands adjacent to them) Brock Street South, March 2012 Examining Identified Areas in Detail (Summer/Fall Winter 2013) Consulting team s detailed study of each heritage conservation district study area (architecture, history, landscape, land use policy) and particular adjacent lands Meeting of the project steering committee and consulting team to review study findings Public information session to consider the results of the detailed study Town Council s receipt of the study report and its decision to proceed with the next phase of work Centre Street South and Pitt Street West, March 2012 Phase II Preparing a Heritage Conservation District Plan (Winter/Spring/Summer 2013) Consulting team s drafting of a heritage conservation district plan(s) Meeting of the project steering committee and consulting team to review the draft plan(s) Public information session to hear comments on the draft plan(s) Statutory public meeting for Council s consideration of the plan(s) 2

4 Area for Focussed Study Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District Four Corners Commercial District Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District Adjacent Lands 3

5 How has the legacy of development affected the choice of area for focussed study? Downtown Whitby the old town centre encompasses much of the original Town of Whitby and includes Perry s Corners, the early nineteenth- century nucleus of the town at Dundas and Brock Streets. The original plan of subdivision in the town centre was commissioned by Peter Perry in Perry s L - shaped plan north of Dundas Street contained 24 blocks. In 1854, Asa Werden had his lands south of Dundas Street laid out a grid of 64 full blocks and another eight half blocks. The square blocks in Werden s Plan contrasted to the rectangular blocks in Perry s Plan, and the north- south streets in Werden s Plan did not align with the north- south streets in Perry s; only Byron Street ran straight through. Whitby s designation as the County Town in 1852 sparked great land speculation and rapid population growth. So did anticipation of the Grand Trunk Railway connecting Montreal and Toronto. Plans of subdivision were registered for lands east, west and north of Perry s Plan and south of Werden s Plan, so far south that subdivided lots reached the lots in Port Whitby. This fostered a linear pattern of development along Brock Street. The boom in Whitby ended with the financial panic of 1857, the first worldwide economic crisis. Emerging towns in the Great Lakes region, that had expanded quickly in the preceding good years, saw real estate values plummet. The effect was so severe that, in Whitby, development stalled and remained slow until the mid- twentieth century. As a result, many of the subdivided town lots remained vacant. There was a small commercial core at the Four Corners and houses dispersed across the generous supply of lots. Although development was scattered throughout the town, there was a greater concentration west of Brock Street where the County of Ontario buildings were located. Until the mid- twentieth century, Whitby was a stable small town reliant on its commercial services and its administrative function. Its status as County Town distinguished it from other small towns. The imposing Greek Revival courthouse, the registry office, the well- built houses of lawyers, judges and other professionals and the substantial brick churches in which they worshipped are all evidence of the importance of old Whitby. Then, in the mid- twentieth century, Whitby expanded considerably. The old town centre changed in the face of rapid urbanization. Lots that had never been developed were infilled, leaving the buildings of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries amid the bungalows of the mid- twentieth century. As well, properties were developed with buildings much different in character from the prevailing small- town ambience. Walk- up apartments and apartment blocks were placed next door to historic houses. Shopping plazas with front- yard parking lots were built on Brock Street South, south of Colborne Street. Taller or larger buildings along Dundas Street emphasized the divide between the street and block patterns of Perry s Plan north of Dundas and Werden s Plan south of Dundas. Department of National Defence, Topographic Map, Ontario, Oshawa Sheet [30M/15], 1930, Toronto Reference Library. 4

6 How has the area for focussed study been chosen?. Kinsmen Park Selecting the Area for Focussed Study In the winter and spring of 2012, the entire expanse of Downtown Whitby was examined for the historical factors shaping it and for evidence of surviving historic streetscapes. A portion of Downtown Whitby for the focus of further study was presented to the public on May 9, 2012 as conceptual spheres. The boundaries for the focussed study area were later honed by Town staff, the Town s consultants and volunteer committee members. Three Core Areas of Heritage Value Today, three core areas of heritage value exist in the broad extent of Downtown Whitby. They are: a concentration of residential streetscapes in the downtown s northwest quadrant (Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District); the commercial streetscapes at the Four Corners; and, a concentration of residential and institutional streetscapes in the southwest quadrant (Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District). Whitby Central Library The three areas are outlined on the map red for Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, green for the Four Corners Commercial District, and blue for Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. Other surviving historic streetscapes outside the three areas are dispersed. They do not form cohesive areas typically large enough for protection as heritage conservation districts. Several individual heritage properties, such as Trafalgar Castle, are isolated. Links Between the Prospective Heritage Conservation Districts Each of the three prospective heritage conservation districts is distinct. Development along Dundas Street West, which does not have an historic character, separates them from one another. However, the historic streetscape along the west side of Centre Street North which contains the landmark All Saints Anglican Church and the right- of- way for Centre Street South link the core areas in the northwest and southwest quadrants. The area in the southwest quadrant touches the Four Corners on Colborne Street West. Rotary Centen- nial Park Lands Adjacent to the Districts Certain lands adjacent to the three prospective heritage conservation districts have been identified. They are shown as hatched lines on the map. As part of the study, how their eventual development could affect the heritage attributes of the prospective districts has been considered. 913 Heritage Conservation District Study Area in Downtown Old Whitby Whitby Perry's Plan Neighbourhood District Four Corners Commercial District Werden's Plan Neighbourhood District Lands Adjacent to the Districts Approach for the Study of the Districts and their Adjacent Lands In the summer and fall of 2012, each of the three areas was studied as a prospective heritage conservation district according to the study scope prescribed in the Ontario Heritage Act. The following display panels document the results of the study for Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, for the Four Corners Commercial District and for Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. The findings from an examination of the lands adjacent to the prospective districts are presented later in a set of panels. 5

7 Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District 6

8 In summary, what is the cultural heritage value of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District and what are its heritage attributes? The cultural heritage value of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District is explained in the statements below. Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District covers several blocks in the Town s original plan of subdivision. It was commissioned in 1846 by Peter Perry, preeminent among the founders of Whitby. With the plan of subdivision, he determined to develop the hub of his prosperous network of stores and storehouses; linking his interests at the port on Lake Ontario (Port Whitby), the Dundas and Brock Streets crossroads (Perry s Corners), the settlement on Lake Scugog (Port Perry) and the hinterland beyond. Residential streetscapes from Whitby s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century) are concentrated here. Almost all the properties in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District contain single- detached houses. Along Brock Street North, the historic houses retain their form and often their residential setting even if, in many cases, their use has changed to commercial purposes. The district contains a diverse collection of traditional architectural styles. There are good examples of styles from the historic period Neoclassical style, the Regency cottage and Regency two- storey form, Gothic Revival, High Victorian Gothic, Arts and Crafts Bungalow, Edwardian Classical and Dutch Colonial Revival. These express the domestic aspirations of the Town s inhabitants in the historic period, and today they enrich our understanding and experience of place and time. While diverse in architectural expression, the single- detached houses share many similarities that unite them: Houses are usually set in a generous green envelope of lawn, trees and shrubs. The main facade parallelling the street is set back behind a front yard a green forecourt to the house. The front yard, deeper backyard and ample side yards support mature tree specimens that offer great visual and human health benefits. The placement of a detached garage back of the house and a driveway to the street in a side yard preserves the front yard s green space. Houses stand one, one- and- a- half or two storeys tall. They are modest in size. More than two- thirds of the houses have gable roofs of varying degrees of pitch. One quarter have hipped roofs. Nearly three quarters of the houses are clad in brick, in shades of red or buff. Typically, a front porch shelters the entrance to the house. A variety of authentic porch designs is found throughout the district. A flat- headed doorway (or a doorway headed by a shallow segmental arch) is often placed in or near the centre of the front facade. Windows heads are usually flat or segmentally arched. Amid the district s single- detached houses are two landmarks. All Saints Anglican Church is the district s key landmark its spire punctuating the skyline since It affords important views from the neighbourhood south of the district (Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District), and has a commanding presence in Downtown Whitby as a whole. Its restoration following a massive fire in 2009 demonstrates community, as well as its parishioners, appreciation for the important building. The other landmark is the old Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House built in Few of this type of place of worship survive in Ontario. The view looking south on Centre Street North links the old meeting house, All Saints Anglican Church and St. Mark s United Church (the old Methodist Tabernacle), which is located in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. Kinsmen Park the only publicly accessible green space in the district and one of only a few public spaces in Downtown Whitby is the site of Dinsbaugh, a.k.a. Perry s Castle. John Ham Perry, longstanding registrar for the Ontario County land registry office, an early mayor of Whitby and warden of Ontario County and son of Peter Perry, built this Italianate residence in The much smaller house he occupied after leaving Dinsbaugh in 1877 still stands on Centre Street North. Remnant Sugar Maple plantings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and later street tree replacements enhance the district s historic residential streetscapes. Whitby used to be known for its abundance of shade trees. To conserve the character of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: preservation of the historic residential character of single- detached houses set on relatively large lots planted in lawn, trees and shrubs; preservation of the architectural integrity of the district s two landmarks; protection and renewal of the street- tree canopy; and, enhancement of the district s livability by improving the physical connections between Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District and Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. 7

