Shirt Tales

Labels: built heritage

# posted by ramblingrose @ 1:19 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Legal mc'nuggets for lunch anyone?

It's customary to provide nourishment to feed mind and body at Committee meetings (otherwise known as homework assignments.

Accordingly here are updates relevant to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA) per amendments to the act passed in 2005 as follows:

'Stop Order' or section 35.2 (1) of the Ontario Heritage Act. It reads:

"The Minister may issue a stop order with respect to any property in the Province to prevent the alteration of the property, any damage to the property or the demolition or removal of any building or structure on the property if the Minister is of the opinion that,
(a) the property may be property of cultural heritage value or interest of provincial significance; and
(b) the property is likely to be altered or damaged or a building or structure located on the property is likely to be removed or demolished. 2005, c.6, s.27.

(2) The Minister may make an order under this section with respect to property designated under section 29 even if the municipality has consented to the alteration, demolition or removal in question. 2005, c.6, s.27.

(3) A stop order issued under this section shall direct the owner of the property in question or any person in apparent possession of the property to ensure that any activity that is likely to result in the alteration of or damage to the property or the demolition or removal of any building or structure on the property not to be commenced or be discontinued for a period of up to 60 days. 2005, c.6, s.27."

Labels: built heritage

# posted by ramblingrose @ 12:48 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• the Forsyth archives offers up the firm's logo and a trip down memory lane narrated by the founder J. D. C. Forsyth's grandson and family historian in this e-mail:

Salesman at the Duke/Young St. Boardroom/Product Display 2nd floor of the Smythe House measuring Baseball Hall of Famer:

Satchel Paige - Inducted into the Hall of Fame 1971 - pitched in the majors 1948 to 1953 and 3 games in 1965 playing for the Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Athletics with an E.R.A. of 3.29 and was on the A.L. All-star Team in 1952 and 1953. He was over 40 years of age the entire time he played in the majors and pitched in 179 games. New York Yankees Great Joe DiMaggio said he was the greatest and fastest pitcher I ever faced.

Satchel is holding a ball over a little boy (publicity shot - not sure who the boy is) with my father[James Forsyth] standing in the background scratching his head in disbelief how long Satchel's arms are. My dad told me Satchel needed custom-fitting shirts because his arms were so long and couldn't buy any in the stores in the U.S.A. to fit so Forsyth Shirts tailored his custom made shirts with extra long sleeves for Satchel.

Rambling Rose offers up for the record this new bit of historical trivia: the family firm founded by J. D. C. Forsyth and carried on by his two sons was sold in 1973. A fourth-year history major at a local university is currently researching this history. I do hope someday to read that research report.

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 12:17 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

What is wrong with dreaming?

Labels: aboriginal, James Bay Lowlands

# posted by ramblingrose @ 11:14 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

15 December 2004: Demolition of Schoerg bank barn by Kieswetter Demolition. Fieldstone foundation is to remain and filled with gravel to prevent possibility liability claims. Sanamara 0445-20A

Labels: Berlin/Kitchener history, land use

# posted by ramblingrose @ 10:16 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

The Pioneer Memorial Tower (1925) was aligned true north and south across the diameter of the hexagonal lookout tower. True south points to Franklin County, Pennsylvania, the origin of Samuel Betzner and his son-in-law Joseph Schoerg, who crossed 500 miles of wilderness in the direction of true north to settle here on this Historic Ridge. A National Historic Site maintained by Parks Canada. Sanamara Images 0445-8A

• First, the homesteads are a visible reminder of the agricultural roots of this Region.
• Second, both the Pioneer Cemetery on the Ridge and the Sherk farmhouse bear witness to the initial mutually supportive and peaceful relationship between the incoming Mennonite settlers and the aboriginal peoples. In the Pioneer Tower Cemetery, there are seven limestone grave markers for, I assume, members of the Mississauga Nation. These same aboriginal people were frequent guests in the basement of the Schoerg farmhouse.
• This story of settlement and peaceful co-existence between two very distinct cultures needs to be told and remembered as part of the larger Canadian mosaic/identity!If we were to lose the Sherk homestead buildings, then we will have lost priceless artifacts dating to that first stage of non-aboriginal settlement (1800-1830).
• We will have only two heritage buildings commemorating those decades: 1) The Royal Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford; and 2) Joseph Brant's house, a museum and heritage building preserved by the City of Burlington. I find it interesting that the Burlington Brant house and the Sherk bank barn were built at approximately the same time. Locally we do have the J. Steckle Heritage Homestead living history museum. However, the Steckle property dates to a later stage in the settlement process.
• The properties on the Historic Ridge and hopefully part of Lower Doon, the site of the first Scottish settlement in the Region, and Homer Watson Park will soon be recognized by the Region as a Culturally Significant Landscape. How appropriate it would be to restore the Swiss bank barn and use it as a Regional Heritage Museum. Apparently there are some 40,000 artifacts relating to our history that can be put on display. In the early twentieth century, an amateur archaeologist had apparently donated a treasure trove of artifacts dating to the time when the aboriginal people first roamed this watershed. One can only hope!

Labels: Berlin/Kitchener history, built heritage

# posted by ramblingrose @ 10:15 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Hitting on the moonshine, rocking in the grain
Ain't no time to pack my bag, my foots outside the door
Got a date, I can't be late, for the high hopes hailla ball.
Smythe Residence & Art Deco remnants of the post-demolition Forsyth factory complex.

• thinking long term: people place, friendly and inviting just like the new city hall;
• we’ve been creating that people place: conversion of old industrial buildings into offices and lofts, the Market is "still work in progress", working with two universities in west end;
• municipal government is putting " incentives there and to kickstart [downtown revitalization]";
• we do have choice not to do anything but we are "laying the groundwork, a lot of money upfront but will pay off in long-term";
• crime is less per capita in Kitchener than in Waterloo or Cambridge;
• " .....starting to see private sector come to the table....number of private sector [ individuals] are ready to make deals on Centre Block...."
• the rain? Plans for new library on hold because of public opposition to the cost.
• CTV asks for public input at provincewide@southwesternontario.ctv.ca

Labels: Forsyth, urban planning

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:44 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Labels: Berlin/Kitchener history, Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 3:16 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

St. Jacob's farmers market with local fruit for sale. Photo: Sanamara Images Conestoga 0239-13A

• Kensington Market, Toronto: A bustling neighbourhood in the heart of Toronto, just west of Chinatown, Kensington is infamous in Toronto for its year-round vendors selling everything from fresh fish to chilies. Small houses along street labyrinths and murals throughout the market make Kensington Market a unique and much loved neighbourhood in Toronto.
• Granville Island, Vancouver: Granville Island's lessons are that great places can be created almost anywhere under any conditions with minimal expense. Given its isolation Granville Island had to succeed not only as a series of great places, but as a great district. It has succeeded, not by focusing on a coherent master plan or a theme park like design integrity, but through maintaining its flexibility as it has grown institutions, business and places from within -- serving a broader and broader set of users. Certainly, its becoming a top draw for tourists in North America and also increasingly functions as a day-to-day community place for the burgeoning population of high-rise dwellers in downtown Vancouver.

Labels: urban planning

# posted by ramblingrose @ 6:19 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

First, a rather formal word derived from a mythological allusion, a rather nice word for Scrabble afficionados: Pyrrhic, adj. for Pyrrhus (300-272 B. C.) who won a battle with an enormous loss of life. Thus, City of Kitchener Heritage Advisory Committee has acquired 4 new members in time for Tuesday 7 March 06 Heritage meeting @ 4:00 p.m. televised meeting in Council Chambers. Following Heritage Canada's nomination of the demolition of the Forsyth building as #1 worst heritage loss in all of Canada, City Council moved in to effect damage control measures. At a special meeting of Council on the same day, Monday 20 Feb 06, Council approved the four applications to sit on Heritage Kitchener filed as of 2 Feb 06 deadline. This counts as a pyrrhic victory as it came about as a result of the loss of the Forsyth building. Also note this: per M. Marcolongo, ON Ministry Advisor to Municipal Heritage Committees: " municipal committees are composed of lay people who require two to three years of education to become effective."

