HERITAGE OTTAWA
UPDATE | JUNE 26 —YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
Contact the Mayor and Ottawa City Councillors before July 10, 2019.
Click here for details: https://heritageottawa.org/chateau-laurier-addition
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June 10, 2019
It has finally come to this.
On Thursday, June 13 the fate of Canada's iconic Château Laurier will rest in the hands of our elected municipal councillors who serve on the City of Ottawa's Planning Committee.
When Planning Committee meets it will have the authority – but not the obligation – to send the currently proposed addition back to the drawing board by moving a motion to refuse the owner’s application for Site Plan Control. Planning Committee could also send the decision back to full City Council by recommending that the Heritage Permit issued last year be rescinded.
Should Planning Committee choose not to exercise this authority, the addition as currently proposed will proceed.
This unprecedented situation arises from City Council having granted a conditional heritage permit in June, 2018 – in advance of having a satisfactory design. The heritage permit was subject to three conditions:
- Increase the use of Indiana limestone to reduce its contrast and create a more visually cohesive relationship with the Château;
- Break up the uniformity of the north façade using elements and forms that relate to the Château Laurier; and
- Modify the design for visual compatibility with the historic hotel, by referencing such elements as patterns, details and proportions of the Château Laurier.
Heritage Ottawa’s firm position is that the conditions aimed at making the addition physically and visually compatible with the historic hotel have not been met – and that the conditional heritage permit should therefore be rescinded. The project should not proceed to construction until all conditions have been satisfactorily met.
The time is NOW to ask ALL our elected city officials to take action to save this iconic Ottawa landmark.
Heritage Ottawa calls upon all concerned citizens to contact the Planning Committee, Mayor Watson and City Councillors to DEFEND OUR HERITAGE and exercise their authority to protect the Château Laurier, a property designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and a National Historic Site of Canada, from this inappropriate change.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
CONTACT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS BEFORE THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019:
CLICK HERE to Contact the City of Ottawa Planning Committee
CLICK HERE to Contact the Mayor and other Ottawa City Councillors
or CLICK HERE to copy and paste the email addresses into your mail program
Related Reading:
Toronto Star: Ottawa’s iconic Chateau Laurier held hostage by developers and architects | June 6, 2019
Phyllis Lambert to Mayor Jim Watson: Proposed Château Laurier Addition "Makes Mockery of the Ontario Heritage Act" | June 7, 2019
Ottawa Citizen: Plamondon: If we want to get Château Laurier right, look to 7 Clarence | June 7, 2019
Visit the Château Laurier section of Heritage Ottawa's website for additional coverage.