9 What are the reasons for the boundaries of Perry s Plan Neighbourood District? The district covers several blocks in the Town s original plan of subdivision. In 1846, it was commissioned by Peter Perry, preeminent in the founding of Whitby. Mary Street West commemorates Peter Perry s wife, and John Street West, his son. Centre Street gets its name from the centre line between the east and west halves of Whitby Township Lot 27. Chestnut Street West forms the northern limit of Perry s Plan, and Kent Street marks the western limit. Historic Brock Street is at the district s eastern edge, and the district extends southward to Dundas Street West, the southern limit of Perry s Plan. Kinsmen Park, jointly owned by the Kinsmen s Club and the Town, is the site of Perry s Castle ( Dinsbaugh ), an Italianate residence built in 1857 for John Ham Perry, the longstanding registrar for the Ontario County land registry office, mayor of Whitby in 1858/59, and son of Peter Perry. Perry s Castle is said to be County Sheriff Nelson Gilbert Reynolds motivation for building an even grander residence, Trafalgar Castle. 1 built 1857, demolished c.1912 western limit of 1846 Perry s Plan northern limit of 1846 Perry s Plan All Saints Anglican Church, at the district s south end, is a key landmark in old Whitby, its 150- foot spire punctuating the skyline since Another landmark is the former Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House, built in at the corner of Centre Street North and Mary Street West. Few of this type of place of worship survive in the Province of Ontario. The former Sunday School, built in the 1870s, stands to the west of the meeting house near the corner of Kent and Mary Street West. Both the meeting house and school have been in use as semi- detached houses for many decades. On John Street West, there is another semi- detached house. 2 3 Most other properties contain single- detached houses. Almost all the historic houses along Brock Street North have been converted to commercial use. In addition, there are two purpose- built walk- up apartment buildings, a small building converted to apartments, a well- designed contemporary townhouse development, a duplex and a day care centre. A low- density residential character prevails among the 82 properties in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. southern limit of 1846 Perry s Plan 1- [J.W. Love], John Ham Perry s Castle, c. 1862, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House as it appeared in 1926 after adapted to use as a semi- detached house, Whitby Public Library, , ourountario.ca, All Saints Anglican Church, 1947, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca,

10 Where are the properties of historic interest in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? Within Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, the Town of Whitby has designated individual properties by by- law under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. LACAC Heritage Whitby Committee, an advisory committee to Town Council, has also identified a number of other properties that have historic interest. During the course of the Downtown Whitby Heritage Conservation District Study, several more properties of historic interest have been noted. Altogether, there is a significant concentration of properties having historic interest. Chestnut St W Chestnut St E Walnut St W Centre St N John St W Brock St N John St E Byron St N Mary St W Mary St E Legend Date: January 2013 UTM Zone 17 NAD83 Kent St Perry's Plan Boundary Part IV Designated Property Boundaries LACAC Identified Properties Part IV Designated Other Noted Properties LACAC Elm Listed St Properties Other Identified Properties The Corporation of The Town of Whitby Planning Department 575 Rossland Road East Whitby, Ontario Canada L1N 2M8 Phone Fax Orthophotography: First Base Solutions 2010 Land Parcel Boundaries- (c) Teranet Inc. and its' suppliers. All rights reserved. May not be reproduced without permission. January 2013 Dundas St W Metres Dundas St E 9

11 What is the character of the public realm in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? The street pattern of Perry's Plan, like other subdivisions in old Whitby, is a gridiron. The north- south axis of each rectangular block is longer than the east- west axis. Kent Street and Centre Street North have narrower rights- of- way than the other streets in the district which have a more typical 20 metre (66 foot) right- of- way. Some streets are lined with street trees, including remnants from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as those on Byron Street North at Mary Street West. Others have lost their original Sugar Maple- lined character. Replacement trees, where planted, are mostly Norway Maple, although there is a variety including Black Walnut, Honey Locust, Linden, etc. "Byron Street looking north, 1914" Whitby Public, Library, , ourontario.ca 73092, first published in Whitby: The Best Residential Town Near Toronto Byron Street North at Mary Street West, 2012 Brock Street North is bereft of street trees and soft landscape within the right- of- way. Evergreen trees and soft landscape grace All Saints Church on Dundas Street West. Public Realm - Streets Public Realm - Parks Road Profile - Curbed Road Profile - Uncurbed Perryʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Four Corners Commercial District Werdenʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Lands Adjacent to the District Street lighting is by wood poles with cobra head fixtures. Overhead wires feed street lights and buildings, compromising street trees. All streets, except Centre Street North, Chestnut Street West and Byron Street North in the Kinsmen Park block are curbed and guttered. Sidewalks are on one or both sides of the streets, adjacent the curb or with narrow boulevards. Byron Street North and Mary Street West are proposed for marked, shared- use bike routes. One entire block in the north is occupied by Kinsmen Park, the site of John Ham Perry's castle. The house was on a rise of land in the north end of the block, a topographic feature that remains. The current trees are not those in the 1905 photograph, but frame the view in the same manner. "John Ham Perry's Castle, c. 1905", Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca

12 Where are the views of historic landmarks in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? In Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, there is a single, although important, view. The view, looking southward on Centre Street North, links the old Methodist Meeting House, All Saints Anglican Church and St. Mark s United Church (the old Methodist Tabernacle). St. Mark s Church, which closes the view, stands south of Dundas Street West in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. The view used to be more commanding before the double spires of St. Mark s Church were lost and a one- storey automobile sales and service centre at 209 Dundas Street West was built in the early twentieth century. 11 (1) The view as seen from the old Methodist Meeting House (2) The view farther south The view near Dundas Street West. On the right of the photograph, the buttresses of All Saints Anglican Church are just visible in the tree s shadow. 11

13 What patterns exist among the buildings in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? Built Form In Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, almost all the buildings are single- detached houses. Placement on Lot Houses are set in a green envelope. The main facade parallelling the street is set back behind a front yard. There is some variation in front yard depth along the street. The majority of houses have a deeper backyard than front yard. Many houses have ample side yards. At a few corner lots, the house on the lot boasts two street facades. Height and Size Houses stand one, one- and- a- half or two storeys tall. They are modest in size. Roof Shape, Pitch and Covering More than two thirds of the houses have gable roofs of varying degrees of pitch. One quarter have hipped roofs. Dark- coloured asphalt shingle is the common roof covering. Wall Material Cladding Nearly three quarters of the houses are clad in brick, in shades of red or buff. Many of the district s frame houses lie hidden beneath synthetic siding. A few examples of historic wall cladding for frame buildings survive board- and- batten, horizontal board, and roughcast plaster. Fenestration Typically, a front porch shelters the entrance to the house. A variety of authentic porch designs is found throughout the district. A flat- headed doorway (or a doorway headed by a shallow segmental arch) is often placed in or near the centre of the front facade. Window heads are usually flat or segmentally arched. Sometimes, a single pointed- arched or round- arched window serves as a focal point in a pediment or gable. There are several bay windows and few dormer windows. Architectural Style The district contains a diverse collection of traditional styles. From the nineteenth century, architectural inspiration has come from Neoclassicism, the Regency, Gothic Revival, High Victorian Gothic eclecticism and the Queen Anne style. From the early twentieth century, the district s houses show the influences of the Arts and Crafts Bungalow, Edwardian Classicism and the Dutch Colonial Revival. From the mid- twentieth century, there are examples of the Ranch- style Bungalow. High Victorian Gothic 202 Byron Street North Arts and Crafts Bungalow 204 Byron Street North Byron Street North The district s diverse collection of traditional styles is illustrated in this lovely streetscape on Byron Street North: from left to right High Victorian Gothic, Arts and Crafts Bungalow, Ontario Regency cottage and two- storey Regency form. Unifying the streetscape are shared architectural patterns of front yard setback, ample side yards, a height threshold of two storeys, gable and hip roofs, brick walls, flat- headed or segmentally arched windows and front porches. Street trees enhance the architecture. Regency Cottage 206 Byron Street North Two- storey Regency 210 Byron Street North 12

14 What are the land use policies affecting the conservation of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? The Official Plan, which Town Council adopted in 1994 and the Region approved in 1995, sets out a planning framework to guide development over a 20- year timeframe. The Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan, which is part of the Official Plan, is a further refinement of the policies in the Official Plan. In their policies, both the Official Plan and the Secondary Plan provide for the establishment of heritage conservation districts. All of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District is in the Downtown Whitby Major Central Area. Six types of land use designation for future development are projected onto the district: Commercial in the form of a continuous facade, a minimum height of two storeys, retail and personal service uses on the ground floor and office and residential uses above; Mixed Use, permitting Commercial uses combined with High Density Residential uses in the same building; High Density Residential, permitting street townhouses, block townhouses, stacked townhouses, apartment buildings, converted dwellings, and boarding and lodging houses to a maximum of 170 units per net hectare; Medium Density Residential, permitting block townhouses, stacked townhouses, triplexes, apartment buildings, converted dwellings, boarding and lodging houses, single- detached houses, semi- detached houses, linked houses, duplexes and street townhouses to a maximum of 75 units per net hectare; Low Density Residential, permitting single- detached houses, semi- detached houses and duplexes, and in certain cases linked houses and street townhouses, to a maximum of 37 units per net hectare; and, Open Space. The maximum building height over much of the district is three storeys; but along Brock Street North the height rises to four storeys, and in the block south of Mary Street West it is six storeys. In the Commercial, Mixed Use and High Density Residential areas, the maximum height may be exceeded when conditions are met. In most of the district, the land use designations generally conform to the existing built form. However, the projected form of development along Brock Street North four- storey mixed- use buildings conflicts with the existing streetscape of historic houses. As well, the block south of Mary Street West is at odds with the projected six- storey redevelopment. Even in the Low Density Residential area, projected building density, building height and some building types are different from the prevailing architectural character. 4, 6 Commercial Mixed Use High Density Residential Open Space Medium Density Residential Low Density Residential Maximum Building Height (expressed in storeys) 3 storeys understood elsewhere 13

