CITY OF VICTORIA HERITAGE ADVISORY PANEL MEETING MINUTES December 8, 2015 Present: Ken Johnson, Acting Chair Rick Goodacre Kelly Black Ken Johnson Mark Byram Ursula Pfahler John Dam Stuart Stark Absent: Staff: Richard Linzey Murray Miller, Senior Heritage Planner Adrian Brett, Heritage Planner Andrea Hudson, Assistant Director, Community Planning Lauren Martin, Heritage Secretary The Chair called the meeting to order at noon. 1. Approval of the Agenda Carried 2. Declaration of Conflict or Bias - nil 3. Announcements Senior Heritage Planner The BC Building Envelope Council will hold a luncheon on Tuesday, December 15 th from noon to 1:30 pm at Harbour Towers. The presentation topic is Historic Masonry Construction. In response to enquiries from members, it was clarified that in 2014 the City discontinued its contribution to the joint Victoria Civic Heritage Trust/Victoria Heritage Foundation Christmas Party. The members were invited to this event in the past. The VCHT and VHF Boards subsequently decided to hold separate events for their organizations. The Senior Heritage Planner thanked the members for their contributions throughout 2015. The appointments for January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 will be approved by Council at its meeting on December 10 th. Legislative Services will forward letters regarding the outcome. Heritage BC is partnering with Arts BC for its annual conference which will be held from May 5 th to May 7 th in Vancouver. The theme is Placemaking: Where Arts and Heritage Collide. The 2016 meeting schedule was distributed. The winter 2015 edition of the Preserve newsletter was distributed. Ken Johnson encouraged members to join the Hallmark Heritage Society.
Heritage Advisory Page 2 of 6 4. Adoption of the Minutes of the November 10, 2015 Meeting That the minutes of the November 10, 2015 meeting be adopted. Carried 5. 59 Cook Street Heritage Designation Application No. 000155 Heritage Planner The house is a good example of a Classic Revival style home from the early twentieth century. It was designed by Thomas Hooper, who designed other notable buildings in Victoria such as Saint Anne s Academy and the Carnegie Library. The many windows on the front of the house, coupled with the large, ionic columned entrance, were designed to take advantage of the view to and from Beacon Hill Park. Staff recommend that the recommend that Council consider the heritage designation of the property at 59 Cook Street. Will the leaded art glass windows mentioned in the Condition Notes be part of the heritage designation of the exterior? Heritage Planner: Yes. The complete Statement of Significance, including the character-defining elements, was not attached to the report. It is important for the to see this. Heritage Planner: This will be rectified for the Council report. That the Heritage Advisory recommend that Council consider Heritage Designation Application No. 000155 for the property located at 59 Cook Street as a Municipal Heritage Site. 6. 533-537 Fisgard Street (Lee Cheong Building) Heritage Designation Application No. 000156 Heritage Planner The Lee Cheong Building is a modest commercial brick building built in 1901 and located in Chinatown, a National Historic Site. The building illustrates a transition period during the early 1900s toward plainer building styles for commercial buildings composed of brick, stone and wood. Staff recommend that the recommend that Council consider the heritage designation of the property at 533-537 Fisgard Street.
Heritage Advisory Page 3 of 6 Is the tenement building in the rear included in the heritage designation? Senior Heritage Planner: The heritage designation would cover both buildings on the property. The heritage designation bylaw should describe both buildings; however, it was mentioned that Council is aware of what is being designated as per the map included in the report. That Council consider Heritage Designation Application No. 000155 for the property, including the two buildings, located at 533-537 Fisgard Street as a Municipal Heritage Site. 7. 534 Pandora Avenue (Lum Sam and Look Den Building) Heritage Designation Application No. 000157 Heritage Planner The Lum Sam and Look Den Building is a commercial brick building that was designed by architect John Teague in 1883. The building s decorative brickwork and symmetrical Italianate windows are illustrative of the architectural styling of commercial buildings in the late 1800s. Staff recommend that the recommend that Council consider the heritage designation of the property at 534 Pandora Avenue. The request for designation includes one building, which has a stepdown and courtyard to the rear. That Council consider Heritage Designation Application No. 000155 for the property located at 534 Pandora Avenue as a Municipal Heritage Site. 8. 533-537 Fisgard Street (Lee Cheong Building) Heritage Alteration Permit Application No. 00210 Present: Peter de Hoog, de Hoog & Kierulf Architects; Chris Le Fevre, Owner Senior Heritage Planner The proposal is to rehabilitate the heritage-registered building as part of its conversion to strata units, residential condominiums and existing retail space. The rehabilitation includes construction of code-compliant balconies; reconfiguration of openings; construction of a continuous walkway; installation of new doors in existing openings; and installation of a gate to the alley.
