By David Piccini
Whether sitting down for a nice lunch to enjoy the famous granny apple salad, the Moroccan chickpea plate, or just sitting back to a warm cup of coffee and homemade dessert, Memories Café was the spot. Situated at 7 Clarence, nestled just off the corner of Sussex and Clarence, Memories was known for its cozy, friendly and intimate atmosphere.
Its neighbour, the famous Tin House Courtyard, was a popular spot for wedding photos, a great attraction for tourists, and a scenic shortcut between Clarence and Murray. Together, 7 Clarence and the Tin House Courtyard offered a window into our past, an architectural feat of the time and a beautiful illustration of the rich history we often take for granted each day.
Built circa 1877, the building at 7 Clarence served as a warehouse and adjunct building for the businesses at 461-465 Sussex throughout most of the 20th century. Since the early 1900s, it framed the views to Sussex Drive, and more significantly, the adjoining 465 Sussex property.
7 Clarence was part of the ByWard Market Heritage Conservation District and was listed as the highest classification of heritage building in Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. The property belongs to the National Capital Commission (NCC), one of the largest landowners in the ByWard.
An early 2013 façade study identified concerns in the exterior load bearing walls, which required further investigation. After multiple studies, it was recommended that the building be demolished, a conclusion supported by the city. In November 2013, the structural engineer overseeing the property advised that the building was in imminent danger of collapse.
Deemed too far gone, his conclusion was that the building was to be demolished. As the stones to 7 Clarence came down one by one, a far greater community issue emerged: how do we, as residents of our nation’s capital, preserve our history? How will the National Capital Commission preserve and repurpose these buildings?
What role do our city planners play in all of this? And are all our heritage buildings destined for the same fate as 7 Clarence?
For its part, the City of Ottawa has classified the ByWard Market as a Heritage Conservation District. In its official plan, the city commits to “unique street patterns and public courtyards as the basis of the area’s special environmental quality”.
With respect to new development, the city plan report states: “The design of new buildings on vacant or infill sites will be guided by special design criteria which will ensure that new development is sensitive to, and compatible with, nearby historic buildings [and] conserving and enhancing its (ByWard’s) heritage features, … by ensuring sensitive development”.
Then Lowertown Community Association President Marc Aubin cites “reconstructions” as the way forward. Simply put, this involves the process of rebuilding and replicating damaged or destroyed buildings to their pre-existing state through the introduction of existing and new materials. He cites post-World War I Ypres as a perfect example of a community’s will to preserve its historic past: the Belgian town, almost obliterated by artillery fire, was rebuilt as close to the original designs as possible. In a letter to the Planning and Growth Management Department,
Aubin wrote: “This grouping of buildings in Lowertown West constitutes the largest concentration of heritage buildings in the city, visually reflecting the early development of Ottawa.”
The re-development for 7 Clarence hit a stumbling block when the first design was widely opposed. This forced the NCC to go back to the drawing board and come back with three new design options, greater reflecting the surrounding architecture and the public opinion. The will of the people is a strong wave, but how are businesses meant to cope when surrounded by increasingly aging buildings and a seemingly never ending amount of construction in the ByWard?
Owner of the nearby Black Thorn Café, Anthony Maddalena, supported the overall assessment of 7 Clarence, saying: “the building was in such disrepair, it eventually got to the point of no return. Yet for Black Thorn and fellow adjacent businesses, the subsequent demolition had a definite effect on the bottom line. “Our business thrives between May and September, so the ongoing hoarding [temporary fencing before demolition] and demolition work has effectively crippled our business,” said Maddalena.
Fellow adjacent business owner Kristin Rose at Oleander said “there is a definite correlation between the ongoing construction and loss of revenue.” For them, and many within the surrounding community, the construction hoarding meant Clarence was effectively “closed for business”. After months of uncertainty and construction, Memories reopened last month at 136 St. Patrick.
In February, a report to the Built Heritage Sub-Committee, Planning Committee and Council acknowledged the need to preserve the cultural heritage value of the ByWard. There is no mention in the report of the effect this process had or will have on local businesses. These businesses are a massive draw in the ByWard and are essential to a vibrant community.
Whether historically replicating or moving towards a more modern look, cognizant of the historical surroundings, re-development of our cultural heritage must consider the local businesses as part of their plan.
Other stakeholders are present as well. Given that the NCC owns a substantial amount of the corridor down Sussex Drive, it is also important to consider the role the NCC plays in preserving our heritage.
Should the NCC desire it, this corridor down Sussex, dubbed the “Mile of History” could become a good example of historical preservation going hand in hand with successful local business. We can look to the recent appointment of Dr. Mark Kristmanson as the chief executive officer (CEO) to the NCC as a reflection for the need for heritage preservation.
In his address to Heritage Ottawa, Kristmanson stated: “I would like to see the NCC develop an inspired and innovative vision for heritage preservation and reestablish an influential and eminent role in this field.”
The historical preservation of our ByWard will require the continued active involvement of our community members, an engaged city and a NCC that commits itself to this cause. Our heritage buildings are a distinct part of our history; they tell a story of where we come from, what we have accomplished, and they offer tangible evidence of our community’s longstanding culture for us to enjoy not only today, but well into the future. These buildings are worth defending, so how did 7 Clarence get to this point, and what assurances do we have that this will not happen to the many other vital heritage buildings in Lowertown West?