Next, Rambling Rose wishes to review the slang terms these new members will have to add to their heritage preservation dictionaries so as not to be excluded from discussions:

• mothballing refers to the minimal amount of work required to keep a building weather-tight and in state for possible future adaptive-reuse; for example, the Hymmen Hardware (currently home to Artery, U of W student art gallery) has been mothballed ever since City of Kitchener acquired ownership of the building.
• highballing an estimate refers to exaggerating the actual costs by a bidder in order to 1) indicate the builder does not want to take on this particular project; however 2) builder wishes to bid on future projects.
• lowballing an estimate refers to underbidding and providing the lowest cost estimate in order to secure future work; in practice, the bidder will accept a certain loss on a particular contract in order to get the job and then cut corners so as to not lose too much money should the builder be awarded the contract.

Rambling Rose now applies the slang to Forsyth demolition contract bids thus:

• highest bid, demolition without salvage options @ $ 309,999 to lowest bid @ $206,510 with middle range bid @ $283, 710. Contract was awarded to the lowest bidder @ $206,510 with + $50,000 upset amount in order to salvage some bricks and beams = $ 256,510 charged to the Economic Development Investment Fantasy Fund
• highest bid, demolition with salvage options @ $1,605,000 to lowest bid @ $313,510 with middle range bid @ $647, 644; however, since safety was an issue, City Council did not consider salvage options other than as noted above
• materials salvaged value for City ranged from lowest @ $79,870 to highest bid $1,321, 290 with second highest @ $1,088, 517 = bid prepared by local contracter Sittler Environmental (demolish only @ $309, 999 or demolish & salvage @ $1,398,516) & had this bid been accepted, there would have been less waste all around! Go to: http://www.sittler.ca/ per 16 Jan 06 press release total salvage "could reequire indefinite storage of approximately 20 acres" (sic)!!!!
• Council decision ? to salvage "5,000 square feet of brick, enough to rebuild a portion of wall in any new development and the specified wooden elements."

Third, Rambling Rose supplies definitions for architectural jargon that has come into play regarding the new KPL main library site as part of the Centre Block re-development process soon to go through a Request for Proposal process (RFP) thus:

• design build as in "The project committee wants to do what's called a design-build approach. That is the successful developer would both design the building and then construct it. It is a highly unusual approach to library building.The push for a design-build with a private-sector partner is coming from the private-sector members on the Kitchener Public Library-Centre Project Committee. They are Hans Pottkamper, a retired banker, Ray Robinson, a realtor, and Craig Robson, a {condo}lawyer. They say that turning over the design entirely to the private-sector partner could save millions of dollars and lead to creative proposals from developers."
• design-bid-build "means the city would commission a design for the building, then receive bids from developers to construct the new edifice. It means public hands would always hold the reins on this project. The chief executive officer of the Kitchener Public Library wants the library to retain control over the design of the new main branch proposed for the downtown. Sonia Lewis is concerned that the approach being taken by the group overseeing the development, the Kitchener Public Library-Centre Block Project Committee, could leave those with the most expertise and knowledge watching from the sidelines as scores of millions in public money is spent." cf. Record news report at this link: Input overdue, library boss says
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139611817663&call_pageid=1024322645917
• A new downtown library is on hold until the public gets behind the project, Mayor Carl Zehr says.
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1024322398726&c=Article&cid=1140735019341

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 1:05 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 7:23 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Photo Sanamara Images 0608-01: the new Kitchener Market built as P3 project partnership. City of Kitchener (public partner) and [ Barrel Works Group (private development company). Barrel Works is currently marketing the adjacent Le Marché Residences.

• Andrew Lambden of Barrel Works Group, the company developing the Le Marché Residences in the city's downtown, said he's expecting construction to progress "on a fairly tight schedule" because the foundation and parking garage were completed as part of the market development. The project is attracting people of all ages, including many young professionals and first-time home buyers, but also people who are downsizing and like the convenience of "being able to lock the door and go." More at:
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1024322398726&c=Article&cid=1139871014727
• 
  
• My wife and I were in the area of Your Kitchener Market a week ago on a Saturday morning. We thought we would give it yet another try. Besides being almost empty of people, we noticed many vendor stalls were unoccupied. Why would anyone in their right mind spend more money on this white elephant?...I don't support views to continue to pour bottomless funding into this project. ..It might make a great car wash some day and something we'll all look back on it in jest. Perhaps Kitchener will match or even beat Waterloo's record in spending blunders. By the way, determined market folk should come to Waterloo because it has a reputation of being the "centre of the universe" for veggies.
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140735019043&call_pageid=1024322168441&col=1024322597709
• 
  
• The 1.65 per cent increase in Kitchener taxes was to raise money for the Economic Development Investment Fund. Through a series of modest tax increases spread over 10 years, the city planned to use the fund to pay for a variety of projects. The city tapped the fund for the library, the University of Waterloo school of pharmacy ($30 million) and the Wilfrid Laurier University graduate school of social work ($6.5 million)...Zehr finds the opposition to a new library on Centre Block ironic. In all surveys, the library tops the list of city services with the most public support...The city paid about $9.1 million for the land and businesses on about half of Centre Block. It sought and rejected development proposals from the private sector a few years ago. This time out, the city was preparing to give a developer about $40 million and the remaining city-owned lands on the block in exchange for the construction of a new library.
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1140735019341&call_pageid=1024321927354&col=1024322421753
• Rambling Rose notes the following: 1) KPL has 80,000 active users = a very high number within a community; in spite of the materials in active circulation, the current branch has run out of space and frequently one needs to check carts for the overflow. By their actions, KPL patrons are actively supporting this library. What is about the Centre Block proposal that is drawing opposition? and 2) in terms of actual costing for this particular project, certain figures are still outstanding: 1) the Phase II environmental report; and 2) the land valuation study to determine current market value of the 2.5 acres of prime real estate owned by city.

Prince Charles on politicians: "They then take decisions based on marketing research or focus groups, or the papers produced by political advisers or civil servants, none of whom will have ever experienced what it is they are taking decisions about.''

Labels: urban planning

# posted by ramblingrose @ 11:05 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

• shortcut for an acronym as in PPP = public private partnership & code for how the City of Kitchener plans to pay for a library and a parking garage without enough money to do so
• 
  
• the idea is that building a library in Centre Block will spur the revitalization of the downtown core & encourage a private developer to put up the bucks to get the job done provided the developer could get his hands on some prime real estate at rock bottom prices i.e. 2.5 acres right beside City Hall
• 
  
• a bad deal that increases a developer's profits and taxpayer's debtload: "P3's......reduce quality of services, cost more and are an irresponsible use of public funds, benefiting for-profit companies at public expense. Expensive borrowing rates for private companies and the need to make a substantial profit both jack up the costs of any project developed using a P3 model. P3s are promoted as a way to keep debt off the public books and eliminate debt, but while P3s may hide debt, they never reduce it – just the opposite. Public debt, however, costs less to repay and allows the City to retain public ownership and control of the asset. The obsession with avoiding government debt is misguided. ..
• 
  
• ...There is good debt and bad debt. P3s incur bad debt for the public partner. A number of provincial Auditors General in Canada and some abroad have questioned the accounting practices behind P3s and the extent to which these arrangements endeavor to obscure and hide real public liabilities. P3s are not neutral financing mechanisms – private financing is debt financing. Funds are borrowed and have to be repaid – either out of public funds or through other charges to users. P3 funding should really be counted as municipal debt because the municipality (or public partner) is ultimately responsible if private sector loans are not repaid by the private sector. Off-balance funding is in effect a charade that disguises the financial liabilities of the municipality while increasing the risk to the public entity. ...
• 
  
• "The International Monetary Fund recently issued a report warning against "off-book borrowing" for PPPs. The IMF's managing director stated that P3 debts should becounted as public borrowing, and that "governments had 'no business' hiding private finance projects away from their balance sheets."

