There will be 27 residential units and three commercial/retail units on the ground floor. The developer is LeFevre & Co.
CITY OF VICTORIA
HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OCTOBER 23, 2007
Absent: Lisa Mort-Putland, Ken Johnson
Present: Richard Collier, Chair
Kerri Ward
Berdine Jonker
Keith Thomas
Erik Berglund
John Adams
Councillor Thornton-Joe
Jim Stiven
Staff
Steve Barber, Senior Heritage Planner
Linda Carrington, Secretary
Heritage Alteration Permit #00069 – 550-560 Yates Street (Oriental Hotel)
Application of Inside Out Architecture on behalf of Oriental Hotel Inc.
Proposed rehabilitation and exterior alterations to a Heritage Registry building. Within DPA #1 (Heritage Conservation) Old Town and Chinatown
Zoned CA-3C Old Town District.
The proposal is to rehabilitate two Heritage Registry buildings, including the Oriental Hotel, for 27 residential units on the upper floors and three commercial/retail units on the ground floor. A new addition to the roof of 560 Yates Street is proposed to provide stair and elevator access to the third floor of 550 Yates Street. As these are Heritage Registry buildings in the Old Town Heritage Conservation Area, a Heritage Alteration Permit is required for all exterior alterations. A variance is required for the height due to the projection of the stair tower above the height limit by 2.5m. A public hearing is required.
Ray Hunt, Architect, advised:
• New addition on the roof to provide a new central elevator
• Natural light into the building is crucial to make it liveable
• Steve Barber’s suggestion to restore the original windows (existing from the
1950’s) on 560 Yates to be more sympathetic, will be referred to the developer
• Existing windows on the east side will provide light to the residents
• One window per unit on the alley side
• Additional skylights to the 6 units on the top floor
• Livability vs. altering the façade is a challenge
• Balancing of the guidelines to provide livability
• Hardiplank panels and 6 windows on the new front addition
• The decorative plaster rosettes will be demolished
• The exterior which is in good condition, will be repainted
• A specialist will be hired to remove samples of paint
• New landscaped courtyard at the rear
• Concrete addition at the rear will be removed
• Security gates will be required
Committee:
• Empathized with the economical and social values associated with the project
• It is important to identify the new windows, but not remove the heritage value of the building
• Questioned the reason for 26 bachelor units
• Prefer not to have windows on the west side, but realize they are necessary for the building’s success
• Intervention to the façade is necessary and important in order to provide an
adaptive reuse, and supply more light into the building
Moved
Seconded
That City Council authorize the issuance of Heritage Alteration Permit #00069 in accordance with:
1. Plans dated October 3, 2007 and October 23, 2007.
2. Development meeting all bylaw requirements except for:
Section 6.7.6(1) – relaxed to permit a height of 17.5m
3. Retention of original wood window sash on the side and rear elevations.
4. Final plans to be in accordance with plans identified above and to incorporate
condition number 3 above.
5. Submission of final details prior to building permit, including:
(a) repair or cleaning of all sheet metal or cast iron building components;
(b) masonry repair, cleaning and repointing specifications;
© detailed working drawings of any proposed new windows.
6. The addition of six windows on the east and west sides of the building, and that the form of the windows be sympathetic to the historic character of the building.
7. The owner be encouraged to restore the second storey windows on 560 Yates Street to their original appearance.
Carried
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.