Heritage Advisory Page 4 of 6 The proposal is consistent with City policies because it conserves the heritage value of the building and the character and appearance of the Chinatown National Historic Site. In addition, two key strategic directions of the Downtown would be met by the proposed development - continuing to conserve the historic character of Chinatown and accommodating a significant share of housing in the Urban Core. Staff recommend that the recommend that Council consider authorizing the issuance of Heritage Alteration Permit No. 00210. Chris Le Fevre (Comments regarding the proposed development for 533-537 Fisgard Street and 534 Pandora Avenue) The development that includes this property and 534 Pandora Avenue is a pure gentrification project. Additional density is not being requested. The two properties will be consolidated into one legal parcel. This will be a very unique through-block development. Urban, intercity housing, similar to the type of housing that prevailed when the buildings were constructed, is proposed. The façades are significant; subtle changes will be made to return to the original and to have the balconies comply with code. The former owners of 534 Pandora Avenue are pleased that the building will continue as housing. An existing coffee shop and art gallery will continue on the ground floor of 533-537 Fisgard Street. Regarding seismic upgrading, steel will be used in the central commercial unit only, 15 feet back from the façade. The buildings are two storey so there will be no elevators; the buildings will be held up with wooden strong backs which are sympathetic to the timber and frame. Peter de Hoog The development involves one building on Pandora Avenue (Lum Sam) and two buildings on Fisgard Street (Lee Cheong and Courtyard Buildings). The Courtyard Building was built in the late 1940s as infill housing; its existing four suites will be converted to eight suites. The bricks are in good shape, but may require some repointing. The building will be converted into 17 strata units. The three retail units will remain. On the upper level there are currently three thin, long suites which will be converted into six suites - one on the back, two units facing Fisgard Street, and three small units on the courtyard. In the middle of the lot is the Courtyard Building; it will have new windows facing south on each new unit, balconies, a walkway, and new stairs in galvanized steel. Retail stores have mezzanines that will remain; these were originally added for sleeping and living. Could the current living area be documented photographically? Chris Le Fevre: Yes, a photo essay will document the beginning, middle and end of the project.
Heritage Advisory Page 5 of 6 Will there be public access through the alley? Chris Le Fevre: Yes, this will be similar to Dragon Alley. The gate will be opened and closed on a schedule. The rehabilitation of the Lee Cheong Building will retain the character of Chinatown and provide a personal, intimate experience. A member is pleased that there will be no roof raising and commended the continuation of the residential use. Steel struts across the front, as shown in an archival photo, are disappearing in the development. One continuous balcony from side to side would be preferable. Peter de Hoog requested a copy of the photo that was made available by a member. It was considered that the large logo on the gates and the smaller version on the front balconies are too fussy for a heritage-designated building in a National Historic Site. Peter de Hoog: The smaller two will be reconsidered. That Council authorize the issuance of the Heritage Alteration Permit Application No. 00210 for 533-537 Fisgard Street in accordance with: 1. Plans date stamped October 23, 2015 2. Applicant to consider alterations to the design of the balconies on the Fisgard Street elevation so as to be more consistent with the original design, which consisted of one continuous balcony 3. Applicant to consider a more utilitarian design of the logos to the satisfaction of the Senior Heritage Planner. 9. 534 Pandora Avenue (Lum Sam and Look Den Building) Heritage Alteration Permit Application No. 00211 Present: Peter de Hoog, de Hoog & Kierulf Architects; Chris Le Fevre, Owner Senior Heritage Planner The proposal is to rehabilitate the heritage-registered building as part of the conversion to strata units, residential condominiums and existing retail space. The rehabilitation is consistent with City policies and would make an important contribution to the vitality and character of the Chinatown National Historic Site. Staff recommend that the recommend that Council consider authorizing the issuance of Heritage Alteration Permit No. 00211. Peter de Hoog This structure has two elements to it: the original building and the small piece at the back that was added later. The building originally had a mezzanine in the front. New windows in the residential units will look into new mezzanines inside the building. New balconies will be constructed and will have identical motifs as on the security gate and main gate (on Fisgard Street) which will preserve continuity throughout the project.
Heritage Advisory Page 6 of 6 Three units on the upper level are proposed; the unit facing Pandora Avenue will use the existing windows; the centre unit will have new glass doors onto a new balcony, and the third unit will have new windows and a rooftop terrace over the lean-to. The lower level will have a live-work unit on the Pandora elevation, four units along the alleyway, and a unit on the rear. Sprinkler and electrical service for the development will be housed in a small service building in the rear courtyard. That Council authorize the issuance of the Heritage Alteration Permit Application No. 00211 for 534 Pandora Avenue in accordance with plans date stamped October 23, 2015, with the proviso that the front balcony be treated in a simpler, more historic fashion. 10. Business Arising from the Previous Minutes An email was received by the Chair regarding Council s receptiveness to the s request to bring forward the possible further losses of 1860s houses in Victoria and the heritage significance of the 1889 Courthouse in Bastion Square. When can the proceed with forwarding information to Council regarding the significance of the buildings? Information on the record could pre-empt bad decisions. The will formulate an action plan, for example, write a letter to Council or make a presentation at a Council meeting. That an item to formulate an action plan for the investigation of possible further losses of 1860s houses and the heritage significance of the 1889 Courthouse in Bastion Square be placed on the January 2016 meeting agenda. 11. New Business - nil 12. Adjournment - 1:10 pm