Full report here: http://www.cupe.ca/updir/Oshawa_P3_Arena_(3docs).pdf

Rambling Rose wonders what other charges will Kitchener taxpayers incur eg. user fees? leaseback payments to pay the developer for the use of public buildings/land? and other unforeseen costs down the road?

Labels: economy

# posted by ramblingrose @ 4:52 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 3:59 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• Heritage development means the renovation for continued use or adaptive reuse of older buildings (generally 50 years or older)
• 
  
• 
  
• 
  
• What was clear, however, was that even when the cost was greater, developers were generally rewarded with a high rate of return on investment.
• Some developers said they could complete heritage development projects for less money than new build; on average, however, heritage development projects were slightly more expensive, but only slightly more.
• Barriers to success can be enumerated: Uncertainty in financing and difficulty in borrowing from banks; Contradictions between different government departments – lack of reason in applying the building code, and unreasonableness in fire and other regulations; Skilled labour shortages; Community heritage proponents with no appreciation for practical building concerns.
  
• Full report available online at
• http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/research/hrc/hrc-lazarus-dec1605-final.pdf

Photo credit to Forsyth family archives: graphic in a painted wall hanging with calligraphy from "The Salesmen" and inscribed to " To the President and Executive Officers of John Forsyth Limited." Date unknown.

Labels: built heritage, Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 1:40 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• " Group of Seven artist Franklin Carmichael’s home and studio (designated 1988)... was demolished less than 24 hours before the notice announcing Council’s intention to designate the property appeared in the newspaper...The demolition shocked heritage preservation staff who thought they had successfully negotiated a deal to have the small arts and crafts house moved to the side of the large lot. Instead the owner applied for a demolition permit under the Building Code Act.
• Prior to January 1, 2006 it was the practice in the City of Toronto not to issue demolition permits on listed buildings until such time as preservation staff and the Preservation Board could be notified and move forward with a Designation. Once Council had published its notice of intention to designate the building would be protected.
• However, because of a recent change to the Ontario Building Code Act (Bill 124) municipalities must issue demolition permits very promptly, no longer allowing municipalities to delay. ===> per Rambling Rose, must be issued within 10 days
• Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Mr. Richard Joy contacted BHN to advise that MMAH is moving quickly to close this loophole in the heritage system. Bill 53, the City of Toronto Act, will contain provisions allowing municipalities to delay applications for listed properties for 60 days, giving time to designate. This provision will apply all across the province. However, in the meantime there is a gaping hole through which one very important property has already fallen.
• 
  Action call: letters to your MPP to lobby for the speedy passage of Bill 53, The City of Toronto Act needs to be approved to provide municipal Building Departments up to 60 days to process demolition applications made for properties listed on the Heritage Register (rather than just 10 days).
• Contact information:
  1) John Milloy, MPP Kitchener Centre /email : illoy.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org 6C - 1770 King St. E.Kitchener ON N2G 2P1 Tel : 519-579-5460 ;
• 2) Elizabeth Witmer, MPP Kitchener--Waterloo / email : elizabeth.witmerco@pc.ola.org
  375 University Ave EWaterloo ON N2K 3M7 Tel : 519-725-477 ;
• 3) Ted Arnott, MPP Waterloo--Wellington /email : ted.arnottco@pc.ola.org
  181 St. Andrew St E, 2nd FlrFergus ON N1M 1P9 Tel : 519-787-5247

Photo Credit: Forsyth Family Archives

Labels: built heritage, Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 1:01 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• Bay window reports on 570 talk show: "Mayor Carl Zehr seemed more intent on questioning the process used in arriving at the decision and in condemning some of the 'over the top' language used by national and provincial heritage advocates than he was in actually explaining or defending the demolition."
• Glazed window sighs "I was most annoyed (to put it mildly) with the some radio announcer's comments and with Mayor Zehr's comments. Typical politician to try to divert the issue at hand by listing all the historical properties the city has helped save in the past. Listing everything else doesn't make the city less guilty for what it has done in this particular case. This building too could have been saved."
• Double-hung window reports on last week's powerful CB meet: "Someone mentioned Monday night's turnout - such high numbers - heritage issues and KPL seen as the reason. What is the swing in opinion? ... Someone else mentioned that many are blaming the library for the demolition of Forsyth - the real reason why it was torn down - not a safety issue. "
• Porte Cochere leads right into the P3 issue: "...Staff and council have not listened to what the public has repeatedly said but the public doesn't forget. No need to mention the ‘‘old city hall’’ or even our ‘‘new market’’ where the ‘‘partnerships’’ result in projects that soon lose their shine, and the ongoing erosion of our built heritage ."
• Noted elsewhere: every community has a galvanizing issue ==> Rambling Rose wonders if the Forsyth demolition will serve that purpose for the City of Kitchener??

Photo Credit to Forsyth Family Archives: Regent Shirt promo spotlighting the correct cufflink and tie to acessorize.

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:57 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. Chen, who owns an architectural design business, "questioned a key recommendation of the Centre Block committee that was endorsed by city councillors. In order to attract a private-sector partner, the committee and council want to transfer ownership of city-owned land and buildings to the developer after the library is built." ===> and then lease back the buildings over the next 30 years at what cost to taxpayers?
2. Hans Pottkamper, who chairs the economic development advisory committee, said "the reality is we don't have enough money," he said. "We created this process because we don't have enough money to build the library." ===> the reality of EDIF aka as the Economic Development Investment Fantasy Fund of $110 M to be financed by 1.65% special levy over 2004-2014 = increased property taxes???
3. Woolner, a housing consultant, said "A partnership with a private-sector developer seldom serves the public interest because it is aimed at reducing risks for the developer."
4. Woolner also said 1) the historic buildings on Centre Block should all be protected and incorporated into the redevelopment; and 2) the demolition of the Forsyth factory, which was designated as a landmark under the Ontario Heritage Act, only served to drag the library project into controversy. ===> confused the issue? the red herring to distract from the land transfer proposed?
5. Advisers back city approach to core project
   The library should divorce itself from the group trying to redevelop Centre Block and not seek a private-sector partner, two members of the city's economic development advisory committee said yesterday. But their arguments didn't hold sway with other committee members, who voted to endorse the current approach to developing the downtown block. They also supported the call for a private-sector partner to design and build a new main library.... read the rest at this link:
   http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1024322398726&c=Article&cid=1140648618021

Photo Credit: Forsyth Family Archives, promotional brochure for Christmas: man's robe set @ $13.95 complete.

