Proposed Heritage Maintenance Policy

Proposed Heritage Maintenance Policy

On Wednesday, April 26, City Council debated a proposed Heritage Maintenance Policy. The policy is designed to allow the city to inspect properties on the Heritage Inventory and to recommend maintenance work to ensure the longevity of our heritage assets. The inspection only includes the character-defining elements on the facade of the building and items like foundations, roofs, and other factors that ensure the building remains solid. The policy also sets requirements for owners of vacant heritage buildings to protect heritage assets from the elements. Unfortunately, some heritage property owners known for leaving their vacant buildings unprotected from the elements, object to the requirements.


This is Heritage Regina’s presentation to City Council in support of the policy. (http://heritageregina.ca/…/Heritage-Regina_-_Phase-2…) We are happy to report that the policy was passed in a vote of 9 in favour and only 1 councilor, Ms. Nelson, opposed.


We will post a link to the complete Heritage Maintenance Policy when it is made available by the city.

2023 Heritage Regina Lecture Series

FROST FESTIVAL LECTURE
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT IN WINTER

Saturday, February 11th / 1pm

FROST Downtown Hub: Big White Tent on 12th Avenue
In Partnership with Downtown Business Improvement District

Get to know Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter-inspired architecture through stories, drawings, and photos.

PRESERVING THE HEART OF REGINA

Thursday, February 23rd / 7pm

Artesian, 2627 13th Avenue

Learn the history of the Victoria Park Conservation District, discover lost park structures, and understand the current threats to the future of our historic downtown park

ONLINE LECTURE
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT – THE ART OF HOME

Thursday, March 16th / 7pm

Link to be posted on Heritage Regina’s Facebook Page

This highly illustrated presentation will take you on a journey from Frank Lloyd Wright’s earliest projects through his life
and renowned career.

ROARING REGINA

Thursday, March 23rd / 7pm

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave.

A talented team of lecturers will explore Regina in the Roaring 20’s: From cars, to fashion, architecture, music, dance crazes, Art Deco and so much more.

TALE OF TWO FUTURES: SASKATCHEWAN IN 1905 AND 2005

Thursday, April 6th / 7pm

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave.

Historian Bill Waiser returns for a fast-paced history of Saskatchewan’s first 100 years and discover why at the beginning of the 21st century Saskatchewan was not the same as a century ago. No seatbelt required.

ALL LECTURES ARE FREE – SUGGESTED DONATION $10.00 to help fund Heritage Regina’s educational programming.

2022 Heritage Regina Lecture Series

Catalogue Homes: ‘Kit Homes’ That Built the Prairies

Thursday, February 24 @ 7:00 PM

Heritage Regina’s Facebook Page – Facebook Live

Join John Robinson in an online lecture that takes us back to a time when mail-order homes were shipped thousands of miles by rail to the prairies and assembled by local labour.

LINK: Recorded Lecture – Catalogue Homes

 

Harry’s Letters – General Motors and the Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation

POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Facebook Live – Heritage Regina

Join automotive author and award-winning journalist Dale Johnson as he tells the story of the first manager of Regina’s General Motors plant, Harry Aughe, and his relationship with the people at Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation, near Fort Qu’Appelle.

 

In Search of Almighty Voice

Thursday, April 7 @ 7:00 PM

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave

Historian Bill Waiser tells the story of Almighty Voice, a member of the One Arrow First Nation and once one of Canada’s most wanted men. Learn how his resistance is important to reconciliation today. Meet and greet book sale to follow

What’s Your Style? Understanding Regina’s Residential Architecture

Lecture

Thursday, April 28 @ 7:00 PM

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave.

Learn to identify Regina’s historical architectural styles with John Robinson.

Stained Glass Workshops

Friday, April 29th @ 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Saturday, April 30th @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 and 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Sunday, May 1st @ 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Robinson Residential, 2232 2nd Ave.

Get Tickets

Reception and Conversation

Saturday, April 30 @ 7:00 PM

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave

Get Tickets

 

Poetry And Stories of the 60’s Scoop

Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Writers Guild

Thursday, May 5 @ 7:00 PM

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave.

Join our Saskatchewan Poet Laureate Carol Rose GoldenEagle for a discussion on how this harmful government policy has impacted her life and her writing. Reception and book sale to follow.

 

If These Places Could Talk: Community Connections

Sunday, May 15 @ 1:00 PM

The Artesian – 2627 13th Ave.

This is a special lecture for children, ages 5 and up (accompanied by an adult). Explore historic places in Regina and the province with readings from Crista Bradley’s new book and share stories about places that are special to you. Meet and greet book sale to follow.

