The City of Ottawa’s built heritage sub-committee has approved planned changes to a 19th-century home on McLeod Street, a property characterized by its distinctive, Gothic Revival architecture.
The proposed renovation at 269 McLeod St. will include a rear addition and an exterior staircase, extending the existing two-and-a-half-storey structure to accommodate new apartments.
Built more than 100 years ago, the large, red, farmhouse-like building is part of the Centretown heritage conservation district. The area was designated by the City of Ottawa under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1997 to protect heritage buildings and the overall historical character of the neighbourhood.
Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes says 269 McLeod St. serves as a good example of a building that has preserved its heritage even after years of upgrades. She says that these heritage homes are a critical part of the Centretown landscape.
“Most people move into Centretown because it’s a turn-of-the-century, red brick residential area. It’s a prized area to move into and the residents want that turn-of-the-century aspect of the community to be retained – that’s its charm,” she says.
Dextor Edwards, the architect for the McLeod Street property, says designating buildings in Centretown’s heritage conservation district is important because he believes they would not be preserved otherwise.
“I don’t think it’s a natural thing for developers to think more along the lines of quality and preservation, as opposed to quantity and making a buck. It’s important that whichever governing body has these guidelines so they can sort of be a watchdog,” he says.
Like some other buildings in the area, 269 McLeod St. is characterized by its red decorative Rideau clay brickwork and steep gabled roof. The building was originally altered in 1984 with a two-storey addition constructed on the east side with a small front porch and clad in wood siding. More recently, a three-storey link on the west elevation was added, connecting it to an adjacent property to create an apartment complex. Edwards was the architect for that project, too.
“There have been a number of additions to the structure, but what is imperative is that from the outside, the materials are consistent,” he says.
The heritage committee met on March.3 and did not receive any objections to the renovation of the property.
Heritage Ottawa granted its consent, appreciating that the building’s proposed addition is entirely at the rear of the building, tucked away from the public eye, and is made of compatible materials to match the rest of the home.
“The guidelines provide guides for height and material so that the heritage quality of the original structure and the way it contributes to the heritage conservation district are protected,” says Leslie Maitland, president of Heritage Ottawa.
Maitland says protecting the district is challenging because the area is big and diverse, ranging from residential properties to national monuments.
Carolyn Quinn, director of Heritage Canada the National Trust, says that some people believe the designation of a heritage building means the property isn’t susceptible to change. She says 269 Mcleod St. is a good example of how a building can alter its function while still respecting certain heritage characteristics.
“Designation isn’t really about stopping or freezing a building in time – it’s about setting up guidelines and standards that will protect the heritage – defining elements that are critically important.”