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 8:57 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. Mayor Carl Zehr is now hiding behind a) that the city's heritage planner was not consulted by Heritage Canada; and b) that Council did not make the decision to demolish Forsyth as that was the call of the City's Chief Building Official as "public safety takes precedence." After that, he indirectly blamed the John Forsyth Co as after 99 demo permit was refused and designation under OHA Part IV was put in place, the OHA at that time would have allowed demolition after 180 days. ===> one must check timeline in terms of when the property was successfully sold to CIRCA Corporation as an adaptive re-use project? Perhaps someone in the larger community can do the fact-checking required here. Next, His Worship referred to state of disrepair of property and took credit for repairing the one wall that had bowed out. ===> again, the repair of the bowed wall was undertaken by CIRCA at their cost & then when city assumed ownership, the repairs were not continued under the City's stewardship. Sufficient engineering reports exist to confirm this is so. The mayor closed by insisting our "industrial artifacts" keep us in touch with our heritage.
2. Councillor Mike Galloway, Co-Chair of Heritage Kitchener: asserts that the Heritage Committee requested Heritage Canada come to view the building but did not come. ==> fact-checking required here. Insists this Committee has 12 members. ===> Not so, currently the committee has 8 members. Two have resigned over the Forsyth issue. We have 5 applications to sit on the Committee; however, this Council has not moved to review their appointment to this Committee as of this date. Councillor Galloway insists the demolished factory portions were not significant. ===> significant enough to warrant designation in 1999? as to the remaining Art Deco/Smythe Residence portions they remain unprotected against winter storms.
3. Citizen Co-Chair Heritage Kitchener, Kerry Kirby: drew attention to record of non-maintenance of designated heritage properties in spite of repeated recommendations from Heritage to repair roof and water leaks from 2000-2005, corrected allegations made by Council that citizens had not put any money towards saving this building by pointing out that Circa had invested more than $600, 000 over and above the purchase price of the building and had constructed two model suites in the portion as part of an adaptive re-use conversion into loft housing before the city assumed ownership of the building. In closing, Kirby called on all concerned citizens to attend 7 March 06 Heritage Committee meeting at 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers , Kitchener City Hall to show support for Kitchener Heritage.

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 3:02 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Labels: Berlin/Kitchener history, Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 7:41 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

culled from various sources by rambling rose who finds herself exhausted by the deluge of e-mails from various sources over the past week:

• Collar suspects "this Council could be under 'the influence' of some extreme pressure, wherever that is originating, to bow to maximizing the opportunity for the private sector in developing the centre block - get rid of all risk - in the way heritage buildings (to avoid drawn out delays to get rid of) - environmental issues
• Buttonhole advises "Delegations might wish to play upon the sense of shame, if any, councillors have regarding the loss of the Forsyth."
• Necktie waxes philosophical thus: "Once the buildings are gone - the memories and special attributes, the story of our industrial heritage fades even more. The impact of their ability to instill the emotions, stimulate the imagination of what once went on in this building, the opportunity to tell the story with some authenticity - will be lost forever."
• Scissors gets right to the point: "Can WE ask why, there is NO heritage professional nor 'design expert' persons involved directly in the Centre Block committee save a planner through previous contracts via the Economic Development Department?"
• Stitch ripper writes "I've been following this issue closely in the Record and have been beside myself with aggravation, watching my elected officials preparing to trash the city's built heritage while engaging in a massive giveaway to the development industry...."
• Thread draws attention to the weakest link here: "In polite company, between Politicians elected by the people, paid full-time staff (skilled and unskilled what resume have you) and the various committee volunteers - the volunteer is however the weakest in this organizational 'food chain' - "
• Seam provides this assessment: "But, of course, I have not mentioned the fact that an old building (structurally safe or not) was ripped down with absolutely no regard for saving any materials. How many bricks, how many board feet of hardwood flooring, and how many structural wooden beams were lost to landfill?"
• Button "was appalled at the political process which could allow the demolition of a potentially useful building, virtually overnight, on the opinion of a building inspector, without delay for a second opinion. One day an imposing landmark . . . the next, a dusty pile of rubble. What a lost opportunity to celebrate and incorporate Kitchener history into an exciting plan for the Centre Block...There are many examples of some of the most thriving urban settings where the historic is incorporated into the future, not flattened by some short-sighted, short-term local politicians who apparently must have some urgent agenda involving vacant lots."

Photo: view of TD former Canada Trust building to the east of the still-standing Art Deco (1937) Forsyth factory portion courtesy Sanamara Images.

Labels: Forsyth

# posted by ramblingrose @ 10:24 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Photo: Clock Tower remnant of Kitchener's original City Hall (1924-1973) designed by Mayor Schmalz.

I am currently reviewing the three Heritage motions approved by the Finance Committee last Monday 06 February 06 to be ratified by Council at tonight's Mon 13 Feb 06 7 p.m. City of Kitchener Council meeting. ===> delayed to 20 March 06 Council meeting & to be found here: http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_cao-06-009.pdf

1. "That the Mayfair Hotel located 11 Young Street be recognized as significant and retained in its entirety with an understanding that there be flexibility of use in the interior of the building and that the successful proponent for redevelopment of the Centre Block be encouraged to use those interior features deemed significant by Heritage Kitchener in any development of that building; and," ===> highlighted in red is the thin edge of the wedge as essentially a) there will be no requirement to keep the Mayfair in its entirety; and b) the latest development in the CB script has another motion before Council i.e. to include one half of Young Street in the lands to be given to the successful proponent for "pedestrian purposes." What? there are already two sidewalks on Young Street for pedestrian use? What's the agenda here?
2. "That the front façade of 156-158 King Street West be retained in its entirety and the
   successful proponent for redevelopment of the Centre Block be encouraged to incorporate the remainder of the building and any interior features deemed significant by Heritage Kitchener in any development scheme if structurally and financially feasible, "====> lots of "wiggle room" (Mayor's fav phrase) here and room enough to justify another demolition? "and further,
3. " That the two remaining buildings associated with the Forsyth building complex, being the c. 1880 Smyth residence and the 1937 Art Deco addition, not be retained in situ on the property on the basis that they would seriously compromise the ability to achieve maximum development on the property through the upcoming Request for Expression of Interest Proposal process," ===> mmm? yes, of course there is always the hidden agenda: this is about the private interest trumping out the public good....... "but that the history of the buildings and property be honoured by having the architecture of the buildings reflected in the new development on the Centre Block through the use of salvaged and retained materials from all of the Forsyth buildings." =========> again? we will settle for the crumbs from the built heritage table? two pre-cast concrete panels and pretend that the part salvaged can recompense us for the whole?

# posted by ramblingrose @ 3:11 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Another deferral = denial of Heritage request? = total of 9 Centre Block heritage properties still at risk!

• cf. Council also resolved that consideration of the listing of privately owned properties within the Centre Block be deferred until such time as the process for public consultation regarding adding non-designated properties to a Heritage Register has been completed. ==> The Heritage Planner has been instructed to take the proposed adding to inventory process to the development industry for input!!!
• ===> buildings at risk include: 1) Canadian Block 1865 Georgian red brick; 2) 18-24 Ontario 1875 & architecturally continuation of Canadian Block; 3) 82-86 King W 1883 Berlin vernacular & continues Canadian Block; 4) Weber Chambers 1893--Classical Revival adjacent to city-owned Hymmen Hardware 1906 Classical Revival (city intends to save facade only); 5) Capitol Theatre 1921 Classical Revival with Spanish elements -- only vintage theatre remaining in this Region!
• re recent changes made to the Ontario Heritage Act and the Ontario Planning Act regarding the listing of properties of cultural heritage value or interest to a municipality: Should City Council proceed to formally recognize property as being of cultural heritage value or interest, it may now do so by adding the property to the City’s Heritage Register under the Ontario Heritage Act. Such property would be identified as being "non-designated property of cultural heritage value or interest".
• Currently, the Ontario Heritage Act imposes no restrictions on non-designated property
  added to Municipal Heritage Registers. The listing of non-designated property on the
  Heritage Register simply serves to recognize that the Municipal Council has formally
  identified the property as being of cultural heritage value or interest.
• Recent changes made to the Ontario Building Code now require municipalities to issue or refuse select building permits (including demolition permits) within 10 working days. Such time frame could prevent a municipality from initiating the designation process for a significant heritage property before issuance of a demolition permit.
• Heritage Kitchener has recommended that three City owned properties located within the
  Centre Block be recognized as being of cultural heritage value or interest to the municipality: those being 6) 11 Young Street (Mayfair Hotel 1906 Classical Revival), 7)156-158 King Street West (former Hymmen Hardware 1906 Classical Revival), and 8) 48 Ontario Street North (former Bell/Legion 1914 Classical with BROWNSTONE details). ===> more to come next blog "the thin edge of the wedge"
• Stay on execution er demolition? 9) City of Kitchener demolition application re Smythe Residence/Art Deco remnants of Forsyth (1888-2006) building complex to be reviewed by Heritage Kitchener, Thursday 16 February 06, 2 p.m. Schmalz Room, City Hall

Photo taken from Kitchener-Waterloo Record Mon 20 April 1964 with this caption: WORLD'S MOST COMFORTABLE COLLAR! The secret is under the tie knot. Collar can be adjusted to wearer's hour by hour comfort requirements, yet always looks neat. Comfor-V is an exclusive Forsyth feature. patent No. 278-036. The same issue has suggestions for Dad's Day gifts such as the Scardigan and the zippered Scardigan selling at $4.95 and $6.95 in plains and genuine tartans. For Dad at Christmas, Forsyth will be offering silk pocket puffs from $1.00 to $3.50 and cottown and lawn handkerchiefs!

