Good afternoon everyone and welcome to June Heritage Kitchener meeting. I um would just like to make this statement that anyone interested in participating in future meetings can register online using the delegation registration form or um or at uh triplewitcher.ca delegration or via email at delegation@kitchner.ca. And uh our second item is um to declare any pecunary interest uh we have regarding any matter that is listed on the agenda. Anyone? Seeing none. Thank you. Uh and I see some people in the audience. Um I suppose when it's time you'll come forward if need be. Thank you. All right. Uh, item 41, per Heritage Permit application, HPA 2026-V010 121 Water 121 Water Street South Demolition and Reconstruction of a Rare Edition and Victoria Grun, our heritage planner, will provide a presentation. So, Victoria, please go ahead. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, the development services department is in receipt of heritage permit application HPA 2026B010, which is seeking permission to remove a one-story rear edition and replace it with a new one-story rear edition at the property municipally addressed as 121 Water Street South. The subject property contains a circa 1910 dwelling constructed in the Queen Anne architectural style and is located within the Victoria Park Area Heritage Conservation District. The existing addition is located in the rear of the property uh and is only somewhat visible from the public right ofway. It is unknown when the addition was constructed uh but based on anecdotal uh information from the applicant um it was either replaced or renovated in the 1960s. The applicant proposes to remove the existing addition and construct a new addition in its place and the new addition will be slightly larger than the existing. Thei existing addition um has a second story walkout roof patio with a perimeter guard. Uh the proposed addition will not remain uh the second story access and based on information provided by the applicant um after completion of the staff report um it's been stated that the existing door um that's leading uh to the walkout will be replaced with a window and heritage planning staff um will be able to review details of this change as part of the building permit process. Uh the proposed materials of the new addition include wood framing, vertical board and batten vinyl siding and ashvalt shingles. In reviewing the merits of the application, heritage planning staff note the following. Uh the existing addition uh does not contribute to the heritage value of the property. Um removal of the existing addition will not detract from the heritage value of the property uh the character of the district um or the integrity of the water street south streetscape. Uh the design of the proposed addition is compatible with the policies for building additions within the Victoria Park Area Heritage Conservation District plan, particularly around the location of the addition, the design and height, the colors, uh and the window design and placement. And the proposed addition will not adversely impact the heritage attributes or character of either the subject property, adjacent properties, or the surrounding area. So based on uh review of the application, heritage planning staff recommend um that the heritage permit application be approved uh subject to the following condition that the final building permit drawings be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by heritage planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit. And that concludes my presentation. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victoria. Um, we have with us today, um, is it Mike Lori and, uh, Christine Lori and, uh, I don't see Ben Perfizz. Oh, sorry. How about that? I need new glasses. [laughter] Um, that you're in attendance to respond to the questions if needed. Um, and, uh, you're here to answer any questions. So, um, does any committee member have a question for our, uh, delegation? Yes. Um, Preston, uh, would you like to come forward, please? And uh when answering, I'm just going to uh advise you to speak right into the mic if either of you are answering because it's hard to hear sometimes. Thank you. All right, Preston, go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I just had a um a clarifying question about the windows to the north side of the proposed addition. My understanding is that the upper door will be presumably woodframed in. Um, I'm just thinking about uh conservation and reversibility of these changes in in the long term. Um, so the door will be framed in and replaced as a window, but is there a plan for the windows on the main floor in the basement that will be based on the drawings I'm assuming behind the new addition? Um, or any kind of details you can provide about the plan for those windows. >> Um, are are you talking on the main floor? >> The main floor. And then there appears to be in the photos we received with our information package a basement window as well with the the arched brick. >> As far as I know, there's no basement window that would uh you know be affected or covered by the addition. As at this point >> there there is a second floor door uh that leads on to the um current uh balcony. So that'll be enclosed. Um so inside the new addition that'll be most likely drywalled and then above that so exposed to the elements will be replaced with a window um on that brick side. Um where the existing door is now on the addition um there'll be a patio door going in L of that. Um but that's the only windows that would that would be going in. And the addition won't cover the other windows on the rear elevation of the building. >> Uh, no, it will not. Yes, I I know you're talking there's a kitchen window there. >> Yeah, a small one that's been partially framed in. >> Uh, the location as to where the property line is. Um, we I don't think we're not allowed to approach in that space. So, that window that's there will stay. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. >> Thank you. question. You have your answer clarified. Okay. Are there any other question? Yes, Magda. >> Thank you. Um, yeah, I actually want to keep asking about uh what Preston brought up because I think there is a window that is being covered up. It's at the basement level. The proposed uh addition, as far as I can see from the plans, goes to the edge of the house. And in the photos, you can see a an arched opening. You can't see what's under the arched opening, but presumably there was at some point a window there. So whether it's already covered up or anyway, I'd like to hear what's actually happening there. Thanks, Um, show this picture Is this what you're talking about? Yeah. Okay. So, um what's what's shown here on the ground is actually an old entrance into the basement. And um there's a bit of a foundation that's along there. So, the intention is to remove that foundation. Um now so this window that's here um that window above that um entrance into the basement that's the that window will be enclosed into the existing space. Um the window that I thought you were talking about was the window up on the roof beside the doorway. So the the slope of the roof is going to um not infringe on that. Um but the addition is going to come across to the side of the property within 4T of that property line. And um that window will be I guess that's going to be into the um into the addition. >> Okay. So the window um that's already partly covered will be will be how will that be treated and then I guess we have our answer. It's not a window at the basement level but an entrance into the basement. So what will happen with the the brick around u around those areas? >> Uh say with the brick sorry it again. Oh, >> yeah. Just what will happen? Will the the the window opening and the entrance opening into the basement be maintained? Will it be reversible? What kind of what's happening with the brick there? >> Okay. So, the the entrance into the basement will be enclosed. It's um we can't have access from the foundation in the basement into this space because it's going to be a crawl space. So, we're going to um put concret place a concrete foundation uh in lie of that. that brick would stay as is. Um the intention is that the the brick on the inside of the new addition will remain. Um I'll paint that so it looks nice with inside or or sand blast it. We haven't got to that point just yet. Um in terms of permitting um so that will be closed from the basement in um the window that's um looking out into that space. we wanted to leave it as is um so that there's some space so there's a look you can look into the addition from from inside the existing house. I wasn't planning on covering that >> um at all. It might be important to note that the the storm door access is at this point um it's not usable and it was a a winter flood uh sort of issue that would have had to been fixed whether this addition was being redone or not. Um it's not usable and sort of in disrepair at this point. >> Okay. So all of the openings will be would you say like filled in in a reversible manner or is brick are you just like destroying brick as part of this project? There won't be any brick uh destroyed. Um the storm door will be um you know flattened so that the addition can go out towards the uh 4ft line of the property. Okay, thank you. Uh, you have your answer, Magda. Thank you. Uh, Peter, did you have your hand up for question? Thank you. Are there any other comments? Thank you very much. Um, and it we appreciate the clarification. Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, anything else to be asked of staff? Seeing none, then um we'll move to the motion um that pursuant to section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act and the Heritage Permit application HPA 2026 V-010 be to permit the demolition of a one-story rear addition and the construction of a new one-story rear edition on the property municipally addressed as 121 Water Street South be approved as outlined in development services department report DSD 2026223 in accordance with the supplementary information submitted with this application and subject to the following condition. that final building permit drawings be reviewed and heritage clearance provided by heritage planning staff prior to the issuance of a building permit. And who will move the motion? Laura. Well, thank you. Any further questions? All those in favor? Carried unanimously. And so this report um having received approval will go to council for approval June 29, 2026. Thank you. Our next item uh 4.2 as a notice of intention to designate 265 Weber Street East and Victoria Grun Heritage Planner will provide a presentation. >> Go ahead. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. The property municipally addressed as 265 Wever Street East was first considered by the Heritage Kitchener Committee at its April 7th, 2026 meeting. Based on staff's evaluation, uh the property meets five out of the nine criteria for designation as the property has design physical, historical, associative, and contextual values. The design physical value of the property is attributed to it being a representative example of the structuralist architectural style. The historical associative value of the property relates to the following. Uh it has direct associations with Michael Krauss. Uh it has the potential to yield information regarding the role of apartments um in post-war housing in Kitchener and the potential to yield information regarding cooperative housing in Kitchener. Um as this was um the first uh cooperative housing development uh in the city and the property has contextual value as it supports and maintains the Weber Street East streetscape and is linked to its surroundings. [clears throat] Based on the evaluation of the subject property, heritage planning staff recommend the following. Uh that pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the clerk be directed to publish a notice of intention to designate the property municipally addressed as 265 Weber Street East as being of cultural heritage value or interest. This concludes my presentation. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victoria. I do not see any delegation here. Are there any questions for staff on this particular designation uh recommendation? Seeing none, um, be it resolved that pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the clerk be directed to publish a notice of intention to designate the property municipally addressed as 265 Weaver Street East as being of cultural heritage value or interest as outlined in development services department report DSD 20268. Who would move it? Nadley. Well, thank you. Any further questions? All those in favor? Unanimously? Passed. Okay. 4.3 Notice of intention to designate 305 King Street West DSD 2026 232 Victoria uh Grun, our heritage planner, will do a presentation. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh, this property 305 King Street West was before uh the Heritage Kitchener Committee as well. Um, and this uh property meets five out of the nine criteria uh for designation based on staff's evaluation and it is recognized for its design physical uh historic associative and contextual values. The design physical values relate to the type and architectural style of the building as well as its construction which demonstrates a high degree of technical achievement. The building is an early example of a commercial office building described uh as the city's first skyscraper and once tallest building uh and is a representative example of the international architectural style. This style is a subtype of modernism that emphasizes geometric forms, open interiors, and an emphasis on the building structure. The building demonstrates a high degree of technical achievement um with its use of Florida ceiling float glass exterior walls. The historical associative values relate to the direct association um with the theme of downtown commercial uh office development and with um organizations um that are directly associated with the building including uh the Waterl County Loan and Savings Company, Waterlue Trust and Savings Company and TD Canada Trust. Uh the commercial building uh was built by Toronto development company Yols and Rotenberg Limited later YNR Properties and designed by Boris Zarafa who was quoted as having led one of Canada's most prolific architectural practices between 1951 and 2000 and credited with designing more than 200 buildings between 1961 and 1998. and the contextual values relate to the building's physical, functional, and visual link to the King Street in uh to downtown Kitchener. The building is located at the corner of King Street West and Water Street South. The building has been described as creating a prismatic profile on the Kitchener skyline, and the front elevation is set back from King Street West in the public sidewalk in order to provide a semi uh public plaza. Uh so based on um this evaluation, uh heritage planning staff is recommending the following. Uh that pursuit to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, uh the clerk be directed to publish a notice of intention to designate the property municipally addressed as 305 King Street West as being of cultural heritage value or interest. This concludes my presentation on this matter. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victoria. Are there any questions of staff on this one? Um, Victoria, you mentioned, I think, and in the report about the special glass. Um, I'm just wondering, um, do we know if it is smash proof? Uh, through the chair, uh, I'm not sure, uh, if it is or not. Um, and I I just wonder um we're designating it. Um, it's special and I I just wonder what the challenge will be in the future to uh replace the glass if in fact it happens to break. Any any idea? Um, of that I mean it's not our job to think about it, but could cross someone's mind >> uh through you madam chair. So uh I am in reviewing the the staff report and I think part of the cultural significance and the interesting technical advancement of this is the floor to floor uh float glass exterior walls. So I think it was around the construction technique and the appearance and uh it was at