15 How does zoning affect the conservation of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? Section 26 of Zoning By- law 2585 has since 1991 set out special downtown zones identified by the suffix DT. The letter H before the zone symbol indicates a holding provision, meaning that the applicant for a proposed development must first demonstrate capacity for sanitary sewer, municipal water and storm water services. Numbers appended to the zone symbol indicate special provisions. Compared to the Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan where there are three types of residential land use, the zoning by- law has six. Four residential zones out of the six are present in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. In the Residential Type 2 Downtown Zone which covers several blocks, single- detached, semi- detached, duplex and linked dwellings are permitted while new triplex, semi- detached duplex and converted dwellings are not. A home occupation is also permissible. In the Residential Type 3 Downtown Zone, new single- detached houses are not permitted while the following uses are: semi- detached, linked, duplex, triplex, semi- detached duplex, fourplex, converted and street townhouse dwellings. Other uses permitted in the Residential Type 3 zone are day nurseries, bed- and- breakfast establishments, home occupations, crisis residences, boarding or lodging houses and retirement homes. In the Residential Type 4 Downtown Zone, permissible uses include: block townhouse, street townhouse, apartment, converted, triplex, semi- detached duplex, fourplex and stacked dwellings. Also permitted are boarding or lodging houses, retirement homes, day nurseries, home occupations and crisis residences. In the Residential Type 6 Downtown Zone, the following uses are permitted: block townhouse, street townhouse, stacked, apartment and converted dwellings as well as boarding or lodging houses, retirement homes, day nurseries, home occupations and crisis residences. One lot along Brock Street North is zoned for Commercial- Residential, which permits a wide variety of uses including apartment dwellings and converted dwellings in conjunction with one or more of the uses. Near Dundas Street West, a wide range of uses are permitted in the Central Commercial 3 Downtown Zone, including apartment dwellings in conjunction with one or more of the uses. Kinsmen Park is zoned for open space use. The downtown zoning system should be reviewed to support conservation of the single- detached houses prevailing in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. (Residential Type 6-Downtown Zone-Holding) 14

16 What is the character of private grounds in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, and how do land use policies and zoning provisions affect its preservation? The Evolution of Private Open Space in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District The district s historic single- detached (and sometimes semi- detached) houses were set on lots considered large by today s standards. The front yard, planted in lawn, specimen trees and shrubs, presented a green forecourt to the houses privately owned but visible to pedestrians on the sidewalk. Wooden fences once enclosed front yards in the district. Photographs show that, by the First World War, wood fences along the frontage of the lots had been removed melding the publicly owned boulevard with the privately owned front yard (Fig. 1). The almost universal absence of front yard fences remains true today. However, wooden fences enclosing side yards and rear yards are found, for example, the handsome board fence shown in Figure 2. Where they were built, detached garages or stables were located back of the house. Generally, a lane or driveway, the width of a carriage or car, ran through one of the house s side yards. This pattern is still evident in the district (Fig. 3). In some cases, adjacent houses have their driveways in adjoining side yards. When they are made double width and undivided by a landscaped strip, the continuous area of paved surface detracts from each lot s green envelope (Fig. 4). The appearance from the street worsens at the district s few examples where the front yard is mostly paved. Compare Figures 5 and 6, two properties on Brock Street North next door to one another. In Figure 5, the entire front yard is paved for parking, joining with an earlier driveway in the side yard. In Figure 6, the front yard is mostly green. The front yard, deeper backyards and ample side yards of the district s houses support mature tree specimens, which in addition to street trees offer great visual and human health benefits. Figure 7 shows a magnificent beech tree on the grounds of Homewood, 210 Byron Street North. The Effect of Policies about Lot Creation and Provisions for Development on Lots Existing Official Plan policies regarding lot severance have potential negative effects on the historic character of private grounds within Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. The current policies lack criterion for the evaluation of any proposed severance against the prevailing lot areas and lot frontages in the surrounding development. The absence of such policies creates difficulty in determining compatibility with the existing arrangement of lots and built environment. The current policies have resulted in a number of developments with significantly reduced front yards, which are dominated by driveways, paved area and garages. An example of this is evident in Figure 8, where properties have been developed with building frontages that are dominated by driveways and garages. In addition, zoning by- law regulations governing minimum lot areas and lot frontages are substantially lower than the prevailing lotting fabric of large lot singles. Thus, there is redevelopment potential available through severance activity. Some previous severances have resulted in lots which are significantly smaller in area than surrounding properties. Fig.1 Byron Street, c. 1918, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Fig.2 15

17 Fig.3 Fig.4 Fig.5 Fig.6 Fig.8 Fig.7 16

18 Why is Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District worthy of conservation? Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District is worthy of conservation for its value to the community of Whitby, as explained below: It covers several blocks in the Town s original plan of subdivision. It was commissioned in 1846 by Peter Perry, preeminent among the founders of Whitby. Residential streetscapes from Whitby s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century) are concentrated here. The district s single- detached houses illustrate good examples of traditional architectural styles from the historic period. These express the domestic aspirations of the Town s inhabitants in the historic period, and today they enrich our understanding and experience of place and time. While diverse in architectural expression, the single- detached houses share many similarities that unite them (in terms of setting, height, roof shape, wall cladding and fenestration). Amid the district s single- detached houses are two landmarks. All Saints Anglican Church is the district s key landmark its spire punctuating the skyline since The other landmark is the old Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House built in Few of this type of place of worship survive in Ontario. The view looking south on Centre Street North links the old meeting house, All Saints Church and St. Mark s United Church (the old Methodist Tabernacle), which is located in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. Kinsmen Park the only publicly accessible green space in the district and one of only a few public spaces in Downtown Whitby is the site of Dinsbaugh, a.k.a. Perry s Castle. This Italianate residence built in 1857 by John Ham Perry, an influential son of Peter Perry s, stood on the site until the early twentieth century. Remnant Sugar Maple plantings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and later street tree replacements enhance the district s historic residential streetscapes. Whitby used to be known for its abundance of shade trees. What objectives would be appropriate for conserving Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? To conserve the character of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: preservation of the historic residential character of single- detached houses set on relatively large lots planted in lawn, trees and shrubs; preservation of the architectural integrity of the district s two landmarks; protection and renewal of the street- tree canopy; and, enhancement of the district s livability by improving the physical connections between Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District and Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. 17

19 Four Corners Commercial District Four Corners Commercial District 18

20 In summary, what is the cultural heritage value of the Four Corners Commercial District and what are its heritage attributes? The cultural heritage value of the Four Corners Commercial District is explained in the statements below. The commercial streetscapes of the Four Corners Commercial District form the physical and symbolic heart of Downtown Whitby. The Four Corners Commercial District is the location of Perry s Corners, the early nineteenth- century nucleus of the town. In 1836, a year after the government had laid out a village at the head of the harbour, Peter Perry launched a general store at the northeast corner of Dundas and Brock Streets. His was a strategic decision to capture trade on the main east- west road (Dundas Street or the Kingston Road opened in 1817) and on the road north from the harbour (Brock Street opened in 1828). The deviation in Brock Street at Dundas Street created an offset corner, which is a distinctive feature of the district. Making the most of the offset corner at Brock and Dundas Streets, the townspeople of the nineteenth century created three deliberate views the southward view on Brock Street North to the old Dominion Bank; the view from the intersection of Brock Street South and Colborne Street West northward to the Royal Hotel; and the northwesterly view on Brock Street South to Gerrie s Block. These remain important elements in the townscape. By the mid- nineteenth century, three- storey brick blocks with parapets were beginning to replace two- storey frame buildings, many of which had succumbed to fire. Bigelow s Block, built in 1860 in the Renaissance Revival style, still stands at 106 Dundas Street West as does Arnall s Block at 116 Dundas Street West (likely the district s oldest masonry commercial block, built in 1853). By the early 1880s, three- storey brick blocks designed in the Italianate style were predominant. Modelled on the urban palaces of the Italian Renaissance, the district s rows of commercial blocks bestow the district with an urbane character the greatest to be seen anywhere among the historic streetscapes of Downtown Whitby. Along with some adjoining two- storey commercial buildings, the blocks form tightly knit streetscapes exhibiting the following characteristics: Buildings are built to the lot line and next to one another. Each has a relatively narrow front facing the street and deep side walls. Buildings stand two or three storeys tall, with a storefront at the ground and one or two floors above. Each building s shed roof is hidden by a flat roofline. A cornice of patterned brickwork, bracketed wooden eaves or moulded stonework spans the top of the building. Historically, the rooflines were even more visually arresting with fanciful masonry parapets that used to rise above the cornices. Red or buff brick or dichromatic patterns of red and buff brick face walls. The upper floors of buildings carry a rhythmic repetition of round- arched or segmentally arched windows with decorative heads. Also found in the district are: a couple of remaining examples of the two- storey, pitched- roofed commercial buildings that predated the predominant commercial blocks; the old Carnegie Library, anchoring an interesting streetscape on the north side of Dundas Street West; and, a five- unit brick row house given the singular name the Terrace a rare feature in Downtown Whitby and the most urbane housing form built during the town s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century). Increasing volumes of through traffic on both Dundas Street and Brock Street designated provincial trunk highways in 1917 and 1922 respectively started to diminish the small- town shopping experience at the Four Corners as early as the 1940s. Changes in retailing that responded to shoppers arriving by automobile downtown shopping plazas and suburban malls also negatively affected the Four Corners. As well, the relocation of public administrative services to Rossland Road East drew weekday trade away from the Four Corners. The defining commercial buildings of the district are now more than a century old, but the catalyst for investing in their repair and restoration appears to be missing. Yet because it has been at the centre of the town s commercial activity in the historic period and because it remains at the confluence of the town s two most important roads (now back in Town control), the Four Corners Commercial District is essential to the town s collective identity. To revitalize the district s economy while preserving its historic character, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: repair and restoration of historic commercial blocks and buildings; the addition of complementary mixed- use infill that enlarges the local market; improvement of pedestrian accessibility and amenities; and, beautification of public spaces, including interpretation of the district s history. 19