Great quote from same issue for entablature:

"Prejudice is a great time saver. It enables you to form opinions without bothering to get the facts."--anon.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 11:33 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. Where once economics/ politics determined the city as a commodity & settlement was determined by family, social group, shared history, and place of work, the designed created city as a work of art results in reaction to globalization. Now both people and capital are footloose and choose to settle in the city that differentiates itself from all others and offers quality of life. Example: Vancouver's remarkable growth has resulted from being seen as a safe haven for both people and capital.
2. Vancouver as a matter of principle saves every heritage building for its distinctive character and uses them as cues for new urban design and to create a neighbourhood culture.
3. If a city works well for its children, it will work well for others. Therefore, bring families with children back to the downtown.
4. Development decisions are made by professionals, not by politicians and volunteers.
5. Turn to the development process to fund the public common wealth.
6. To empower architects, it will be necessary to implement a) urban design panels b) peer reviews.

The inclement weather held off & in the non-freezing rain following the lecture, Rambling Rose recall for D. Q. that "typical Vancouver winter we are now experiencing." Hence, also the School of Architecture Director's wisdom "ask for forgiveness rather than ask for permission" as the Universe did supply. Recalls another's life philosophy: "I dare to sin boldly knowing that I live under the umbrella of God's Grace." --Martin Luther

# posted by ramblingrose @ 2:37 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Per Ontario Heritage Act rev. 2005
Municipal heritage committee
28. (1) The council of a municipality may by by-law establish a municipal heritage committee to advise and assist the council on matters relating to this Part, matters relating to Part V and such other heritage matters as the council may specify by by-law.
(2) The committee shall be composed of not fewer than five members appointed by the council.

Rambling Rose learns

• an important 3 - letter word: may does not mean shall ===> therefore, this Committee exists by will of Council;
• five =quorum and less than that the Committee cannot move motions forward to Council on heritage matters;
• the Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee is not a "legal entity"; therefore, not even entitled to legal advice? interesting question that warrants further research ?

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:30 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• Sparks still fly over fate of factory
  TERRY PENDER/KITCHENER (Feb 8, 2006)
  The chair of Heritage Kitchener says city councillors are entirely responsible for the demolition of the historic Forsyth factory -- not the people who urged the city to preserve the old building. Kerry Kirby was reacting to comments made by Coun. Christine Weylie, who said during a finance committee meeting on Monday afternoon that heritage advocates had to take some of the responsibility for the destruction of the old factory because they never raised any money to help preserve it.
  After saying that, Weylie then voted in favour of demolishing the last remaining sections of the heritage landmark: the 1880-era Smyth residence and the 1937 Art Deco addition.
  But Kirby said fundraising is not part of the mandate of Heritage Kitchener.
  "Our mandate is to advise city council on historic matters and heritage, as we did in 2002, 2003 and 2005, when we told city council to do repairs and maintain the historic factory," Kirby said in an interview yesterday.
  City councillors ignored the advice of Heritage Kitchener ....read the rest athttp://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139376723884&call_pageid=1024322085509&col=1024322199564
• Cathedral Ceiling attempts to reframe this discussion:
  "There's the crux of the problem: how the story has been framed thus far. We see heritage, the public sees an old building and others remember working in a factory--hard work indeed. What is missing everyone's attention is the issue of how are tax dollars are being used. The Economic Development Fund IS NOT A FUND such as the Treasury Fund in Alberta which is a fund where all the oil royalties stream in. What our Economic Development Fund is a blank promissory note wherein tax councillors stash their promises as yet unpaid for. These promises are to be paid for by a special levy of 1.65% on top of your tax bill over a period of ten years, starting in 2004. We have noticed the costs keep escalating. One KPL/Centre Block Committee member has already spoken of 'creative financing.' In last Monday's Budget Council meeting, Zehr in one motion to hold costs let slip these comments, ' some unforeseen costs lurking in the shadows' and 'surplus thinner in future.' Is the announced 1.65% tax increase a smokescreen or the smoke of a fire already burning on Centre Block? Start talking tax $ being spent and wasted & maybe the taxpayers of Kitchener will start paying attention? "
• "....but at the end of the day, what is convenient for politicians matters less than what is good for the public. And the public has a right to know what the people it elects are doing with its tax dollars. It has a right to insist that politicians are accountable for their actions." ---Record editorial 19 October 2005
• Snow Load does a book review for heritage advocates: " I’m not sure if you are familiar with the late Chicagoan, Richard Nickel, and the book They All Fall Down, but I would recommend it as a prerequisite to anyone that gets involved in a heritage preservation movement. I draw inspiration from the story. It is a hard to find book, unless you order it. I own a copy and would be glad to loan it to you for your reading pleasure. Richard Nickel had wonderful quotes when he came up against the various groups that roadblocked his attempts to save Chicago architecture. One of them was 'Great architecture has only two natural enemies: water and stupid men." ===> PER BLOG EDITOR: They All Fall Down: Richard Nickel's Struggle to Save America's ArchitectureRichard CahanISBN: 0-471-14426-6Hardcover288 pagesJune 1995 /CDN $67.50 http://www.lynnbecker.com/repeat/nickel/nickelensemble.htm + this tidbit: Nickel died when a Sullivan building he was photographing collapsed.
• Girder opines thus: "New buildings are not the key to re-urbanization. The thread of activity must be carried on from the past into the future. Cutting the thread from the past makes it less likely downtown Kitchener will ever return to the vitality it once had."
  
  

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:30 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. application to demolish the Smythe Residence/Art Deco portion;
2. Finance Committee's motion to save only the Art Deco 1937 pre-cast concrete panels
3. When? T uesday 7 February Heritage Committee meeting, 4 p.m.

Where? Conestoga Room (directly behind rotunda), main floor City Hall

Yes, I can

• attend meeting to create visible presence for Heritage
• e-mail a letter of protest to the Mayor, the Chief Administrative Officer (CA). my Councillor, the Co-Chairs of Heritage Advisory Committee (see blogpost on how to write a letter below)
• phone the above
• write a letter to the editor
• discuss the issue over coffee with others

Yes, I can just do it!

