A. Portengen declared a conflict on this item. (A. Portengen declared a pecuniary interest with respect to Notice of Intention to Designate - 10 Duke Street West under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, DSD-2024-133 on the agenda this date as his employer is the Civil engineer for a redevelopment project at the subject property. Accordingly, A. Portengen did not participate in any discussion or vote regarding this matter.)
The Committee considered Development Services Department report DSD-2024-160, dated April 22, 2024, recommending approval of a Heritage Permit Application (HPA) HPA-2024-IV-08 to permit a partial demolition excluding the front, east, and a portion of the west side façade of a building to facilitate the construction of a 45-Storey Mixed-Use Building on the property municipally addressed as 10 Duke Street West. The subject property is currently listed as a non-designated property of cultural heritage value or interest on the Kitchener Municipal Heritage Register.
M. Drake presented an overview of the report noting the HPA is being submitted in anticipation of a proposed redevelopment of the subject property where portions of the building are to be demolished and the retained portions are to be integrated into the podium of a proposed 45-storey mixed-use building. Further, M. Drake noted a Draft Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) was completed as part of the site plan application for this proposed work and was presented to the Heritage Kitchener Committee in December 2021. Additionally, a Notice of Intention to Designate the subject property was published in Record on April 12, 2024 and the designating by-law is intended to be presented to Kitchener City Council on May 27, 2024.
G. Stevenson, S. Bassanese and M. Drake were also in attendance to respond to questions from the Committee.
C. Bogdanski, mcCallumSather and J. Dee, John G. Crooke and Associated Ltd. provided a presentation in support of the Staff recommendation and responded to questions from the Committee.
In response to questions from the Committee, G. Stevenson noted, the subject property is listed on the Kitchener Municipal Heritage Register and must receive heritage designation by the end of 2024 in order to meet the heritage designation deadline outlined in the Ontario Heritage Act. Further, the proposed development has received conditional site plan approval which includes a requirement for the property to be designated as being of cultural heritage value or interest. As such, heritage designation of the subject property is required to be in effect prior to the partial demolition and construction of the proposed development. It was also noted, the applicant is actively fulfilling site plan approval conditions and intends to begin construction in 2024, if feasible.
In response to further questions from the Committee, M. Drake noted, as outlined in the staff report, alternative development options including retention of the entire building was explored during the planning process however, it was determined this would not be feasible due to the size of the site, the relative size and position of building on site, and the construction and load-bearing capabilities of the existing building. Relocation of the building was also explored but was determined not to be a desirable approach due to the loss of the contextual value.
It was noted the recommendation arising from this matter would be considered at the Council meeting taking place on May 27, 2024.
Moved by D. Vongphakdy