Committee approves application to designate the Église évangélique baptiste d’Ottawa

The Built Heritage Committee today approved designating the Église évangélique baptiste d’Ottawa at 284 King Edward Avenue under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The church meets seven of the nine criteria for designation. Constructed in 1904 with a considerable addition built between 1919 and 1920, the building is a representative example of church architecture influenced by the Late Gothic Revival style. The church is associated with the growth of evangelical Baptists in Ottawa and with Reverend George Rainboth McFaul, a champion of Baptist culture in Canada who established French Baptist missions in the Ottawa Valley. The church’s architect was William James Abra. His architectural firm, Richards and Abra, was a prolific firm in Ottawa, designing churches, schools, hotels and apartment buildings. It is one of several early 20th century institutional buildings on King Edward Avenue including the Adath Jeshurun Synagogue, now the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Hydro Substation No. 4 and the Champagne Bath, now the Champagne Fitness Centre. Staff will continue to work with the owner on future plans for the site. The Committee considered an application to alter buildings at 219 to 223 Bank Street and 178 Nepean Street. The proposed development includes the rehabilitation, restoration and alteration of the buildings and the construction of a new nine-storey building that will be integrated with the historic buildings. All the buildings are considered contributing properties within the Centretown Heritage Conservation District. The proposal retains the heritage façades along Bank, Nepean and Lisgar Streets and the new design does not detract from them. The nine-storey building will be set back to allow the heritage buildings and façades to remain the focal point on all three streets. The application is conditional upon the owner completing proper documentation and taking measures to ensure the protection, conservation and restoration of the façades. The Committee also approved the demolition of the property at 79 Guigues which sustained damages from a fire in August. The building will be replaced with landscaping until it is redeveloped. Any future development on the site will be subject to a separate heritage permit process and would require it to honour the attributes of the historic building, notably the original front gable form, with the hopes they will be considered and incorporated into the new design. Items from today’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, December 11, except the report with of the Église évangélique baptiste d’Ottawa which will rise to Council on Wednesday, January 22. For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram. Related topics

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