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:16 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

• Per Heritage Committee's ongoing building technology education / expert witness: "There was a time, not so very long ago, that the Committee's requirements meant to involve a Professional Architect and/or Structural Engineer knowledgeable about Heritage Structures. - Where are we at with that Heritage Kitchener ? Should the Ministry of Culture mandate this next ?In the meantime, CMHC is and has been a very good learning source on Canadian building practices (Technical Bulletins in the days before the Internet) .... please check out the Construction Detail of the Month as it may apply to the 'Smyth House / Forsythe Property'. The writings on the wall or rubble pile .... so to speak."
• http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/imquaf/himu/codemo/codemo_068.cfm
• Vapour barrier poses this question: "At issue in this Project ...[is the question}, .... who has the right to be heard when planning and building a public edifice - City Hall, public square, a new bridge over the Grand River .... an old shirt factory ?"
• Duct Tape reports on this afternoon's Finance Committee meeting: " P3 is being negotiated by the City of Kitchener for the development of a new central library and re-urbanization of what is known as "Centre Block," quite literally a full city block located in the centre of downtown Kitchener, right next to City Hall and now some of the most valuable real estate in the city. I've just come from a city council meeting where they just scrapped any new books being purchased (much less new library staff being hired) with the new development. So the citizens of Kitchener will not get any new or improved library *services* but we will be getting 350 new parking spaces, plus a massive deal to a developer: in exchange for building *our* library, a developer will be given all the remaining land on Centre Block. Two weeks ago, one designated heritage building on the site was demolished in a dubious case of neglect (the city is the landlord) making the building unsafe, and the city (both authority to make decisions plus landlord) is to make a decision next."
• Robertson screwdriver digs into this issue further: " RAT-ified is a good word for the bungling process to date !Retention (adaptive re-use) / Removal / Remediation Options .... Centre Block Kitchener committee are not even words the Centre Block committee / lawyer and banking experts even care to use. Our KPL - Centre Block (hybridized title) committee since the inception of Centre Block, has never put 'built heritage' on the agenda willingly .... their representatives at the November 2005 charette were only slightly convinced of the democratic and inclusive nature to involve Heritage Kitchener and friends. It has been very smug of those to say, 'Oh well, the 'chief building official' made us tear down the old factory.' Their having negated necessary maintenance & weather proofing repairs, property standards and even economic viability (Heritage: the Competitive Edge - Monday, Feb 20th) have us all to blame for the events to date.Regards to onside Mayor & Council in assuming their responsibilities."
• Caulking writes:
  " I've been following this issue closely in The Record and have been beside myself with aggravation, watching my elected officials preparing to trash the city's built heritage while engaging in a massive giveaway to the development industry." and goes on to offer " Some free advice, for what it's worth. At the [Monday] Feb 13 [City of Kitchener Council Meeting, 7 p.m. Council Cambers] meeting, we need a delegation to stand up and make a well prepared presentation that calls a spade a spade, telling Council that their own thinking is narrow, obsolete, and parochial, and that they need to bring in outside help from more ophisticated jurisdictions to show them what they could do with their heritage resources besides demolishing them or giving them away to private developers. For starters, we might want to urge/demand that they contact the Canadian Association of Professional Heritage Consultants and PlaceMakers, a New-York based outfit that recently gave a presentation in Cambridge."
  Canadian Association of Professional Planners website: http://www.caphc.ca & Placemakers website: link takes you to an article "Launching a New Tradition of Great Public Squares" with ideas that can be applied to the redevelopment of Kitchener's Heritage Block:
  http://www.pps.org/info/newsletter/december2005/
• to sign up as delegate to 13 Feb 06 Council meet:
  http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/delegate.html

# posted by ramblingrose @ 7:58 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

The power of the written word to get results

• one letter usually speaks for another 30 citizens who share your viewpoint but don't have the time or skills to actually write it & note Cathy Nasmith, ACO contributes passage of Bill 60 to amend Ontario Heritage Act in 2005 to a concerted letter-writing campaign we all took part in.

How to write a letter? in three easy steps to follow:

First, Consider SAP thus

• Subject? the demolition application to demolish the Smythe Residence & Art Deco factory portion. Decision to demolish totally was made today at Finance meet but will need to be ratified at Monday 13 Feb 06 7 p.m. Council meeting. & postponed now to 20 March 06 Council meeting
• Audience? mayor + your councillor, Co-chairs of Heritage Kitchener in the to-portion of your e-mail & copied to the following: Chair of Regional Heritage Group, Ontario Ministry of Culture, Ontario Heritage Trust, ACO and CHO (provincial umbrella organizations) and The Record
• Purpose? to stop/delay this demolition or whatever it takes to stop the destruction of the Berlin streetscape and loss of valuable Heritage properties

Next step, draft your e-mail in three paragraphs:

1. Explain why are writing: " to protest the Finance committee's decision this afternoon to demolish the remaining Smythe/Art Deco portions of the Forsyth building."
2. In one paragraph, explain why you think this demolition is the wrong thing to do.
3. In last paragraph, in one sentence sum up your action request: you are asking your Councillor not to ratify the decision made by Finance Committee this afternoon.

Last step, Now go up to your menu bar and click save ==> creates draft from of your e-mail & allows you to insert information as you get it & apply spell check before sending it.

City Council contact information can be found here:

http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/council.html

Carla Ladd, Chief Administrative Officer carla.ladd@city.kitchener.on.ca

Heritage Co-Chairs: mike.galloway@city.kitchener.on.ca & Kerry Kirby kerrykirby@rogers.com

Regional Heritage Group: Jean Haalboom hjean@region.waterloo.on.ca

Provincial

Ministry of Culture: Dan Schneider dan.schneider@mcl.gov.on.ca & Paul King paul.king@mcl.gov.on.ca

Ontario Heritage Trust: Sean Fraser sean.fraser@heritagefdn.on.ca

Community Heritage Ontario: Paul King pking@heritageontario.org

Architectural Conservancy Ontario: local branch rbdietri@uwaterloo.ca; provincial cnasmith@sympatico.ca

The Record editorial page LHaddrall@therecord.com & reporter tracking this story tpender@therecord.com

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:45 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. application to demolish the Smythe Residence/Art Deco portion;
2. saving the Art Deco 1937 pre-cast concrete panels only

at tomorrow's Tuesday 7 February Heritage Committee meeting, 4 p.m. Conestoga Room (directly behind rotunda), Kitchener City Hall.

Action Steps:

1. Plan to attend to give Heritage a visible presence.
2. Express your outrage to your councillors and copy your letter to the Record & the Ministry of Culture. Keep the e-mails moving as fast as you can!

Check back in 30 min or so and I shall provide all with the correct e-mail addresses. OK?

My blog-hosting service will be offline between 10 and 11 p.m. tonight for scheduled maintenance.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:22 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Photo: Serbian Festival 2003 at Kitchener City Hall.

• bring a book, a water bottle, and a toonie to pay for 3 hours underground parking
• try to arrive approx 10 minutes before the show starts
• on your left, as you enter the Chambers, you will be able to pick up a copy of the agenda & related reports ( paid for out of your tax $$$$)
• maybe you should also print out the City Hall tour found here in case you get bored waiting for the Centre Block dance festival to begin ==> oops! can't find it although I visit the website often and know it is there
• what I did find was how to register as a delegate at this link: http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/city_hall/mayor_council/delegate.html ; rules say anyone can appear before Council and Committees to speak for a max of 5 minutes on any item on the agenda
• now settle in to enjoy the show as Councillors weave in and out of reports, make motions and "friendly amendments" -- unfriendly/hostile amendments are frequently described as "aggressive"
• once you get to know the players who have rehearsed their lines, you will appreciate the Shakespearean proportions of this municipal drama
• no time to read all those boring reports? never fear, as ramblingrose spent an entirely boring weekend dowloading them all & have posted the essentials here
• who knows? you might even get addicted to all shenanigans taking place in your very own taxpayer-paid-for City Hall
• do have fun!

• ooooooooooops! almost forgot to pass on the secret code: works like this-- every time the Mayor asks the City's CAO re budget line this to be charged to? if the answer is, the Economic Development Investment (Fantasy) Fund, you must translate thus: "oh yeah, another 1.7% special tax hike on my property taxes from now on until 2014? really, sounds like borrowing to me....right out of my pocket!"

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:38 PM 2 Comments Links to this post

Photo: facades of L to R, the Mayfair Hotel and Weber Chambers.

