Heritage Richmond Hill Advanced Proposed Heritage Designations for Young Street Properties

Heritage Richmond Hill advanced proposed heritage designations for Young Street properties, including the Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church property and 11339 Yonge Street. Committee members and staff discussed the church's request to narrow the scope of designation, the cost of maintaining historic buildings, and the process that follows a notice of intention to designate. The committee ultimately supported moving the church designation forward rather than sending it back to staff, and unanimously approved the designation item for 11339 Yonge Street.

Topics Discussed

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DESIGNATION

Jonathan Scott, speaking for Richmond Hill Presbyterian Church, said the congregation was not opposed to heritage designation in principle but asked the committee to recommend that council send the matter back to staff "to refine the scope of the designation in consultation with the church."

Scott said the church is responsible for maintaining two substantial historical buildings and that designation, if not carefully drafted, can add cost and complexity, particularly around roofs, masonry, windows, and other major capital repair, with the church's existing slate roof replacement currently estimated at more than half a million dollars.

DESIGNATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

Staff told the committee that the first step under the Heritage Act is getting council to endorse their intention to designate the property, which provides a certain level of protection and triggers the time to start the actual designation process.

Committee members also discussed the timeline for the matter to move forward. Councillor Carol Davidson asked whether there's time for further discussion and perhaps fine-tuning with the Presbyterian church folks during the two-week period before council's vote. Staff indicated that further discussion could continue during the process.

Davidson said she did not support delaying the committee's decision, stating, these churches on Young Street are so iconic and so beloved and so part of our landscape, and she didn't personally see a reason to delay the decision of this committee considering the end of term.

FINANCIAL IMPACT ON CHURCHES

Scott Thompson said the financial pressures raised by the Presbyterian church were not unique. He noted that all the churches are facing the same financial constraints and suggested council could look at finding some way to help out the churches, not just the Presbyterian church, but all of them.

11339 YONGE STREET DESIGNATION

The committee also considered the notice of intention to designate 11339 Yonge Street. During the vote, Karen Cilevitz said, agenda item 6.2 moved by Diane McLeod, SRPBS 260060, the notice of intention to designate 11339 Yonge Street, city file D12 07484. All those in favor? Any opposed? Seeing none, that passes unanimously.

COMMITTEE'S ROLE

Davidson defended the committee's work on heritage matters, saying members were making decisions that really affect property owners and that volunteer members of the community take their responsibilities so seriously even when there's some pushback from folks that maybe don't want their properties designated.

Motions

Passed: - Item 6.1 — Recommendation to move forward with the notice of intention to designate the Young Street Presbyterian Church property - Item 6.2 — Notice of intention to designate 11339 Yonge Street, City file D12 07484, passed unanimously

No deferred or rejected motions were identified in the provided notes.

Attendees

Participants identified in the meeting materials or quotes provided:

• Councillor Carol Davidson
• Councillor Scott Thompson
• Karen Cilevitz
• Jonathan Scott

Council list provided: - Michael Shiu - Simon Cui - Godwin Chan - Karen Cilevitz - David West - Scott Thompson - Castro Liu - Carol Davidson - Joe DiPaola