heritage designation for Underwood, Devenish

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heritage designation for Underwood, Devenish

Postby newsposter » Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:21 pm

Calgary Herald
Published: Saturday, October 11, 2008

City Hall - The Devenish Apartments and the Underwood Block Annex -- both built in 1911 -- are being designated historic resources by the city.

The decision, part of an agreement with the owners, means the three-storey buildings can't be torn down.

The Devenish, a gothic building with turrets on 17th Avenue S.W., originally had 57 three- and five-room suites, but now houses shops.

The Edwardian-era Underwood Block Annex, on the corner of 1st Street and 13th Avenue S.W., was the office of Thomas Underwood, mayor of Calgary in the early 1900s and a pioneer businessman.

The historic designation will be voted on by the land-use, planning and transportation committee Wednesday.

© The Calgary Herald 2008

From City Council LPT agenda Oct 15, 2008:

Devenish

SUMMARY/ISSUE
Council authorization is required for Administration to issue a ‘Notice of Intention to Designate the Devenish Apartments as a Municipal Historic Resource’ under Section 26 of the Alberta Historical Resources Act.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION/POLICY

2006 May 15, Council approved the Beltline Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) which allows the transfer of unused density from properties designated as Municipal Historic Resources to other Beltline sites. The Beltline ARP also allows density to be earned (and then marketable) through rehabilitation work that will contribute to the preservation of this historic resource. Therefore, Municipal Historic Resource designation is required for the Devenish Apartments to benefit from these incentives.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATION:

That the SPC on Land Use, Planning and Transportation recommends that Council direct Administration to issue a notice of intention to designate the Devenish Apartments as Municipal Historic Resource.

INVESTIGATION

The Devenish Apartments (908 – 17 Ave. SW; legally described as A1; 120; 6-210) is a Category ‘A’ property on Calgary’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources.

2008 August 31, a heritage designation and bonusing agreement was made effective between the owner of the Devenish Apartments and The City of Calgary. This agreement allows the owner to generate additional marketable density through rehabilitation work that will contribute to the preservation of this historic resource. This earned marketable density, in addition to the unused density on the property, can then be transferred to a recipient Beltline site. This agreement is conditional upon Municipal Historic Resource designation.

IMPLICATIONS

General
Designating this property will protect it from demolition. Designation will also ensure that future alterations are in keeping with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (Parks Canada, 2003).

Designating recognized historic resources aligns with the principles of the Calgary Heritage Strategy (2008).

Social
Protection of historic resources is important because they are integral to the identity of our community and help to strengthen its distinctiveness. Historic resources add to the beauty, character and visual interest of our urban environment which contributes to the city’s livability and are sources of community pride.

ImagineCALGARY identifies the protection of our built environment, its aesthetic assets, and distinctive characteristics as being an important component in creating a desirable city.

Calgary’s Sustainability Principles for Land Use and Mobility supports the conservation of historic architecture and places. Principle Three – foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place – aligns with the conservation of historic architecture and places.

Environmental
No implications are identified.

Economic (External)
No implications are identified.

BUSINESS PLAN/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
No financial compensation pursuant to Section 28 of the Alberta Historical Resources Act is owing as a result of designating this property.

RISKS
Not designating this property would be counter to the heritage designation and density bonusing agreement made effective 2008 August 31 between the owners of the Devenish Apartments and The City of Calgary. Also, not designating this property at this time could result in the loss of the opportunity to secure designation due to potential changes in ownership and other circumstances.

ATTACHMENTS
None.

Underwood Block Annex
SUMMARY/ISSUE
Designation of the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource under Section 26 of the Alberta Historical Resources Act.

PREVIOUS COUNCIL DIRECTION/POLICY
2005 July 25, Council approved Land Use Redesignation Bylaw 61Z2005, associated with Land Use Amendment LOC 2004-0095. A condition of this land use redesignation allowed for increased residential density on the site with the retention and designation of the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATIONS:

That the SPC on Land Use, Planning and Transportation recommends that:
1. Administration prepare the proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource containing the text for discussion in the Attachment;
2. The proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource is attached to this report prior to being forwarded to Council; and
3. Council give three readings to the proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource.

INVESTIGATION
The Underwood Block Annex (1311 -1 Street SW; legally described as C; 101; 16-20 and the most northerly 46 feet of 21-25) is a Category ‘B’ property on Calgary’s Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resources. The property merits protection due to its historical and architectural merit as outlined in the Attachment.


IMPLICATIONS

General
Designating this property will protect it from demolition. Designation will also ensure that future alterations are in keeping with the Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (Parks Canada, 2003).

Designating recognized historic resources aligns with the principles of the Calgary Heritage Strategy (2008).

Social
Protection of historic resources is important because they are integral to the identity of our community and help to strengthen its distinctiveness. Historic resources add to the beauty, character and visual interest of our urban environment which contributes to the city’s livability and are sources of community pride.

ImagineCALGARY identifies the protection of our built environment, its aesthetic assets, and distinctive characteristics as being an important component in creating a desirable city.

Calgary’s Sustainability Principles for Land Use and Mobility supports the conservation of historic architecture and places. Principle Three – foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place – aligns with the conservation of historic architecture and places.

Environmental
No implications are identified.

Economic (External)
No implications are identified.


BUSINESS PLAN/BUDGET IMPLICATIONS
No financial compensation pursuant to Section 28 of the Alberta Historical Resources Act is owing as a result of designating this property.

RISKS
There is no risk in designating this property.

ATTACHMENTS
Proposed Wording for a City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource.

http://publicaccess.calgary.ca/lldm01/l ... n=Download
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Postby newsposter » Tue Jan 06, 2009 10:40 am

For unknown reasons, the designation of the Underwood has been "filed" - which doesn't sound good... :? As far as we know the Devenish designation has gone ahead. See above for more info.

From the Dec 8 2008 City Council Minutes:

LPT2008-72 DESIGNATION OF THE UNDERWOOD BLOCK ANNEX AS A MUNICIPAL HISTORIC RESOURCE

SUMMARY/ISSUE

Designation of the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource under Section 26 of the Alberta Historical Resources Act.

ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDATIONS

That the SPC on Land Use, Planning and Transportation recommends that:

1. Administration prepare the proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource containing the text for discussion in the Attachment;

2. The proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource is attached to this report prior to being forwarded to Council; and

3. Council give three readings to the proposed City of Calgary Bylaw to Designate the Underwood Block Annex as a Municipal Historic Resource.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That the Administration Recommendations contained in Report LPT2008-72 be filed.


Moved by Alderman Jones, Seconded by Alderman Farrell,

That the SPC on Land Use, Planning and Transportation Recommendation contained in Report LPT2008-72 be adopted.


General Manager,
Planning, Development and Assessment

Bylaw 70M2008 did not receive any readings.


CARRIED
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Postby newsposter » Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:11 am

After a delay, the designation for the Underwood Block annex, now associated with the Union Square project, is going ahead. It will be at City Council's Land Use, Planning and Transportation (LPT) committee on November 18, 2009. I'll post the link to the item when available.

(Designations for the Gray residence in Parkdale and the Jackson (aka Jackson-Cowsill) residence in Lower Mount Royal are on the same agenda.)
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