21 What are the reasons for the boundaries of the Four Corners Commercial District? The commercial streetscapes of the Four Corners Commercial District form the physical and symbolic heart of Downtown Whitby. 4 1 The Four Corners Commercial District is the location of Perry s Corners, the early nineteenth- century nucleus of the town. In 1836, a year after the government had laid out a village at the head of the harbour, Peter Perry launched a general store, called the Red Store, at the northeast corner of Dundas and Brock Streets. His was a strategic decision to capture trade on the main east- west road (Dundas Street or the Kingston Road opened in 1817) and on the road north from the harbour (Brock Street opened in 1828). Like the Red Store erected by Perry, the earliest buildings were made of wood. Typical of the era of frame construction, the two- storey Ontario Hotel with gable roof continues to mark the northwest corner of Brock Street North and Elm Street (although its wooden exterior has been hidden by a facing of brick veneer since the early twentieth century, among other alterations). Pearson Lanes 8 The Terrace 7 Second Royal Hotel Ontario Hotel (near foreground) back alley 3 By the mid- nineteenth century, three- storey brick blocks with parapets were beginning to replace two- storey frame buildings, many of which had succumbed to fire. Joel Bigelow s Block, built in 1860 in the Renaissance Revival style, still stands at 106 Dundas Street West. By the early 1880s, three- storey brick blocks designed in the Italianate style were predominant. Their rounded arches are still present in the Ontario Bank ( ), second Royal Hotel (1873), Gerrie and Yule Blocks (1873), Dominion Bank (1874), Watson s Block (1878), Deverell s Block (1878) and others. The blocks were concentrated along Brock Street, from Elm Street southward to Colborne Street, which is the district s southern boundary. Carnegie Library 2 Bigelow s Block 5 Ontario Bank back alley site of the Red Store 6 There was always a sizeable open area north of Elm Street where drivesheds for stabling horses and a wood yard were located. This pattern of open space persists. The northern boundary of the business district was created by the Pearson Lanes development along Mary Street West ( ), a combination of new and old construction. Back alleys acting as service lanes for stores enclose the district on the east. Another back alley, south of Dundas Street West, contains the district in the southwest. The old Carnegie Library, built in , is the district s western anchor. The district, however, includes the Terrace on the west side of Byron Street North. Built in 1857 for Robert E. Perry (a son of Peter Perry s), the row housing has been in commercial use for three decades. The Four Corners Commercial District contains 72 properties. Gerrie & Yule Blocks back alley 1- Four Corners, Whitby, c. 1863, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, The view looks south on Brock Street, from the Royal Hotel. Between Elm Street and Dundas Street West, the lots are vacant following a fire in Joel Bigelow Store, 1860, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Edmund Stephenson Telegraph Office, c. 1907, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, This was originally the Ontario Bank. 4- Royal Hotel, 1877, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, The Gerrie and Yule Blocks, c. 1875, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Warwick Bros. & Rutter, Ltd., Brock Street, Whitby, Ont., 1906, Toronto Reference Library, PC- ON Carnegie Library, c. 1915, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, The Terrace, August 1982, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Dominion Bank Watson s Block Deverell s Block opposite 20

22 Where are the properties of historic interest in the Four Corners Commercial District? Within the Four Corners Commercial District, the Town of Whitby has designated individual properties by by- law under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. LACAC Heritage Whitby Committee, an advisory committee to Town Council, has also identified a number of other properties that have historic interest. During the course of the Downtown Whitby Heritage Conservation District Study, several more properties of historic interest have been noted. Altogether, there is a significant concentration of properties having historic interest. 21

23 What is the character of the public realm in the Four Corners Commercial District? The street pattern of the Four Corners Commercial District is a gridiron with one anomaly, the intersection of Dundas Street and Brock Street, where the alignment of Brock Street South and Brock Street North deviates. A pedestrian island occupies the left- over triangular space. "Downtown Whitby Aerial View, 1920", McCarthy Aero Service Ltd., Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca Intersection of Dundas Street and Brock Street, 2012 Streets in the district are lined with street trees; those on Dundas Street and Brock Street are quite recent additions. Earlier street scenes are dominated by hydro poles and wires, and later by awnings. Four Corners street trees, planted in the 1980s, are exclusively Honey Locust, providing light shade. Phototropism is evident as trees lean away from buildings in this environment. Dundas Street West Street lighting is by decorative concrete posts with period- style, post- top fixtures. Wires are underground. Street furnishings include pole- mounted banners, planters, parking meters, decorative street signs, benches and waste containers. "Brock Street looking north from Colborne Street, 1907", Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca "Whitby Centennial Decorations, 1955", Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca Brock Street South from Dundas Street, 2012 Public Realm - Streets Perryʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Four Corners Commercial District Werdenʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Lands Adjacent to the District In spite of the relatively wide Dundas Street and Brock Street rights- of- way, sidewalks are relatively narrow for the most part. The Dundas Street West roadway is comprised of one generous travelled lane in either direction, with parallel parking on both sides. Dundas Street East is four travelled lanes. The Brock Street North and Brock Street South roadways have a generous travelled lane in either direction and parallel parking on both sides. All sidewalks in the district are immediately adjacent the curb or an asphalt boulevard, except for Mary Street West, which has a grass boulevard on the south side. Brock Street South Mary Street West Dundas Street West Mary Street West is proposed for a marked,shared- use bike route,connecting north and south via Byron Street North and Euclid Street / Henry Street. laneway, 153 Brock Street North 22

24 Where are the views of historic landmarks in the Four Corners Commercial District? Because of the offset corner at Brock and Dundas Streets, three views of historic landmarks are offered in the Four Corners Commercial District the southward view on Brock Street North to the old Dominion Bank 11 ; the view from the inter- section of Brock Street South and Colborne Street West northward to the Royal Hotel 12 ; and the northwesterly view on Brock Street South to the Gerrie Block 13. Note the eye- catching crowns atop the Dominion Bank and the Royal Hotel. The Gerrie Block used to have a crown (a rooftop pediment) too. 11 (1) Southward view on Brock Street North to the old Dominion Bank 111 As well, a partial view of All Saints Anglican Church can be seen looking west along Dundas Street 14. The spire of All Saints Anglican Church in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District can be seen above the four- storey Dundas- Centre Medical Building at 220 Dundas Street West (2) View on Dundas Street to All Saints Anglican Church View from the intersection of Brock Street South and Colborne Street West northward to the Royal Hotel 13 (4) Northwesterly view on Brock Street South to the Gerrie Block 23

25 What patterns exist among the buildings in the Four Corners Commercial District? Built Form Rows of commercial buildings, often grouped in blocks, predominate at the Four Corners Commercial District. Compared to any part of the downtown s historic townscape, they create the most urbane character. Placement on Lot The buildings are usually built to the lot line and next to one another. Each has a relatively narrow front facing the street and deep side walls. Height and Composition The buildings generally stand two or three storeys tall, with a storefront at the ground and one or two floors above. Roofline Each building s shed roof is hidden by a flat roofline. A cornice of patterned brickwork, bracketed wooden eaves or moulded stonework spans the top of the building. Most of the fanciful masonry parapets that used to rise above the cornices have been sheared off. An example of this is shown in the comparative photos below. Then... Now John Blow Store, c. 1890, Whitby Public Library , ourontario.ca, Wall Material Cladding Red or buff brick or dichromatic patterns of red and buff brick face walls. The same building today. With the parapet, the one- storey building looked a half storey taller. Fenestration The upper floors of buildings carry a rhythmic repetition of round- arched or segmentally arched windows with decorative heads. Architectural Style The district s commercial blocks are modelled on the urban palaces of the Italian Renaissance. Their Italianate style is evident everywhere at the Four Corners Commercial District. The east side of Brock Street South demonstrates the consistent Italianate character of the district s commercial blocks. Similarities in built form, siting, height, composition, roofline, wall cladding, windows and architectural style unify the streetscape. Notable Exceptions Two- storey commercial buildings with pitched roofs predate the predominant commercial blocks, and a couple of examples remain. 124 Brock Street North 124 Dundas Street West 24