Cultural Trailway News

Stay tuned for the exciting announcement of the next Cultural Trailway district, coming in 2022!

2021 Heritage Regina Summer Walking Tours

Bagshaw Demolition Denied, But Heritage Still in Jeopardy

Demolition Denied, But Heritage Still in Jeopardy

by Heritage Regina

 
At its August 26th meeting, City Council voted unanimously to deny the demolition application for the Bagshaw Residence at 56 Angus Crescent and to begin the heritage designation process for the home. Although this is great news for the property, the home’s journey from Heritage Inventory to official heritage designation is far from certain. City Council will again discuss the matter at its October 28th meeting when the current property owners have the opportunity to object to the proposed designation of the home.

It would be easy to drive by the Bagshaw Residence today and write it off. At a glance, it is obvious that the home needs new shingles and eavestroughs. Some of its windows and screens need repair and it could use a fresh coat of paint. In short, the exterior of the home—the only part of the property that would be covered by a heritage designation—needs the care and attention that any other 107-year old home in Regina would require.

But the property also deserves to be viewed within the much larger context of its long-time owners (Frederick and Esther Bagshaw) and prominent architect (Frederick Clemesha) and their substantial contributions to the development of Regina, the province and Canada. The home needs to be appreciated for its unusual Craftsman-style design. It merits recognition for the role it continues to play in enhancing the unique character of the neighbourhood. These are the character-defining elements that make the Bagshaw Residence worthy of protection under a Municipal Heritage Property Designation.

When the City established its Heritage Holding Bylaw (now Heritage Inventory) in 1989, the intent was to prevent the destruction of historical properties that the City felt might warrant a heritage designation. The Bagshaw Residence was among the first homes added to the Bylaw list.

Recently, a new trend seems to be emerging regarding homes on that list. It is becoming more common for a heritage home to be purchased by buyers who know the property is listed on the City’s Heritage Inventory. They are not seeking a residence for themselves, but a redevelopment opportunity. They “roll the dice” and purchase the property, hoping that it will never be designated. They decline the City’s offer of financial incentives to restore and conserve the heritage home and apply for a demolition permit so they can tear down the building, redevelop the site and then resell the property. When the demolition application is paused to let the City consider a heritage designation for the property, the owners argue that the home they willingly purchased is unsafe, too expensive to rehabilitate and cannot to be resold. We see this pattern playing out with the Bagshaw Residence.

This is a concerning development because the history and architecture of heritage homes are vital to retaining the character of older neighbourhoods. When heritage homes in the Cathedral area are purchased only for the redevelopment potential of their lots, the community loses its tangible connections to Regina’s history along with the distinctiveness of its streetscapes.

We need to change the conversation around the value of heritage properties in Regina. There needs to be a greater focus on the economic benefits of restoring heritage homes, including the jobs created in construction, engineering, interior design and landscaping.

There needs to be a greater emphasis on heritage tourism. Visitors want to experience the historically, architecturally and culturally significant areas of our city. If we don’t conserve and promote our heritage sites, we lose out on the economic benefits enjoyed by other municipalities across Canada. Imagine St. John’s without its iconic “Jelly Bean” rowhouses, for example. Or Quebec City without the 400-year old architecture of its Old Quebec district.

There needs to be greater attention paid to the environmental benefits of conserving heritage homes. By choosing restoration over demolition, greenhouse gas emissions and the volume of materials that end up in our landfills are substantially reduced.

There also needs to be some consideration given to protecting the character of heritage neighbourhoods where an infill project is a possibility. City Council is already moving in this direction and has tasked its Administration with preparing a report on implementing an Architectural Control District for the Crescents neighbourhood. As part of Regina’s Official Community Plan, the control district aims to maintain architectural design standards in order to ensure development or infill projects are compatible with the heritage character of the neighbourhood. The Diocese of Qu’Appelle property at Broad Street and College Avenue is an example of an Architectural Control District.

From a heritage perspective, applying an Architectural Control District to the Crescents neighbourhood is a good approach to protecting the architectural character of the community in cases where a property does not meet the criteria needed for a heritage designation. The Administration’s report, due in early 2021, may be used as a guide for future heritage neighbourhoods.

As for the Bagshaw Residence, the criteria required to be granted a Municipal Heritage Property Designation have been met. It is up to City Council to make it happen.

 


Previous Article

Bagshaw Residence Goes To City Council on Oct 28

LINK: Heritage Regina and Cathedral Area Community Association response to the application for removal of the Bagshaw Residence

Regina Votes


Municipal Candidates Views on Heritage

Friends of Heritage,

To help citizens get to know the candidates in the Civic Election, Heritage Regina sent five heritage related questions by email to 52 candidates. The 53rd candidate did not have an email address available. We received 18 responses to our enquiry. We encourage you to review the responses received by those running in your Ward and from the Mayoral Candidates. Please feel free to ask these questions of candidates you meet during the election.

