An old stone cottage that's included in a redevelopment proposal on Water Street South is the latest in series of planned heritage designations underway across the city to save old buildings not already protected.
Sitting on what's known as the "Tutton Farm," the 1845 cottage is on land once owned by Galt founder William Dickson, and is part of a proposal to build two 13-storey residential towers and one nine-storey tower near Churchill Park.
The project, from SG Real Estate Developments LP II, is expected to include up to 330 units ranging from one to three bedrooms in size.
The towers would sit over a three storey podium with 417 parking spaces and 117 bicycle spaces.
The developers want to repurpose the stone cottage as some sort of "amenity space" which could include anything from meeting rooms to a restaurant.
But the city wants to ensure the building is saved and believes designating it under the Ontario Heritage Act "is another means to make sure it is protected and preserved for future generations to enjoy and appreciate."
The developer submitted a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) done by Bright Past Heritage Consulting Inc. and city staff completed its own assessment of the property.
The stone cottage is believed to have been built in two stages over a span of about 10 years by Scottish immigrants Jared Swan (1796-1877) and his wife Jean Grieve (1793- 1882).
The couple arrived in Galt in 1832 with their two grown daughters and one son in law. The Swans bought the land at 201 Water Street South from William Dickson and lived in a log cabin on site while they constructed their home. The storey and a half addition at the rear is believed to have been the first structure built by the Swans in 1835.
In about 1845, what is considered the main and front façade, was constructed.
This is the two storey, Italianate inspired designed addition to the original stone cottage, reads a staff report.
Very little is known about the Swans. They appear to have had a quiet life farming the property until Jared’s death in 1877.
Jean then sold the property to George Hay in 1879 and passed away in 1882. Jared and Jean are buried together at Mountview Cemetery beside lifelong friends who they grew up with in Scotland and whom they emigrated to Galt with.
The city's Heritage Register lists the property as “Carol Bank – Tutton Farm”.
It is not understood why the name Tutton is significant because James Tutton only owned the property from 1944 to 1945. It is also not clear where the name Carol Bank originates from.
Staff list several heritage attributes that qualify the home for designation. It meets five of nine criteria to warrant heritage designation, the main ones related to its cultural significance.
"The house and property are indicative of the agricultural roots of Cambridge which make it an important cultural heritage resource to the community," reads the staff report.
Senior heritage planner Jeremy Parsons told council last week that there are over 600 properties on the heritage register that could be considered for heritage designation.
Members of the municipal heritage advisory committee will meet to discuss this latest recommendation March 21.