26 What are the land use policies affecting the conservation of the Four Corners Commercial District? The Official Plan, which Town Council adopted in 1994 and the Region approved in 1995, sets out a planning framework to guide development over a 20- year timeframe. The Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan, which is part of the Official Plan, is a further refinement of the policies in the Official Plan. In their policies, both the Official Plan and the Secondary Plan provide for the establishment of heritage conservation districts. All of the Four Corners Commercial District is in the Downtown Whitby Major Central Area. The land use designation for future development across the entire district is Commercial. The Commercial land use would take the form of a continuous facade, a minimum height of two storeys, retail and personal service uses on the ground floor and office and residential uses above. The maximum building height over much of the district is three storeys, which generally matches the existing built form. On the east side of Byron Street North, the maximum building height rises to six storeys. It is also six storeys on the south side of Elm Street. However, the maximum height may be exceeded when conditions are met. These conditions include: maintaining a compatible height at the street line where development to the street line already exists on adjacent properties; providing for increased setbacks or a tapering of buildings as height increases; and, providing for compatibility with the permitted building heights on adjacent lands. Six- storey development on the existing open space east of Byron Street North and south of Elm Street may be acceptable if height and massing studies show that the historic facades along Brock Street North and Dundas Street West are not visually overwhelmed. 3, 6 Commercial Maximum Building Height(expressed in storeys) 25

27 How does zoning affect the conservation of the Four Corners Commercial District? Section 26 of Zoning By- law 2585 has since 1991 set out special downtown zones identified by the suffix DT. The letter H before the zone symbol indicates a holding provision, meaning that the applicant for a proposed development must first demonstrate capacity for sanitary sewer, municipal water and storm water services. Numbers appended to the zone symbol indicate special provisions. All of the Four Corners Commercial District is in the Central Commercial 3 Downtown Zone. A wide range of uses, including apartment dwellings in conjunction with one or more of the uses, are permitted. Building height is restricted to a maximum of three storeys at the Terrace on Byron Street North and along the frontages of Brock Street North, Brock Street South and Dundas Street West all of which are zoned C3- DT- 1. Two individual properties have unique zoning provisions attached to their Central Commercial 3 Downtown Zone designation. Generally, the zoning supports conservation of the historic commercial streetscapes characteristic of the Four Corners Commercial District. 26

28 Why is the Four Corners Commercial District worthy of conservation? The Four Corners Commercial District is worthy of conservation for its value to the community of Whitby, as explained below: The commercial streetscapes of the Four Corners Commercial District form the physical and symbolic heart of Downtown Whitby. The district, located at the confluence of the town s two most important roads, has been at the centre of the town s commercial activity. Although now in need of economic revitalization, the Four Corners Commercial District continues to be essential to the town s collective identity. The Four Corners Commercial District is the location of Perry s Corners, the early nineteenth- century nucleus of the town. In 1836, a year after the government had laid out a village at the head of the harbour, Peter Perry launched a general store at the northeast corner of Dundas and Brock Streets. Making the most of the offset corner at Brock and Dundas Streets, the townspeople of the nineteenth century created three deliberate views the southward view on Brock Street North to the old Dominion Bank; the view from the intersection of Brock Street South and Colborne Street West northward to the Royal Hotel; and the northwesterly view on Brock Street South to Gerrie s Block. These remain important elements in the townscape. The district s rows of three- storey brick commercial blocks from the nineteenth century bestow the district with an urbane character the greatest to be seen anywhere among the historic streetscapes of Downtown Whitby. Along with some adjoining two- storey commercial buildings, the blocks form tightly knit streetscapes. A couple of remaining examples of the two- storey, pitched- roofed commercial buildings that predated the predominant commercial blocks are also found in the district. The old Carnegie Library anchors an interesting streetscape on the north side of Dundas Street West. A five- unit brick row house given the singular name the Terrace is a rare feature in Downtown Whitby and the most urbane housing form built during the town s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century). What objectives would be appropriate for conserving the Four Corners Commercial District? To revitalize the district s economy while preserving its historic character, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: repair and restoration of historic commercial blocks and buildings; the addition of complementary mixed- use infill that enlarges the local market; improvement of pedestrian accessibility and amenities; and, beautification of public spaces, including interpretation of the district s history. 27

29 Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District 28

30 In summary, what is the cultural heritage value of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and what are its heritage attributes? The cultural heritage value of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District is explained in the statements below. Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District retains many features from Whitby s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century). The greatest number of historic residential streetscapes in Downtown Whitby are concentrated here. Landmarks of local and provincial importance are identified with Whitby s status as the County Town. Publicly accessible open space and other public assets contribute to the district s value. The district encompasses somewhat less than half of the plan of subdivision Asa Werden commissioned for his lands south of Dundas Street in 1854 the second plan of subdivision registered in the Town of Whitby. At the southern end of the district, a cluster of lots in Radenhurst s and Wallace s Plans also registered before the composite Municipal Plan was created in 1877/78 complete the district. Almost all the buildings in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District are single- detached houses. Erected from the mid- nineteenth century onward, the houses display a wide range of traditional architectural styles. There are good, well- preserved examples of styles from Whitby s historic period. These express the domestic aspirations of the Town s inhabitants in the historic period, and today they enrich our understanding and experience of place and time. Many houses are modest in size, several are small, and a number are generously sized. The mix of house sizes indicates a social mixing characteristic of small towns. Larger houses in the historic period were set on correspondingly large lots as spacious as a quarter, a half or all of a town block giving them space for viewing from the street. Some very large house lots still exist in the district, maintaining the private open space pattern of old Whitby. Regardless of size, houses are usually set in a liberally sized green envelope of lawn, trees and shrubs. While variation in style and size is apparent, the district s houses share many similarities that unite them: The main facade parallelling the street is set back behind a front yard a green forecourt to the house. The front yard, deeper backyard and ample side yards support mature tree specimens that offer great visual and human health benefits. The placement of a detached garage back of the house and a driveway to the street in a side yard preserves the front yard s green space. Houses stand one, one- and- a- half or two storeys tall. Rarely does a house reach two- and- a- half storeys. Gable or hip roofs of varying pitch predominate. Shades of red, or less frequently buff, brick predominate. There are a few examples of dichromatic brick, where red brick is in the body and buff brick is for the trim. In addition, other colours of brick from the twentieth century brown, light grey and charcoal are present. Commonly, some form of front porch either open or enclosed shelters the entrance to the house. A variety of authentic porch designs is found throughout the district. A flat- headed doorway (or sometimes a doorway headed by a shallow segmental arch) is often placed in or near the centre of the front facade. Windows are usually flat headed or headed by a shallow segmental arch. Amid the district s single- detached houses are five historic institutional landmarks the Methodist Tabernacle (opened in 1876 and now known as St. Mark s United Church), King Street School (from 1921 and renamed R.A. Sennett School), the Ontario County Registry Office (1873), the Ontario County Courthouse (1854 with additions in 1866 and 1910 and since 1967 called the Centennial Building) and St. Andrew s Church of Scotland (opened in 1859 and now used by the Serbian Orthodox parish of St. Arsenije Sremac). In addition, the Whitby Central Library (opened in 2005) at the northwest corner of the district is a contemporary institutional landmark standing where the third town hall had been. Public open space in the district includes the hard landscape of the library square and the green landscape of Rotary Centennial Park. Defining the southeastern edge of the district, the parkland covers most of the first purchase of property by the Town, which acquired the Market Block and other land in Werden s Plan for a town hall, public market and municipal park. The site of the first town hall ( ) is immediately north of the park at the southwest corner of Brock Street South and Trent Street West land originally in the purchase. As well as these, the courthouse square which includes a parking lot on the site of the old county jail, the schoolyard of R.A. Sennett School and the unopened right- of- way for Gilbert Street West between King and Henry Streets are valuable public assets. Centre Street South that stretches from the district s north end to its southern limit offers the best view in the district. Looking northward, the view focusses on All Saints Anglican Church on the north side of Dundas Street West, in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. In the district s northernmost blocks, the long view of the church becomes more complex with the interplay between it and St. Mark s United Church. Because of the placement of the old County Courthouse facing Centre Street South, views of it are much less pronounced although interesting all the same. The cupola atop the courthouse comes into view when quite close to it. Near Ontario Street West, the courthouse cupola and the spire of All Saints Church can be viewed together. From the front driveway of R.A. Sennett School, the courthouse cupola can be glimpsed. Similarly, the golden dome atop St. Arsenije Sremac Church can just be glimpsed from Rotary Centennial Park above the trees. The latter view used to be more prominent when the steeple had an extra tier. Furthermore, the district affords a diminutive view on James Street toward the historic cottage at 1009 Centre Street South. Silver Maple and Sugar Maple street trees, and to a lesser extent non- indigenous species, frame long views and everywhere enhance the small- town character still evident in the district. Whitby used to be known for its abundance of shade trees. Also characteristic of older small towns and villages, many district streets show a rural profile (as opposed to a constructed urban profile of curb and gutter). To conserve the character of the largest historic district in Downtown Whitby, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: preservation of the historic residential character of single- detached houses set on relatively large, and sometimes very large, lots planted in lawn, trees and shrubs; preservation of the architectural integrity of the district s six landmarks; protection and enhancement of the street- tree canopy and the retention of interior streets showing a rural profile; and, enhancement of the district s livability by improving physical connections between Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. 29

