By Andrew Waldron
As you may be aware, last November the City invited our residents to an information session on the new Heritage Conservation Plans (HCDP) for Lowertown-West and the ByWard Market. These two conservation districts were designated in the early 1990s, but have not received approved plans, which has meant weaker protection of the districts since then.
City planners presented information on their approach to developing the Plans, with the goal that they would be produced this year. This is likely to be delayed for various reasons, including priority to completing the Centretown HCDP and the upcoming municipal election. The City has sole-sourced a former employee, Sally Coutts, to write the HCDPs, much to the concern of some residents.
The Lowertown Community Association (LCA) has recommended two separate plans for the districts. It is planning to create two working groups made up of members of our community to review and improve the quality of the district plans.
There are many challenges in protecting a conservation district, especially in an urban downtown location. There are developers who have the will and means to alter the districts rather than investing in other parts of the city. Instead of following the rules, some developers are intent on being the exception to the rules. Recent news on intensification of housing in the province may also result in impacts to our conservation districts. The LCA hopes that affordable infill of parking lots and vacant property will be the priority instead of impacts to the heritage buildings within the district
The LCA’s Heritage Committee is intent on assuring that the heritage values are protected and that very clear prescriptive guidelines are in place for infill and alterations. There has been an erosion of the districts and very poor infill projects in recent years. The Committee would like to create livable, walkable, sustainable districts. Our neighbourhoods already have “missing middle housing”, with an opportunity for more friendly and humane housing. Outside the districts, the City has approved non-community, non-street oriented, non-architecture condo towers. We are hoping that our two districts will be protected in the new HCD-based.
Progress on the district plans will begin later than expected this year. The City has a webpage with some information on the proposed plans where you can follow their progress. For more information, please contact the LCA or the City’s heritage planner.
Contact: Mackenzie Kimm, Heritage Planner mackenzie.kimm@ottawa.ca
Andrew Waldron is co-chair of the Heritage Committee and the lead on the HCD exercise