Press
Media Releases
Posted 02-16-10
Art Irwin Speaks about St. Margaret's Church Thursday, Feb. 18
Date: February 18, 2010
Time: Thursday, 7:30 PM
Location : Nova Scotia Museum, Summer Street
Contact: Phillip Pacey
E-mail: philip.pacey@dal.ca
Energy Consultant and CBC Radio Noon expert Arthur Irwin will speak about St. Margaret's Church in Oakfield at the Nova Scotia Museum on Summer Street at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18.
St. Margaret’s of Scotland Church was built by an Englishman, Lieutenant General John Wimburn Laurie. He arrived in Canada in 1861. In 1865 he purchased 800 acres in Oakfield and established one of our earliest communities. He brought twenty families from England. This beautiful structure was built from the pine logs on the estate for the family and servants, modelled after the Old English tradition. The chapel was one of the first buildings to be erected which was followed by a school, post office, stable, sawmill, stage coach inn, railway siding and two quarries. Three generations of Lauries are buried behind the Chapel.
In October, 1999, Arthur Irwin was asked by the Anglican Diocese of Nova Scotia, to assist in the planning process to make the building more energy efficient. Mr. Irwin has dealt with several hundred historic structures throughout his career but this example of a wonderful “Historic Gem” had a special significance and presented a number of interesting challenges as he upgraded the energy efficiency of this unique structure.
The original oil lamps are still hanging from the high ceilings, a leather bound bible on the lectern inscribed “Oakfield Church 1868”. A beautiful stained glass window behind the Altar remains intact.
"Simplicity, warmth and a quiet elegance produced from the surrounding stately pines caught my attention," says Mr. Irwin. "I visualized an imaginary sign stating, 'Do not disturb' hung across the dark stained interior wainscoting which reminded me to prevent any signs of man made footprints.”
All of the exterior walls have been upgraded, insulated, windows replaced and a new heating system installed. The “Chapel In The Pines” will hopefully stand for another 130 years, respecting our forefathers contribution to our heritage !
The meeting is open to the public, free of charge and is sponsored by the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia. Light refreshments will be served.
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Posted 02-08-10
Presentation of Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia Built Heritage Awards
Date: February 15, 2010
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM (Presentations begin – 3:30 pm, Reception to follow)
Location : Halifax City Hall (Halifax Hall) Argyle St. Halifax
Contact: Peter Delefes, President, Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia
Phone: (902) 826-2087;
E-mail: president@htns.ca
AWARD RECIPIENTS:
DOMINION PUBLIC BUILDING TOWER RESTORATION PROJECT
1713 Bedford Row, Halifax, N.S.
The Dominion Public Building was erected in 1936 in downtown Halifax and for many years dominated the Halifax skyline. Its design was influenced by the Art Deco style. It is characterized by symmetry and balance and contains many decorative elements on its sandstone exterior. It was designated as a registered heritage building in 1990. Public Works and Government Services Canada completed a renovation of the interior of the building in 1992. In 2007 a two year project began to restore the tower on the building. Quality workmanship and attention to detail by a Nova Scotia company resulted in the careful removal, restoration and precise reinstallation of over 2000 stone units and replacement of some 140,000 specially manufactured bricks as well as replacement of the copper cladded dome back to its original details. The $ 9 million project conformed in all respects to the Standards and Guidelines for the Restoration of Historic Buildings.
GARDINER’S MILL DAM RESTORATION PROJECT
Gardiner’s Mill Lake, Yarmouth Co., N.S.
The Gardiner’s Mill Dam was constructed prior to 1855 to provide a water powered energy system for a saw mill on the banks of the Annis River. In 1937, the mill, the dam and nearly 3000 acres of land were purchased by two sisters who were heirs of the Johnson and Johnson Co, in the U.S. In 1937, the sisters embarked on a reconstruction project, completely restoring the dam and naming the lake, Sisters’ Lake. Formation of the lake created a vibrant cottage community on its shores. The present owners of the dam maintained it until 2004 when the wooden center of the dam failed, causing the lake to empty. In return for its restoration and maintenance the owners have agreed to deed the dam to the local Gardiner’s Mill Dam Homeowners’ Association. The dam was completely restored in 2009 and the lake replenished. Provincial designation of the dam is being sought.
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Posted 5-24-09
HRMbyDesign - Public Hearing , Tuesday May 5, 2009 6pm, City Hall, Halifax
Supporting Articles (details and information in pdf link)
Posted 5-24-09
April 2009 - The Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is concerned that HRMbyDesign would put at risk the fragile safeguards that protect downtown Halifax's remaining built heritage.
HRMbyDesign recommends increases in the height limits on heritage properties in downtown Halifax. "This would increase the incentive for developers to demolish existing heritage buildings", said Heritage Trust president Phil Pacey. Prior to amalgamation, the city of Halifax established as-of-right height limits in downtown Halifax to protect heritage assets and to gain control over the design of larger developments.At that time an as-of-right height limit of 25 feet was established east of Hollis Street, similar to the heights of some heritage buildings. In the Central Business District west of Hollis Street, the height limits were set at 40 feet. In 1981 an absolute height limit of 45 feet was placed on some properties in the south end of the city. "For three decades these height limits have protected heritage buildings and owners knew that", said Mr. Pacey.
"Owners knew if they demolished their buildings they would have difficulty getting approvals for taller ones. They looked at their options, and decided that the most cost effective and profitable option was maintaining the existing buildings.They have followed the rules, and as a result some very fine buildings have been refurbished. However, developers insist on an even playing field," said Dr. Pacey. He said owners agreed to have their buildings registered under the Heritage Property Act, when it was introduced in 1980. Only three registered heritage buildings have been demolished in the study area, which is a rate of loss of 0.08 per cent a year. "Existing height limits are working well."