31 What are the reasons for the boundaries of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The district covers somewhat less than half of the plan of subdivision Asa Werden commissioned for his lands south of Dundas Street in The district also includes a cluster of lots in Radenhurst s and Wallace s Plans, also registered before the composite Municipal Plan was created in 1877/78. Whitby Central Library northern limit of 1854 Werden s Plan 1 3 A row of historic houses along Colborne Street West, now in commercial use, and the Whitby Central Library are at the northern limit of the district. The southernmost property in the district is an historic cottage terminating the eastward view on James Street. In the east, historic Brock Street South encloses the district; but north of Ontario Street West, properties along Brock Street South and a few facing Byron Street South are excluded. Their architectural character contrasts with the district s prevailing historic character of single- detached houses interspersed with institutional landmarks. The district s western boundary is Henry Street, matching the western limit of Werden s Plan The district s linear shape reflects the town s early growth along Brock Street southward to Port Whitby, and the district s location west of Brock Street South recognizes the fact that nineteenth- century development was concentrated west of Brock Street where the county buildings were placed. The district has five historic institutional landmarks the Methodist Tabernacle (St. Mark s United Church), King Street School (R.A. Sennett School), the Ontario County Registry Office, the Ontario County Courthouse (Centennial Building) and St. Andrew s Church of Scotland (St. Arsenije Sremac Serbian Orthodox Church). Also included is a contemporary institutional landmark the Whitby Central Library where the third town hall had stood. In addition, Rotary Centennial Park located between Brock Street South and Byron Street South is found in the district. It encompasses most of the first purchase of property by the Town of Whitby, which acquired the Market Block and other land in Werden s Plan for a town hall, public market and municipal park. The site of the first town hall ( ) is immediately north of Rotary Centennial Park at the southwest corner of Brock Street South and Trent Street West. Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, containing 246 properties, boasts the greatest number of historic residential streetscapes in Downtown Whitby. Centre Street South, dominated by the view of All Saints Anglican Church in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, links the two districts. There is a visual and historic relationship among the Methodist Tabernacle in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and All Saints Anglican Church and the Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. western limit of 1854 Werden s Plan portion of Wallace s Plan historic cottage terminating view on James Street 1- Harry Dundas Howden, Whitby looking south from steeple of All Saints Anglican Church, c. 1900, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Note the Methodist Tabernacle before its spire was lost in King Street School, 1923, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Colborne Street Looking West, c. 1913, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, site of first town hall Market Block in 1854 Werden s Plan Rotary Centennial Park portion of Radenhurst s Plan 4- Ontario County Buildings, in the Illustrated Historical Atlas of the County of Ontario,Ont., 1877, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Note the jail between the courthouse and registry office. 5- St. Andrew s Presbyterian Church (Whitby), 1908, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, The northeastern corner of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District touches the Four Corners Commercial District. 30

32 Where are the properties of historic interest in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? Within Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, the Town of Whitby has designated several individual properties by by- law under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. LACAC Heritage Whitby Committee, an advisory committee to Town Council, has also identified a number of other properties that have historic interest. During the course of the Downtown Whitby Heritage Conservation District Study, more properties of historic interest have been noted. Altogether, there is a significant concentration of properties having historic interest. 31

33 What is the character of the public realm in the Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The street pattern of Werden's Plan is a gridiron. The blocks are nearly square. Rights- of- way are consistently 20 metres (66 feet) except for the narrower, southerly extremities of Centre Street South, Byron Street South and Keith Street. Street trees line both sides of most streets, with the larger, more mature specimens tending to be north of Rotary Centennial Park. Older trees are mostly Silver Maple and Sugar Maple; newer specimens are Norway Maple cultivars. Street boulevards vary from a profile of grass or asphalt verges or grass ditches to a profile of curb and gutter. Uncurbed streets predominate, characteristic of older small towns and villages. Overhead wires on wooden poles interfere with trees and the views. Cobra head light fixtures prevail. Dunlop Street West, Henry Street and Burns Street West are proposed for marked, shared- use bike routes. The uncurbed streets generally have sidewalks on one side only, with a few areas in the extreme south having no sidewalks. Public Realm - Streets Public Realm - Parks Road Profile - Curbed Road Profile - Uncurbed Perryʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Four Corners Commercial District Werdenʼs Plan Neighbourhood District Lands Adjacent to the District Rotary Centennial Park, the first park property purchased by the Town, anchors the southeast corner of the district. The mature pastoral landscape of trees, shrubs and florai beds is set in undulating topography and complemented with park structures. Whitby Central Library square at the corner of Dundas Street West and Henry Street is an urban plaza, an entrance to the library and the neighbourhood. The public property includes the library, two historic, restored former residences and parking in a park- like landscape setting. 32

34 Where are the views of historic landmarks in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? All Saints Anglican Church in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District 1 2 TheAll Saints Anglican Church landmark most prominently viewed in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District All Saints Anglican Church is located north of Dundas Street West in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. The spire of All Saints Anglican Church is seen across the library square. This view is an interesting juxtaposition of the contemporary Whitby Central Library and the historic church (Fig. 1). The classic view of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, however, is the one afforded northward to All Saints Anglican Church along Centre Street South (Fig. 2, 3 and 4). Even with full leaf cover on street trees, the church is visible with the naked eye from Keith Street far to the south. In the district s northernmost blocks, the long view of All Saints Anglican Church becomes more complex with the interplay between it and St. Mark s United Church (the old Methodist Tabernacle). This strong visual relationship between All Saints and St. Mark s used to be more obvious when St. Mark s had its spires Because of the placement of the old Ontario County Courthouse facing Centre Street South, views of it are much less pronounced. The cupola atop the historic courthouse (Centennial Building) comes into view when quite close to it. Near Ontario Street West, the courthouse cupola and the spire of All Saints Anglican Church can be viewed together (Fig. 4). From the front driveway of R.A. Sennett School, the courthouse cupola can be glimpsed (Fig. 5). Similarly, the golden dome atop St. Arsenije Sremac Serbian Orthodox Church can just be glimpsed from Rotary Centennial Park above the trees (Fig. 6). The dome replaces an extra tier on the steeple. The additional height used to make the church, which was built as St. Andrew s Church of Scotland, more prominent. 6 The historic cottage at 1009 Centre Street South, the southernmost building in the district, closes the view on James Street (Fig. 7). 7 33

35 Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4 Fig.5 Fig.6 Fig.7 34

36 What patterns exist among the buildings in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? Built Form In Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, almost all the buildings are single- detached houses. Placement on Lot Houses are set in a green envelope. The main facade parallelling the street is set back behind a front yard. There is some variation in front yard depth along the street. The majority of houses have a deeper backyard than front yard. Many houses have ample side yards. Height and Size Houses stand one, one- and- a- half or two storeys tall. Rarely does a house reach two- and- a- half storeys. Many houses are modest in size, several are small, and a number are generously sized. The mix of house sizes indicates a social mixing characteristic of small towns. Roof Shape, Pitch and Covering Gable or hip roofs of varying roof pitch predominate. There are also different types suited to particular architectural styles, e.g., a mansard on a Second Empire, a crenellated parapet on a Picturesque Gothic and a gambrel on a Dutch Colonial Revival. The usual choice of roof covering is asphalt shingle in earth tones. Wall Material Cladding Shades of red, or less frequently buff, brick predominate. There are a few examples of dichromatic brick, where red brick is in the body and buff brick is for the trim. In addition, other colours of brick from the twentieth century brown, light grey and charcoal are present. Synthetic siding covering frame houses is common, but examples of historic wall cladding for frame buildings survive clapboard, flush horizontal board, shingle, and roughcast plaster. Fenestration Commonly, some form of front porch either open or enclosed shelters the entrance to the house. A variety of authentic porch designs is found throughout the district. A flat- headed doorway (or sometimes a doorway headed by a shallow segmental arch) is often placed in or near the centre of the front facade. Windows are usually flat headed or headed by a shallow segmental arch. There are a small number of bay windows, very few accent windows and very few dormer windows. Architectural Style The district contains a diverse collection of styles an array from the mid- nineteenth century onward. Good contemporary design is still apparent in the district, for example, the house at 611 King Street. Although the stylistic expression of houses varies widely, common architectural patterns unify them. From the Nineteenth Century Neoclassical 413 Byron Street South Classical Revival 918 Centre Street South Regency (Cottage Version) 800 Centre Street South Italianate 200 Byron Street South Gothic Revival 301 Centre Street South High Victorian Gothic 401 Centre Street South 35

37 From the Nineteenth Century (continued) Picturesque Gothic 200 Colborne Street West Second Empire 408 Byron Street South Queen Anne 404 Dunlop Street West Victorian Eclectic 320 St. John Street West From the Early Twentieth Century Edwardian Classical 612 Brock Street South Arts and Crafts Bungalow 502 Byron Street South Dutch Colonial Revival 225 King Street Georgian Revival 201 Byron Street South Prairie School 400 St. John Street West From the Mid- Twentieth Century Victory Bungalow 602 Byron Street South Mid- twentieth Century Bungalow 811 Centre Street South Ranch- style Bungalow 404 King Street Split Level 603 Centre Street South Contempo 711 Henry Street From the LateTwentieth Century 611 King Street 36