Please note: No changes have been made to any responses submitted except for formatting. Ward 4 was declared by acclamation so no responses were requested.

Thank You for your interest in Heritage and for supporting Heritage Regina

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 5

Ward 6

Ward 7

Ward 8

Ward 9

Ward 10


Municipal Candidates Views on Heritage

Friends of Heritage,

To help citizens get to know the candidates in the Civic Election, Heritage Regina sent five heritage related questions by email to 52 candidates. The 53rd candidate did not have an email address available. We received 18 responses to our enquiry. We encourage you to review the responses received by those running in your Ward and from the Mayoral Candidates.   Please feel free to ask these questions of candidates you meet during the election.

Please note:  No changes have been made to any responses submitted except for formatting. Ward 4 was declared by acclamation so no responses were requested.

Thank You for your interest in Heritage and for supporting Heritage Regina.

Ward 1

Ward 2

Ward 3

Ward 5

Ward 6

Ward 7

Ward 8

Ward 9

Ward 10

What’s Your Style Lecture Series

Proposed Redevelopment of the Cook House

 Proposed Redevelopment of the Cook House

(3160 Albert St)

Cook House – photo credit Deirdre Malone

Your Voice Counts!

To ensure that your opinion is considered in this important matter, please complete the City of Regina Proposed Development Comment Form using File # 20202128 .

 

LINK: City of Regina: Proposed Development Comment Form

 

 

Background and Context

The Planning & Development Services Department of the City Planning & Community Development Division has received the below application under the Contract Zone, Street Closure, and Subdivision (consolidation) procedures. This application for the Cook House is a request to amend the Heritage Designation Bylaw (2019-7) is also being reviewed by the City’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Branch.
The applicant proposes to redevelop the property at 3160 Albert Street to accommodate multi-family land uses. The property, also known as the “Cook Residence,” was designated as a Heritage Property on October 29, 2019 (Bylaw No. 2019-7). An amendment to this bylaw is required for the project to proceed. Subsequent alterations, such as repairs, demolitions, or additions to the building may be considered through a Heritage Alteration Permit. Any changes to the property must be consistent with the Heritage Designation Bylaw and the Standards and Guidelines for Conservation of Historic Places in Canada. Key features of the proposed development are as follows:

  • Portions of the existing building would be retained, which includes the front of the building facing Albert Street including the front facing gable, and roof structure, chimneys, and all façade elements. This portion of the building would be relocated on the site to allow for construction of the new foundation and underground garage, and then placed on a new foundation to align with the front setback of the property to the north. The remainder of the existing building would be demolished. (The existing roof structure is shown as being shingled on the attached plan number 2.2; the new roof structure for the addition is shown as being striped.)
  • New additions to the building would include development to the rear and the south side of the retained heritage structure. Development behind the heritage front would be two storeys in height and consist of four residential units to be accessed from the original entry. Development to the south of the heritage structure would be three storeys and consist of 12 residential units to be accessed from three separate common entries from grade.
  • Thirty-four (34) parking stalls are proposed to be accommodated on-site. Twenty-four (24) stalls would be accommodated below grade with an access from the rear alley. Ten (10) stalls would be accessed at surface grade directly from the lane.

This application would remove certain references in the Bylaw that conflict with the proposed redevelopment. Most significantly, references to the sunroom as a heritage defining feature would be removed. References to the “concrete foundation” and “glass bottle bottoms” within the Bylaw are also proposed for removal. City Council’s approval is required to amend the Heritage Designation Bylaw.

A copy of the architectural rendering is attached below.

For 90 years, the Cook Residence has showcased the remarkable architecture of Van Egmond and Storey and the work of their highly skilled craftsmen. It has been home to several community leaders who helped to shape our city. It continues to exemplify the grandeur of the streetscape developed by McCallum, Hill and Co. and is the impressive south entry to the Albert Street corridor leading to the Legislative Building and bordering its spacious grounds.
Erasing its legacy by grossly altering the protected character defining elements of this home severely undermines over a century of effort from hardworking citizens and community-minded visionaries who believed that the city of Regina could be so much more than just a collection of buildings and roadways.

Heritage Regina would like you to add your voice to this discussion on September 16th at 7:00pm.

Your voice counts.
Jackie Schmidt
President, Heritage Regina

LINK: City of Regina: Cook House Development Application Circulation Amendment to designation Sept 2020

Cook House – Proposal Exterior