its time um uh significant for the way for the amount of glass it has had. So, I would assume, you know, things do happen and sometimes windows need to be replaced that the owner would uh try to find the best like forlike replacement if they needed to do that. If they were to replace all of the glass and totally redo the exterior of the building, I think we would be reviewing that as part of a heritage permit application. >> Thank you. Any other comments on this one? It's interesting that this is claimed to be the first skyscraper because I think if we go back into our 1980s walking tour uh [laughter] of the Victoria Park district, there's another uh building that was noted to be the first skyscraper. And Magda, can you tell us what address that is? [clears throat] >> I can. Councelor Chapman is also familiar. Uh 214 Queen Street South uh also known as the York uh was also touting itself as Kitchener's first skyscraper in n around 1930. >> Right. So, um maybe we can say it's the first glass clad skyscraper versus the brick one with the other concrete details. It's interesting. Um all right. Um are there any further questions? Okay. Um, so I'll read the motion that pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the clerk be directed to publish a notice of intention to designate the property municipally addressed as 305 King Street West as being of cultural heritage value or interest as outlined in development service department report DSD 2026 232. So, uh, could I have a mover for this, please? Peter will move it. Any for any questions? All right. All those in favor? Carried unanimously. And, uh, now we go to 4.4, which is the municipal heritage register review. June 20 26, the update DSD 2026 219. Victoria Grun, Heritage Planner, will uh provide information. >> Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh we have one municipal heritage register review property to bring forward to the committee this evening. 58 Louisa Street is a 2 and a half story early 20th century brick house constructed in the decorative Berlin vernacular architectural style with Queen Anne and classical revival influences. The house is situated on a 0.12 acre parcel of land on the northwest corner of Louisa Street and Moore Avenue in the Mount Hope Brightup cultural heritage landscape. The subject property meets three of nine criteria for determining cultural heritage value or interest and the principal resource that contributes to the heritage value of the property is the house. The design value relates to the architecture of the house. Um, the house is a representative example of the decorative Berlin vernacular style and is unique given its inclusion of the turret more commonly associated with the Queen Anne architectural style. The subject property does not meet criteria two or three related to design physical value. The historical associative value uh of the property relates to the property's association with William H. Dunker of Dunker Construction Limited and to Milton Carl Kaufman of Kaufman Lumber Limited. the property does not meet uh criteria five or six related to um historical associated value. And the contextual values relate to the contribution that the house makes to defining the streetscape and supporting the established low-rise character of the neighborhood and the Mount Hope bride up neighborhood cultural heritage landscape and the subject property does not meet uh criteria eight or nine um related to contextual value. Based on staff's evaluation of this property, the following is recommended. Uh that pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized and designation be pursued um for the following property 50 Louisa Street. And that concludes my presentation on this matter. Thank you. >> Thank you, Victoria. Uh are there questions on this property? Seeing none, um I will then uh read the motion. Pursuant to section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the cultural heritage value or interest be recognized and designation be pursued for the following property 58 Louisa Street. Any questions? Who would like to move this one? Laura will thank you. Any further questions? All those in favor? Right. Thank you. Unanimous to pursue designation on it. All right. Going on then to information items uh which is the permit applications tracking sheet. Um do we have anything um to comment or bring up from staff? Garrett. Um, do you have anything? Right. Are there any other are there any other question? All right. Um, that brings us to the final item. Uh, and I just want to be clear, the next meeting that we're going to have will be in August. Is that correct? Yeah. The first Tuesday of August. So, um, are there any items of concern or things that staff would like uh the committee to review? Sometimes we have homework over the summer uh vacation [laughter] or the summer lull from the uh heritage >> uh through the chair. We haven't identified anything at this time. So we hope that the committee enjoys the the break in July. >> Thank you very much. Any other comments? Well, I'm not hoping for you to prolong the meeting, but I just wonder is there anything else that you want to raise or adjourn before we adjourn? Well, seeing none, we are going to adjourn the meeting. And who would like to move the meeting adjourned? Natalie will. Thank you very much. So, I suppose now it's out to the square for the big harrah celebration. All right. Thank you.