38 What are the land use policies affecting the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood Distict? The Official Plan, which Town Council adopted in 1994 and the Region approved in 1995, sets out a planning framework to guide development over a 20- year timeframe. The Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan, which is part of the Official Plan, is a further refinement of the policies in the official plan. In their policies, both the Official Plan and the Secondary Plan provide for the establishment of heritage conservation districts. Almost all of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District is in the Downtown Whitby Major Central Area. The cluster of lots south of Burns Street West, outside the secondary plan area, corresponds to the area identified as Low Density Residential in the Official Plan. Seven types of land use designation for future development are projected onto the district: Commercial in the form of a continuous facade, a minimum height of two storeys, retail and personal service uses on the ground floor and office and residential uses above; Mixed Use, permitting Commercial uses combined with High Density Residential uses in the same building; High Density Residential, permitting street townhouses, block townhouses, stacked townhouses, apartment buildings, converted dwellings, and boarding and lodging houses to a maximum of 170 units per net hectare; Medium Density Residential, permitting block townhouses, stacked townhouses, triplexes, apartment buildings, converted dwellings, boarding and lodging houses, single- detached houses, semi- detached houses, linked houses, duplexes and street townhouses to a maximum of 75 units per net hectare; Low Density Residential, permitting single- detached houses, semi- detached houses and duplexes, and in certain cases linked houses and street townhouses, to a maximum of 37 units per net hectare; Open Space; and, Institutional. The maximum building height over much of the district is three storeys; but increases to four storeys or six storeys in the district s northern blocks. In the Commercial, Mixed Use and High Density Residential areas, the maximum height may be exceeded when conditions are met. In addition, the Secondary Plan references the Brock Street Corridor Study, which encourages conversion of single- detached houses 1) along Brock Street South south of Ontario Street West to limited personal service or office uses and 2) south of St. John Street West to two or more dwelling units. In most of the district, the land use designations generally conform to the existing built form. However, in the northern blocks and at the Byron Street South and Ontario Street West corner, projected land use and building height do not reflect the existing built form. Even in the Low Density Residential area, projected building density, building height and some building types are different from the prevailing architectural character. 37

39 How does zoning affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? Section 26 of Zoning By- law 2585 has since 1991 set out special downtown zones identified by the suffix DT. The letter H before the zone symbol indicates a holding provision, meaning that the applicant for a proposed development must first demonstrate capacity for sanitary sewer, municipal water and storm water services. Numbers appended to the zone symbol indicate special provisions. Compared to the Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan where there are three types of residential land use, the Zoning By- law has six. Five residential zones out of the six are present in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. In the Residential Type 1 Downtown Zone, single- detached dwellings and home occupations are the only permissible uses. In the Residential Type 2 Downtown Zone, single- detached, semi- detached, duplex and linked dwellings are permitted while new triplex, semi- detached duplex and converted dwellings are not. A home occupation is also permissible. In the Residential Type 3 Downtown Zone, new single- detached houses are not permitted while the following uses are: semi- detached, linked, duplex, triplex, semi- detached duplex, fourplex, converted and street townhouse dwellings. Other permitted uses are day nurseries, bed- and- breakfast establishments, home occupations, crisis residences, boarding or lodging houses and retirement homes. In the Residential Type 4 Downtown Zone, permissible uses include: block townhouse, street townhouse, apartment, converted, triplex, semi- detached duplex, fourplex and stacked dwellings. Also permitted are boarding or lodging houses, retirement homes, day nurseries, home occupations and crisis residences. In the Residential Type 6 Downtown Zone, the following uses are permitted: block townhouse, street townhouse, stacked, apartment and converted dwellings as well as boarding or lodging houses, retirement homes, day nurseries, home occupations and crisis residences. A wide range of uses are permitted in the Central Commercial 3 Downtown Zone, including apartment dwellings in conjunction with one or more of the uses. The old courthouse block is zoned for a broad range of institutional uses while R.A. Sennett School and the church property at 508 Byron Street South are zoned for fewer kinds of institutional uses. The cluster of lots in the southern part of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District lie beyond the downtown zones and are zoned for Residential Type 3 land use. Permitted are single- detached houses, duplexes, semi- detached houses, home occupations and churches. Rotary Centennial Park is zoned for open space (the northern part of it in the downtown zones). In the northern blocks of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, the current downtown zoning system does not as a rule support conservation of the existing built form. 38

40 What is the character of private grounds in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, and how do land use policies and zoning provisions affect its preservation? The Evolution of Private Open Space in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District The district s historic houses single- detached usually, sometimes semi- detached and in one instance a three- unit row were set on large lots, occasionally as spacious as a quarter, a half or all of a town block. The green envelope surrounding the house supported a treed landscape, and mature specimens are evident on lawns today. An example, of which there are several, is the treed side yard of an historic house on Colborne Street West (Fig. 1). A variety of deciduous trees on private grounds, including a tulip tree at the northern limit of its range, and coniferous trees, including Norway spruce and larch, add to the district s inventory of street trees. They offer great visual and human health benefits. Throughout the nineteenth century and into the twentieth, wooden fences marked the frontage of lots (Fig. 2). Photographs show that, by the First World War, wood fences along the frontage of the lots had been removed melding the publicly owned boulevard with the privately owned front yard. The absence of front yard fences remains true today (Fig. 3) with a few exceptions (Fig. 4). However, wooden fences enclosing side yards and rear yards are often found, for example, the handsome board fence shown in Figure 5. Where they were built, detached garages or stables were located back of the house. Generally, a lane or driveway, the width of a carriage or car, ran through one of the house s side yards. This pattern still exists in the district (Fig. 6). There are, however, deviations from the pattern; and in the most extreme example, the entire front yard is paved for parking (Fig. 7). The district boasts a number of interesting frame outbuildings and one detached brick garage, laid in the same Flemish bond as the corresponding house (Fig. 8). The Effect of Policies about Lot Creation and Provisions for Development on Lots Existing Official Plan policies regarding lot severance have potential negative effects on the historic character of private grounds within Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. The current policies lack criterion for the evaluation of any proposed severance against the prevailing lot areas and lot frontages in the surrounding development. The absence of such policies creates difficulty in determining compatibility with the existing arrangement of lots and built environment. The current policies could encourage open space development patterns which are far different from the district s historic patterns. In addition, Zoning By- law regulations governing minimum lot areas and lot frontages are substantially lower than the prevailing lotting fabric of large lot singles. Thus, there is redevelopment potential available through the severance of existing lots of record. Figure 9 illustrates the visual effect of a lot severance where a bungalow in the historic house s front yard partially hides the historic house s front facade. Fig.1 39

41 Fig.2 Residence of Roy Talling, c. 1910, Whitby Public Library, , ourontario.ca, Fig.3 Fig.4 Fig.5 Fig.6 Fig.7 Fig.8 Fig.9 40

42 Why is Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District worthy of conservation? Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District is worthy of conservation for its value to the community of Whitby, as explained below: The district encompasses somewhat less than half of the plan of subdivision Asa Werden commissioned for his lands south of Dundas Street in 1854 the second plan of subdivision registered in the Town of Whitby. At the southern end of the district, a cluster of lots in Radenhurst s and Wallace s Plans also registered before the composite Municipal Plan was created in 1877/78 complete the district. The greatest number of historic residential streetscapes in Downtown Whitby are concentrated here. Erected from the mid- nineteenth century onward, the district s single- detached houses illustrate good, well- preserved examples of traditional architectural styles from Whitby s historic period (mid- nineteenth century to mid- twentieth century). These express the domestic aspirations of the Town s inhabitants in the historic period, and today they enrich our understanding and experience of place and time. While variation in style is apparent, the district s houses share many similarities that unite them (in terms of setting, height, roof shape, wall cladding and fenestration). Variation in house size also exists. The mix of house sizes indicates a social mixing characteristic of small towns. Larger houses in the historic period were set on correspondingly large lots as spacious as a quarter, a half or all of a town block. Some very large house lots still exist in the district, maintaining the private open space pattern of old Whitby. Regardless of size, houses are usually set in a liberally sized green envelope of lawn, trees and shrubs. Amid the district s single- detached houses are five historic institutional landmarks of local or provincial importance the Methodist Tabernacle (opened in 1876 and now known as St. Mark s United Church), King Street School (from 1921 and renamed R.A. Sennett School), the Ontario County Registry Office (1873), the Ontario County Courthouse (1854 with additions in 1866, 1910 and 2003, and since 1967 called the Centennial Building) and St. Andrew s Church of Scotland (opened in 1859 and now used by the Serbian Orthodox parish of St. Arsenije Sremac). In addition, the Whitby Central Library (opened in 2005) at the northwest corner of the district is a contemporary institutional landmark standing where the third town hall had been. Public open space in the district includes the hard landscape of the library square and the green landscape of Rotary Centennial Park. Defining the southeastern edge of the district, the parkland covers most of the first purchase of property by the Town, which acquired the Market Block and other land in Werden s Plan for a town hall, public market and municipal park. The site of the first town hall ( ) is immediately north of the park at the southwest corner of Brock Street South and Trent Street West land originally in the purchase. As well as these, the courthouse square which includes a parking lot on the site of the old county jail, the schoolyard of R.A. Sennett School and the unopened right- of- way for Gilbert Street West between King and Henry Streets are valuable public assets. The district offers several important views, including the long view on Centre Street South northward to All Saints Anglican Church, which is located in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. Silver Maple and Sugar Maple street trees, and to a lesser extent non- indigenous species, frame long views and everywhere enhance the small- town character still evident in the district. Whitby used to be known for its abundance of shade trees. Also characteristic of older small towns and villages, many district streets show a rural profile (as opposed to a constructed urban profile of curb and gutter). What objectives would be appropriate for conserving Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? To conserve the character of the largest historic district in Downtown Whitby, the following conservation objectives would be appropriate: preservation of the historic residential character of single- detached houses set on relatively large, and sometimes very large, lots planted in lawn, trees and shrubs; preservation of the architectural integrity of the district s six landmarks; protection and enhancement of the street- tree canopy and the retention of interior streets showing a rural profile; and, enhancement of the district s livability by improving physical connections between Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. 41