He said HRMbyDesign would greatly increase as-of-right height limits to between 72 and 160 feet in most cases, which would create a financial incentive for speculators to buy buildings, apply to demolish, wait for a year, demolish and then build larger buildings. "If HRMbyDesign were adopted, about 100 historic buildings would be at greater risk of demolition. This would make it difficult to establish a heritage conservation district in the future, as developers would resist any attempt to bring the height restrictions back down to the historic norms," he said. Mr. Pacey said it could also lead to "planning blight", as speculators would not wish to make repairs, expecting to demolish the buildings and build larger ones in a few years.Currently, he said, Halifax's 17 citywide heritage policies, adopted over the past 30 years to protect heritage assets, compared favourably "with the best international standards"today. The Utility and Review Board and the Courts have also interpreted and upheld them. HRMbyDesign would state that these policies would no longer apply downtown. HRMbyDesign would rescind policies that have protected views of Halifax harbour from Citadel Hill between view planes. Heights would be set so high, "it would not be possible to see the harbour over the buildings."
In summary, Mr. Pacey said HRMbyDesign "would weaken the protection in downtown Halifax by increasing height limits and deleting or ruling out good policies that generations of Haligonians and their elected representatives have worked on together to protect their heritage. I understand the aim of HRMbyDesign is to increase density in downtown Halifax. The Trust believes, however, that moderate increases in density can be achieved by building on the 1,050,000 square feet of vacant land in downtown Halifax. It's neither necessary nor desirable to put our heritage at risk.”
Municipal Heritage Properties Would Be Placed at Risk by HRMbyDesign (link to 0.1 Mb PDF)
Heritage Policies at Risk (link to 0.1 Mb PDF)
HRM BY Design – A House of Cards(link to 0.1 Mb PDF)
Posted 3-27-09
HRMbyDesign Threatens Heritage in Downtown
By PHIL PACEY - Fri. Mar 27 - 6:34 AM
Regarding your editorial ("Heritage overreach") of March 24, the Heritage Trust of Nova Scotia is concerned that the current municipal heritage protection system in downtown Halifax is threatened by HRMbyDesign. Our alternative plan is a response to this threat.
One hundred and twenty-six buildings in the downtown are registered under the Heritage Property Act. However, this Act only gives protection from demolition for a year, unless the municipality takes action.
At present, the heritage buildings are protected by excellent policies in the Municipal Planning Strategy. These heritage policies state that the municipality will seek to save the heritage buildings, and mandates several actions to achieve this, including negotiating covenants, leasing the buildings, providing financial assistance, and even acquiring the buildings.
In addition, the municipality has set absolute or as-of-right height limits on heritage properties at 25, 35, 40, 45 and 52 feet – heights similar to the heritage buildings. This means that there is little incentive to tear down a heritage building to construct a new building of a similar size.
This protection system has worked well. In the last 29 years, only three registered heritage buildings have been demolished in downtown Halifax, a rate of loss of only .08 per cent per year.
But now the protection system is threatened. HRMbyDesign, a municipal planning exercise, proposes to knock out the key protections for heritage buildings.
First, it would increase the as-of-right and absolute height limits, to heights between 72 and 160 feet, well in excess of the heights of the heritage buildings. This would provide a financial incentive to replace a heritage building by a taller building. For example, a two-and-a-half-storey Georgian house on Hollis Street could be replaced by a seven-storey apartment block.
Second, HRMbyDesign would totally rescind a number of excellent heritage policies, while stipulating that many other heritage policies would not apply in the downtown area, our most historic square kilometre.
Repeatedly, Heritage Trust has asked the HRMbyDesign planners to keep the protective height limits and policies, and, repeatedly, we have been rebuffed. Accordingly, we have prepared, and formally applied for, an alternative plan.
A complete plan must have provisions, not just for heritage, but also for the other issues facing the downtown. Ours is a complete plan. We have recommended adopting family housing provisions from the existing Land Use By-law. Wind studies, required for development agreements today, would continue to be required. The much-photographed view of George’s Island from the roadway on Citadel Hill would be protected. We have borrowed environmentally sustainable building standards from Toronto and affordable housing targets from Vancouver.
We invite your readers to view our plan. It is only 13 pages long. We think you will find it addresses the issues facing downtown Halifax. It keeps the protective policies and height limits for heritage properties that have worked so well. It is a good plan for our future.
Readers should not be misled by the HRMbyDesign plan, when it claims to provide "enhanced" heritage protection, by saying that heritage conservation districts would include 70 per cent of the heritage buildings. Only 20 per cent would be included at first. Heritage conservation districts for 50 per cent of the heritage buildings would only be "considered" later, and, if the height limits were increased now, it would be very difficult to establish heritage conservation districts later.
And HRMbyDesign would leave 30 per cent of the heritage properties in the downtown out of any potential conservation districts. So, a four-storey Victorian shop on Granville Street could be replaced by a 14-storey tower.
Advocates of HRMbyDesign claim the present system is weak. However, the proof is in the pudding. The present system has protected 97.7 per cent of the downtown heritage buildings for 29 years.
There is no excuse for increasing the height limits on the heritage buildings. There is no excuse for deleting the excellent heritage policies that have served us so well.
The HRMbyDesign plan would take big steps backward in heritage protection. Our alternative plan keeps the protection system and encourages compatible new development.
Posted 11-12-08
Protecting Our Assets - Presentation to Urban Design Task Force (links to 2 Mb PDF)
The Painted Rooms Project