According to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, the Honourable Sheila Copps, during the last 30 years we have lost 21% -23% of the pre-1920 heritage building stock to demolition. A recent study also found that 14.3% of older buildings are at risk. For now the two buildings in the photo above have earned a reprieve from the wrecker's ball cf. the Heritage Planner's report on the remaining 3 city-owned buildings on Kitchener's Heritage Block:

1. Heritage Kitchener has recommended that three City owned properties located within the
   Centre Block be recognized as being of cultural heritage value or interest to the municipality; those being 11 Young Street (Mayfair Hotel), 156-158 King Street West (former Hymmen Hardware), and 48 Ontario Street North (former Legion).
2. City Staff have previously advised Council via DTS 05-199 (see Appendix ‘A’) of the recent changes made to the Ontario Heritage Act and the Ontario Planning Act regarding the listing of properties of cultural heritage value or interest to a municipality. Should City Council proceed to formally recognize property as being of cultural heritage value or interest, it may now do so by adding the property to the City’s Heritage Register under the Ontario Heritage Act. Such property would be identified as being "non designated property of cultural heritage value or interest". Currently, the Ontario Heritage Act imposes no restrictions on non-designated property added to Municipal Heritage Registers. The listing of non-designated property on the Heritage Register simply serves to recognize that the Municipal Council has formally identified the property as being of cultural heritage value or interest.
3. Council should be aware however that changes proposed to be made to the Ontario Heritage Act through the proposed City of Toronto Act (which has received first reading only), may provide municipalities with more time to process demolition applications made for properties listed on Heritage Registers. Recent changes made to the Ontario Building Code now require municipalities to issue or refuse select building permits (including demolition permits) within 10 working days. Such time frame could prevent a municipality from initiating the designation process for a significant heritage property before issuance of a demolition permit. The proposed City of Toronto Act would amend the Ontario Heritage Act to extend the amount of time a municipality may have to process a demolition application made for a property listed on the Heritage Register only from 10 days to 60 days.
4. Full report link:http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_dts-06-022_.pdf

# posted by ramblingrose @ 8:58 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Demolition pause reveals the foundations of Smythe Residence,

From the KPL Project updated by its CEO,Sonia Lewis come the following highlights:

• Total Library Construction Costs @ $34,132,000
• Total Site Construction Costs @$1,732,500
• Total Parking Costs @$6,273,600
• assume construction costs will escalate by approximately 5% per annum
• Surface parking on Centre Block is no longer an option available to KPL. City and Centre Block Project Committee directions...dictated a need for underground parking, resulting in a significant increase in library parking costs...Underground parking frees up surface areas on the site for additional development and creation of tax- generating buildings.
  
  I met a traveller from an antique land
  
  Who said:-Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
  
  Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
  
  Half sunk, a shatter'd visage lies, whose frown
  
  And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
  
  Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
  
  Which yet survive, stamp'd on these lifeless things,
  
  The hand that mock'd them and the heart that fed.
  
  And on the pedestal these words appear:
  
  "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
  
  Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!"
  
  Nothing beside remains: round the decay
  
  Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
  
  The lone and level sands stretch far away.
  
  
  
  -- Ozymandias, P. B. Shelley ( 1792-1827)

# posted by ramblingrose @ 8:42 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Set behind the remains of the Forsyth Complex (1888-2006) can be seen Kitchener City Hall (1993) which replaced the Neo-Classical City Hall (1924) that was demolished to make way for P3 urban renewal project ca. 1973.

• That the two remaining buildings associated with the Forsyth building complex, being the c. 1880 Smyth residence and the 1937 Art Deco addition, not be retained in situ on the property on the basis that they would seriously compromise the ability to achieve maximum development on the property through the upcoming Request for Expression of Interest Proposal process, but that the history of the buildings and property be honoured { rambling rose cannot help gagging on this use of words} by having the architecture of the buildings reflected in the new development on the Centre Block through the use of salvaged and retained materials from all of the Forsyth buildings==========> to be replaced by ??? cf. note below
• a 350-space(180 KPL + 170 public) municipal (underground) parking structure @ $5.5 edif* +$8.5 debenture**=$14,000,000 total cost &
• new KPL main library @$58.7M per Hanscomb Dec06 cost estimate =======> to accommodate complete, high density redevelopment of the block in exchange for 1 (one) hectare/2.5 acres city-owned land purchased at cost of $9.1 million =$ 1,425,000 per acre cost
• cf. Sept 04 commercial property available for sale nearby Queen Street South: 0.75 acres +30,000 sq ft building at Sale price of $1,900,000 == 04 market value of city-owned Centre Block lands thus $ 3, 562,500??? Corrections gladly accepted.
• acronyms and jargons in plain English thus: edif refers to the $110 million Economic Development Investment (Fantasy) Fund financed through a series of 10 year tax increases at 1. 7% special applied to your tax bill over 10 years (2002-2014). This year's share of $3, 806,150 x 10 years =$38,061,500 barely covers all the promises and blank cheques issued so far. The numbers just don't add up!
• To read all about the vision for the re-urbanization of Centre Block to be discussed in Monday's meeting go to:
  http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_cao-06-009.pdf
• Rambling Rose now offers this backgrounder to the above: KPL Business Case prepared 2005 already indicated this sequence of events as on p. 28 of that report, the cost for the library was predicated on the assumption that the Forsyth building be demolished at cost of $450,000 to provide for parking. You can read the report right here: http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/pdf/kpl_centreblock/kpl_business_case_sept4_2005.pdf

# posted by ramblingrose @ 7:07 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• close-up existing building openings @ $7,000;
• re-install hydro panel & fire sensors @ $15,000;
• remove hazardous materials $160,000? or $ 250,000 ? $300,000?
• cost to backfill the holes, re-grade the side, and resurface for temporary use (mmm? 7th parking lot in the King Street corridor???) ====> cost still to be determined;
• consultant fees (environmental, enginering) ====> on top of all the other fees already paid out??
• demolition change orders????===> are the quoted prices subject to change from this report???
• other salvage costs??? should the Heritage Advisory request them the Committee wanted the entire Forsyth complex to be saved.

View the complete report here:

http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_crps-06-023_-_retention_removal_remediation_-_forsyth_complex.pdf

Photo: corner Duke and Young Streets as they once were in A Visit to Forsyth courtesy of Forsyth family archives.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 6:05 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• precast concrete facade moved into storage @ $45.000;
• reinstall concrete facade in situ @ $65,0000;

but here comes the costly surprise: use only the precast concrete facade and redo the entire structure for adaptive re-use @$8, 335,000!

For complete report go to:

http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_crps-06-023_-_retention_removal_remediation_-_forsyth_complex.pdf

Photo overlooking courtyard taken from A Visit to Forsyth courtesy Forsyth family archives.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:52 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• demolish the Art Deco addition @ $70,000; (demolish both at same time @ $105,000= $15,000 cost saving on the 2 for 1 price deal; however, add in cost to remove hazardous materials @ $125,000 = $185,000;
• keep option of future adaptive-reuse open by protecting what's left @ $350,000;
• retain everything for adaptive re-use option @ $8, 642,000*.

* price includes: fire alarm system @ $15,000 & remove hazardous materials @ $125,000

None of these prices include salvage options. Cf. the Fedy 17 May 05 cost projections to implement:

• base building renovation @ $6, 676, 837;
• upgrade building to residential** housing @ $14, 378, 626*;
• upgrade building to office/commercial use @ $17, 568,471*; * as designated property, the building was eligible for up to $1,000,000 CBIP federal money & ** residential housing qualifies for further incentives.

Taken from complete report: http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_crps-06-023_-_retention_removal_remediation_-_forsyth_complex.pdf

The Record editorial of 11 Jan 06 said it all: " What a waste all around." & " Kitchener Council and the city's senior bureaucrats should be held accountable, especially in this municipal election year, for wasting public money and losing a landmark."

# posted by ramblingrose @ 5:47 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

r x 3 (retention, remediation, removal) options for Forsyth: Smythe Residence /

How much will it cost to clean up this mess? Post-demolition report indicates that "the building's upper roof structure has sustained damage and the lateral loading is causing the structure to kick outward."