43 Adjacent Lands (lands not in the prospective heritage conservation districts, but lands considered for the effects their eventual development could have on the prospective districts) Adjacent Lands 42

44 How could the lands at Brock Street North affect the conservation of Perry s Plan? The lands at Brock Street North (Fig. 1) are not included in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The lands are currently used for a two- storey, brick- clad medical clinic built to the lot line and a large gravel parking lot for the clinic s patients. Both the medical clinic and the district s buildings surrounding the parking lot rise no higher than two storeys. Development at four or more storeys is permitted. If development were to occur at the site, building height should step down where it approaches the district. Fig.1 How could the lands at the Kent Street and Dundas Street West corner affect the conservation of Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands at or near the corner of Kent Street and Dundas Street West are not included in Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The Dundas Street West frontage is built up with one- and two- storey commercial blocks built to the lot line (Fig. 2). There is a paved parking lot behind (Fig. 3 and 4). Development at six or more storeys is permitted. If development were to occur at the site, building setback from Dundas Street West should be behind the tower of All Saints Anglican Church to afford an eastward view of the spire. Building height should be lowest all round the site s perimeter and ascending toward the centre of the parcel. Building mass should be articulated. Building materials and architectural features should complement the church but not mimic it. In overall appearance, development should defer visually to the church. Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4 43

45 How could the lands in the block south of Mary Street West and between Byron Street North and Centre Street North affect the conservation of both Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District and the Four Corners Commercial District? The block is adjacent to both Perry s Plan Neighbourhood and the Four Corners Commercial District. Except for the Terrace on Byron Street North, the lands in the block are not included in either district. However, they have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the districts. At or near the corner of Byron Street North and Mary Street West, there are two properties an old house converted to a day care centre and another converted old house with a large purpose- built motel beside it (Fig. 1). Along Centre Street North, there is a row of single- detached houses and a walk- up apartment building (Fig. 2). Facing Dundas Street West are a one- storey automobile sales and service centre and a massive, four- storey medical clinic (Fig. 3). The rest of the lands is occupied by a large paved parking lot for the clinic s patients (Fig. 4). The medical clinic competes visually with All Saints Anglican Church (Fig. 5). Six- storey development is permitted over much of the block, but three storeys is the maximum at the Byron Street North and Mary Street West corner. Any new development that may eventually be built at the Byron Street North and Dundas Street West corner should not replicate the clinic s design, neither overwhelming nor mimicking the Carnegie Library in the Four Corners Commercial District (Fig. 6). Development should be set back from Dundas Street West, behind both the front facades of the library and church; and set back from Byron Street North, behind the front facade of the Terrace. Higher floors should rest on a podium. The mass of the facades along Dundas Street West and Byron Street North should be articulated. Red clay brick may be a suitable wall cladding, but dichromatic patterns of red and buff brick should be avoided. Any redevelopment in the north end of the block should step down in height along the streets and beside the Terrace. Fig.1 Fig.2 44

46 Fig.3 Fig.1 Fig.4 Fig.5 Fig.6 45

47 How could the lands on the south side of Dundas Street West affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands on the south side of Dundas Street West between Byron Street South and Centre Street South are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The Dundas Street West frontage currently consists of a two- storey commercial building at the Byron Street South corner, a large paved parking lot, the old two- storey Whitby House hotel hidden behind a coating of External Finish and Insulation System and used for a pizza parlour and offices, and a one- storey automobile sales and service centre at the Centre Street South corner (Fig. 1 and 2). The west side of Byron Street South is a two- storey streetscape nearly touching the one- and- a- half- storey building at 106 Byron Street South in the district (Fig. 3). Six- storey development is permitted on the lands. If development were to occur, the building setback from Centre Street South should allow for a view of St. Mark s United Church as seen from Dundas Street West. Higher floors in the development should rest on a podium. Street facades should show articulation. The feasibility of incorporating a restored front facade of the old Whitby House hotel into the development should be explored. Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 How could the lands on the east side of Byron Street South affect the conservation of the Four Corners Commercial District and Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? Fig.4 The lands on the east side of Byron Street South are neither included in the Four Corners Commercial District nor Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the districts. Nearing Colborne Street West, the two- storey streetscape which includes the Legion Hall ends at a parking lot (Fig. 4). A one- storey dry cleaning shop faces Colborne Street West. Six- storey development is permitted on the lands. If development were to occur, it should step down in height along both Byron Street South and Colborne Street West. The street facades should be articulated. 46

48 How could the lands on the south side of Dundas Street West between Centre Street South and King Street affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands on the south side of Dundas Street West between Centre Street South and King Street are not included in any district, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District and Perry s Plan Neighbourhood District. The Dundas Street West frontage consists of two attached restaurants with front yard parking at the Centre Street South corner and a contemporary two- storey bank built to the lot line at the King Street corner (Fig. 1 and 2). Six- storey development is permitted on the lands. If development were to occur, a setback from Centre Street South should be provided to enhance the northward view of All Saints Anglican Church. Building height should step down near both Dundas Street West and Centre Street South. The facades should be articulated in a manner similar to the bank. Fig.1 Fig.2 How could the lands currently occupied by the six- storey apartment building on Colborne Street West and the walk- up apartment building on King Street affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands currently occupied by the apartment buildings are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The parking lot for the six- storey apartment building facing Colborne Street West is accessed through Dunlop Street West. The parking lot borders on the backyards of a row of historic houses facing Centre Street South (Fig. 3). The three- storey walk- up apartment building on King Street abuts the treed side yard of the Dutch Colonial Revival house at the King Street and Dunlop Street West corner in the district (Fig. 4). As the permitted six- storey height limit has already been reached in the six- storey apartment building, and the three- storey apartment building occupies a small portion of the lands, redevelopment is unlikely to occur and have a further effect on Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District. Fig.3 Fig.4 47

49 How could the lands on the west side of Brock Street South between Colborne Street West and Ontario Street West affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands on the west side of Brock Street South between Colborne Street West and Ontario Street West are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The block between Colborne Street West and Dunlop Street West is built up with a low- rise streetscape set close to Brock Street South except for the Bell Canada station. The windowless station has a deep front lawn and a rear parking lot extending to Byron Street South (Fig. 1). Standing at the southwest corner of Brock Street South and Dunlop Street West is an attractive two- storey commercial building built to the lot line; south of it is the Brock Centre, a one- storey shopping plaza set behind front yard parking (Fig. 2). The plaza s windowless rear walls clad in brown brick and shingle extend along Byron Street South (Fig. 3). South of the plaza and near Ontario Street West is a row of single- detached houses in commercial use (Fig. 4). Six- storey development is permitted on the lands except for the properties near Ontario Street West where the maximum building height is three storeys. If six- storey development were to occur, it should be built to the lot line at Brock Street South, set on a podium, and have articulated and windowed facades. Following design principles such as these, the opportunity exists to integrate new development into the townscape. Fig.1 Fig.2 Fig.3 Fig.4 48

50 How could the lands along Byron Street South near Gilbert Street West affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands along Byron Street South near Gilbert Street West are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The lands on the west side of Byron Street South near Gilbert Street West are built up with a row of three- storey commercial buildings clad in dichromatic brick patterns and a two- storey commercial building clad in External Insulation and Finish System (Fig. 1). The three- storey buildings have pitched roofs, making them look like disproportionate houses. The two- storey building has a flat roof. They are neither traditional nor contemporary in appearance. As the permitted three- storey height limit has already been reached over most of the lands, redevelopment is unlikely to occur and have a further effect on Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District How could the lands along the east side of Brock Street South south of Ontario Street West affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? Fig.1 The lands along the east side of Brock Street South are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. Many, but not all, of the single- detached houses along the east side of the street have been converted to commercial use (Fig. 2). In addition to the houses, the streetscape includes a seniors centre and a lawn bowling green. The lawn bowling green beside the seniors centre extends the open space of Rotary Centennial Park across the street. Fig.2 On lots between Ontario Street East and St. John Street East, the conversion of single- detached houses to limited personal service and office uses is permitted. On lots between St. John Street East and the seniors centre, the conversion of single- detached houses to multiple residential uses is permitted. The policies encourage retention of the existing built form, which is compatible with the prevailing built form in the district. How could the lands along the south side of Pitt Street West affect the conservation of Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District? The lands along the south side of Pitt Street West are not included in Werden s Plan Neighbourhood District, but have been specifically identified as lands whose development could affect the heritage attributes of the district. The lands are built up with three well- maintained bungalows from the mid- twentieth century, one of which is directly behind the Regency cottage at the southwest corner of Centre Street South and Pitt Street West (Fig. 3). Low- density residential land use is permitted. This encourages retention of the existing built form, which is compatible with the prevailing built form in the district. Fig.3 49