Heritage Committee
LCA had much to celebrate during Canada’s 150th! Though the work of community
researchers, city heritage staff and Councillor Fleury, Macdonald Gardens Park
was designated as a heritage landscape and is now protected under the Ontario
Heritage Act.
The park was designed by landscape architect Frederick Todd in 1914 on the
grounds of “the old cemeteries on the Sandy Hill”. Buildings on neighbouring streets
provided rich grounds for research for our Canada Summer Jobs students, Lillian
Kruzsely, Stephany Chevalier-Crockett and Karen-Luz Sison. LCA’s community
celebration on August 15 drew a crowd of about 300 to the park. It was a great
day, thanks to all our volunteers, sponsors and exhibitors. The spectacular research
results were a popular attraction–watch for a future publication.
In April, 130 Lowertown buildings and structures, judged to be of heritage
value and interest, mainly located east of King Edward Avenue, were added to the
city’s Heritage Register. The Register provides guidance for future designations as
well as demolitions.
In a response to our inquiry about Our Lady’s School, the city noted in October
that the owner’ heritage permit will expire on January 29, 2018: to date no applications
for building permits or other development approvals had been submitted.
There are specific property maintenance standards for all vacant buildings and
particularly for heritage properties (By-Law 2013-416). The city relies on individuals
to report online, in person, or via phone to 3-1-1 when they see poorly maintained
properties.
The LCA Heritage Committee continues to identify, document and advocate
for the protection of heritage buildings, historic landscapes and places of cultural
significance in Lowertown. It also educates and communicates with residents about
the benefits of preserving our Lowertown heritage.
Join us in our work. info@lowertown-basseville.ca
Planning Committee
The Planning Committee contribute to a longer term vision of the future development
of Lowertown by responding proactively to planning and zoning issues
affecting Lowertown and by reflecting and advocating the community’s position on
development proposals and planning studies or initiatives affecting the community.
The LCA believes that the more community residents understand how planning
works, the more they will be involved in helping to shape a better community.
To this end, our role at the planning committee should be to help educate the LCA
board, and the community, on planning policies and zoning regulations affecting
Lowertown. The Planning committee should also communicate planning activities
happening in Lowertown to residents and provide a platform to allow them to voice
their opinions.
Peter Ferguson and Thierry Harris are co-chairs of the committee. Committee
members include Sylvie Grenier, John Chenier, Liz McKenzie, Donna Kearns, Bob
Tritt, Ilona Horvath, Joan Kennedy, Nancy Miller Chenier, Beth Evans.
The committee meets on a monthly basis except in July and August. Some work
is done through email. Recommendations for action are made to the President and/
or the board for follow-up. The committee reports on priority issues at monthly LCA
meetings and regularly through electronic means. Members are expected to participate
in or coordinate specific projects and keep the committee informed.
In the longer term, the Committee reviews development proposals as required
including requests for minor variances circulated by City and recommends a
response to the President and the board; provides input on City policy development
and special projects as they arise; collaborates with Heritage Committee on
planning issues affecting heritage buildings and landscapes; liaises and works with
stakeholders including the Lowertown community in seeking solutions to issues;
and, undertakes LCA-initiated planning projects or files deemed beneficial to
Lowertown.
Current priorities in the ByWard Market include meeting with the MSC Board
members re the future of the Market area including a signage and illumination plan;
meeting with Market vendor associations to identify measures to improve access
to food and retail goods; developing a strategy that will address the problem of the
density of bars and restaurants in the Market area; and, identifying measures that
will create a better environment for pedestrians. The Committee will also monitor
active development applications and provide advice to the City and developers on
zoning amendment proposals and site control plans as appropriate; continue to
participate in public consultations on the review of R4 zoning and changes to the
Site Plan Control process; convene interested parties in a forum to address strategies
for development in the Lowertown West heritage area; develop a primer on
“Understanding Residential Zoning in Lowertown”; and, review the effectiveness
of internal and external communications, identify gaps, to better target and inform
the Lowertown community.
LCA Communications Team
Lowertown is much older than the Lowertown Community Association (LCA)
and some of the families here have deep roots that go back generations. But Lowertown
is also constantly changing, with people moving in and out of the neighbourhood.
They want to know more about activities, news, politics and issues affecting
the community. This is where the LCA’s communications team steps in. Our mission
is to act as a bridge between community members. We provide a forum for residents
to voice their views and share information about the neighbourhood. We use
different platforms to do so.
One of the platforms is our website, www.lowertown-basseville.ca. Here you
will be able to find out more about Lowertown and the LCA’ as well as our partners
in the community. You’ll get the latest news from our committees and find letters
we’ve written to elected officials and city staff in Ottawa. We also have our Facebook
page at https://www.facebook.com/LowertownBasseville. Here you can keep
up to date on local events, news stories, partner activities and everything else to
do with Lowertown. We have a Twitter account as well at @MyLowertown. If you
want to keep up to date on events, another way to stay in touch with us is by signing
up to our newsletter. You can do so by going to our webpage and signing up on the
right hand side of the page.
We are always looking for volunteers to help out with communications. Many
hands make for lighter work and if you are keen on working with a fun team of
people let us know at info@lowertown-basseville.ca.