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| Is it a coincidence, that the brand-new Parliament LRT station is below Queen and O'Connor. |
City of Ottawa -Application for new construction in a Heritage Conservation District, October 10, 2001.
Report Recommendations
1.) That approval be given to construct a new building at 131 Queen Street.
2.) That approval be given to demolish the existing building located at 121 Queen Street, and partially demolish the buildings located at 126 to 146 Sparks Street.
"The facades of the four heritage buildings facing Sparks Street will be retained in situ and incorporated as part of the new development...The Hardy Arcade facades on Sparks and Queen Street will be retained...The interior will have to be dismantled and reconstructed because of the need to construct above and below part of the new development."
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| The Mall during the year 1967. The Art Deco designed Hardy Arcade is beside the Chicken Villa. ( National Archives) |
The decision to retain the facade of this building as a surface ornamentation is reminiscent of the similar decision made for the Ogilvy Building, wherein the building languished so long that virtually nothing but some of its surface features could be retained.
Retention of surface features alone is not recommended by the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada endorsed by the City of Ottawa (Standard 12: "Not recommended...demolishing a building structure and retaining only the street facades.")
Nevertheless, the OHA designates properties not buildings, per se, so a remnant can still be protected by the OHA.
Heritage Ottawa hopes that, with a vigorous demolition by neglect by-law tailored to heritage properties, we won't be seeing too many more of these.
As for the proposed new facade at 106 Sparks Street, it is sympathetic to the historic facade of 110-116, in its roof line and fenestration, while being clearly a new design, and in line with the design guidelines developed for Sparks Street. The Queen Street tower appears to be set far enough back as not to impinge upon sight lines on Sparks Street.
Heritage Ottawa recommends:
- That the facade be restored by the means most likely to ensure the survival of its remaining heritage features.
- That although the south side of Sparks Street has largely succumbed to facadism, the BHSC encourage the preservation of the many fine heritage buildings on the north side too.
Leslie Maitland, M. Mus. CAHP
President, Heritage Ottawa
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| The movie theatre was part of 110-116 Sparks Street. |
From 1973 until the year 2000 the federal Department of Public Works owned most of the properties bounded by Wellington, Elgin, Sparks and Bank Street. The properties on the south side of the Mall were then sold to the National Capital Commission. (The National Capital Commission did own the Hardy Arcade in 1997.)
Now the government of Canada is planning a massive overhaul on the north side of the Mall. Buildings as tall as 34 story's will line the Sparks Street, and the outer shell of the existing buildings will be preserved. These are the guidelines developed for Sparks Street. Judging by what is going on in Little Italy, the condos will be higher than 34 storys.
The National Capital Commission wants to see more condos along the promenade:
" Residential, commercial and retail spaces, as well as "people" places that open up the view to the Parliament Buildings are among the concepts being explored."
"Sparks Street is one of the most important heritage streets in the downtown Capital...The plan envisages revitalization of the street through rehabilitation of heritage buildings and new development for residential (150 units) and commercial use at the eastern end of the street." From: NCC Annual Report-1999-2000-Page 6/78 and page 33/78.)
Now the government of Canada is planning a massive overhaul on the north side of the Mall. Buildings as tall as 34 story's will line the Sparks Street, and the outer shell of the existing buildings will be preserved. These are the guidelines developed for Sparks Street. Judging by what is going on in Little Italy, the condos will be higher than 34 storys.
The National Capital Commission wants to see more condos along the promenade:
" Residential, commercial and retail spaces, as well as "people" places that open up the view to the Parliament Buildings are among the concepts being explored."
"Sparks Street is one of the most important heritage streets in the downtown Capital...The plan envisages revitalization of the street through rehabilitation of heritage buildings and new development for residential (150 units) and commercial use at the eastern end of the street." From: NCC Annual Report-1999-2000-Page 6/78 and page 33/78.)
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