1. Choose one:
2. sell the house as is for $1 to anyone willing to take it way aka known as the looney option;
3. demolish the house @ $50,000;
4. protect to allow for later adaptive re-use @ $200,000;

full details can be found here:

http://www.city.kitchener.on.ca/Files/Item/item7379_crps-06-023_-_retention_removal_remediation_-_forsyth_complex.pdf

Photo: front facade of the Smythe residence/office taken from A Visit to Forsyth courtesy Forsyth family archives.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 4:08 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

• Professor Rick Haldenby, U of W School of Architecture was skeptical of the benefits of demolition. "I don't see how the site itself, with or without buildings, comes anywhere close to representing a resource or asset that would induce a private developer to contribute millions of dollars to the construction of the library. The numbers don't make any sense to me."http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1139007018754&call_pageid=1024322085509&col=1024322199564
• Details of the deal emerge per T. Pender's report in The Record:
  Centre Block to be the prize/Successful builder of main library may get Kitchener sites for free
  Critical to the redevelopment of the block is getting a developer to build a 130,000-square-foot central library. The estimated cost of the project is $59 million to $64 million. If city councillors go along with the Centre Block committee, the city will provide $49 million to $54 million.Then, to close the gap between the city's contribution and the estimated costs of the library, the city will give the developer the remaining land and city-owned buildings on Centre Block -- bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario streets -- after a library is built.
  http://www.therecord.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=record/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1024322398726&c=Article&cid=1138920615117

# posted by ramblingrose @ 10:37 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

• "Here in Kitchener, City Council is engaging in a particularly contentious political debate over what to do with the Centre Block. The Centre Block is a parcel of land —— one city block, in fact —— bounded by King, Young, Duke and Ontario Streets in Kitchener’’s downtown core. "
• "Other proposals call for the land, now owned by the city, to be given away to any developer willing to redevelop, and others have suggested that the land would be easier to develop if the properties on it, including the Mayfair Hotel, were bulldozed."
• "More disturbingly still, a number of meetings around the fate of the Centre Block have been held in secret, recalling the 1960s secret deal that resulted in Kitchener’s classic City Hall being bulldozed to install a mall. Then, earlier this month, came the sudden announcement that the historic Forsyth Factory was structurally unsound and had to be demolished immediately. "
• "And while it is understandable that the City of Kitchener may be embarrassed that this property in the heart of the downtown has resisted renewal, this is no excuse to plan in haste, and it's no excuse to plan without consulting the local residents and the wider community."
• "The Centre Block issue is important because it will define the City of Kitchener. It is a key piece of property in the heart of Kitchener’s downtown core. The City is making haste on it because, if done right, it will make this city,...but if the Centre Block is done wrong, it will be a mistake we have to live with for years."
• In this respect, it is disturbing to see elements of the old story of Kitchener being reenacted here: a city rushing forward without appearing to fully consult its community, appearing to value business interests over its own heritage or the interests of the community. There are echos of the disastrous decision to bulldoze old City Hall to build a mall, here, and that’s a story that’s best left to Kitchener’s history." Just click on the links to read his comments in more detail:
  
  1 Feb 06 post "there's something happening here...and it ain't exactly clear" found at p://www.bowjamesbow.ca/2006/02/01/theres_somethin.shtm
  4 Feb 06 post "on the forsythe" found at
  http://www.bowjamesbow.ca/2006/02/04/on_the_forsythe.shtml

# posted by ramblingrose @ 9:11 AM 0 Comments Links to this post

Still legible on an adjacent wall after all these years is the following inscription that guided the founder's business philosophy:
There is scarcely anything in the world that some man cannot make a little worse, and sell a little more cheaply. The person who buys on price alone is this man's lawful prey. --John Ruskin, (attributed) English critic, essayist, & reformer (1819 - 1900)

# posted by ramblingrose @ 10:39 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Photo: Jan 06 Forsyth demolition debris comes to the attention of Special Council Session, Monday 30 January 06.

• Purlin muses thus about Monday night's Council deliberations:
  "What to do with protecting from the elements the remaining 2 buildings, the Smythe house and the 1937 Art Deco building, as well as remaining heritage remnants from the demolition, beams and pillars, bricks, was added to the council meeting last night after being deferred from a special council meeting called by the mayor yesterday morning following budget deliberations.
• the remaining buildings which have been deemed in reasonable condition other than some concern over the concrete facade stability on the art deco facade.
• What cost should be incurred protecting these buildings from the elements until their fate is decided? $15,000 for tarps was quoted
• information about the $30,000 allocated to protecting Forsyth [was provided]-apparently $9,000 was spent reconnecting the roof drains before the decision to demolish came about
• Councillor A suggested that the money be spent protecting the remaining buildings from the elements
• Staff B wondered about the attempt to save the house - removing lead paint alone would cost...$250,000.
• Lengthy discussion about remnants developed - decided to forget about more bricks and focus on the 22 skids...already... in storage from the smaller building removal years before.
• [Council]decided to save a number of beams and posts for some kind of symbolic nostalgic reconstruction in some future new building downtown...
• No heritage committee members or staff were in attendance....
• Council repeatedly called for heritage committee members to speak up but there was no one there - in all fairness, this was not listed as an agenda item." --bolded items per blog editor rambling rose who also omitted expressions of opinion & is waiting to compare this report with the recorded minutes of that Council meeting.

# posted by ramblingrose @ 8:02 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

Photo: Taken from A Visit to Forsyth courtesy of the Forsyth family archives.

• We are still trying to determine the name of the architect who designed the Art Deco 1937 addition. We are clear that this addition has been greatly influenced by the industrial design concepts pioneered by the famed Albert Kahn(b. Rhaunen, Germany 1869; d. New York, N.Y. 1942). We do know that Kahn designed the Kaufmann Rubber Factory a few blocks to the west on King Street.
• "I got all the breaks," Albert Kahn said of his long career as an industrial architect. In 1904, he applied a new building technique that he had learned in Europe--reinforced concrete--to his designs for the new Packard factory on East Grand Boulevard near Mt.Elliot. This innovative, sturdy, light, clean, spacious, efficient factory so excited and pleased the young automakers who were flocking to Detroit that they all rushed to order his new design. Thus began Kahn's long, productive career that paralleled the history of the infant auto industry and its capital, Detroit. Read the rest at:
  http://info.detnews.com/history/story/index.cfm?id=144&category=people
• This new type of industry[ the automobile industry] gave birth to a new architecture, which arose from the entirely original solutions to Ford's unprecedented demands by the architect and engineer Albert Kahn. A thirty-year intellectual exchange closely united these two self-made men, both born in 1860, even though Ford was an anti-Semite and Kahn, a humble Jewish immigrant. More at:
  http://www.architectureweek.com/2000/1101/culture_1-2.html

# posted by ramblingrose @ 12:00 PM 0 Comments Links to this post

1. Who's keeping track of the site development budget here? Economic Development or CAO ?- What 'pot of gold' (2005 fiscal) or 'rainy day fund' (2006 capital costs) are they working from ?
2. Let's keep a tally of the 'costs' to date related to the property purchase (principal + interest accrued) , overall demolition contracts plus unit prices (change orders), heritage salvage (misnamed) and subsequent storage costs and any new project development / site improvements by the City or contracted developer.
3. Rumor on development or not .... the least they'll do is create another surface parking lot, expanding on the one they've already created at Centre Block. Yes, the Joni Mitchell 'Big Yellow Taxi' theory on urban renewal .... but that was the late 60's early 70's we thought !Should KPL now develop a library here with this tide of new expenses, these costs are part of the overall property / project development to date .... one could argue ! :) vs :( "

# posted by ramblingrose @ 8:17 AM 0 Comments Links to this post