Some Cambridge residents think the Galt core heritage conservation district (HCD) could be extended with enhanced protections around the waterfront.
The discussion happened at a recent public information centre during which participants were presented the proposed boundaries for the Galt core HCD. The two dozen or so participants were divided into groups for in-depth discussion. The session, minus the breakout room conversation, is available on the city's YouTube Channel.
Some felt the district could be extended to the west of the Grand River as well as more to the north and south.
Evaluation criteria used for the draft boundary were a concentration of heritage buildings, sites, structures, designed landscapes, natural landscapes that are linked by aesthetic, historical and sociocultural contexts or use, a framework of structured elements, a sense of visual coherence, and a distinctiveness that enables districts to be recognized and distinguishable from their surroundings or from neighbouring areas.
The boundary put on the table by the city consultants marked off an area from Wellington and Thorne Streets in the north to Wellington and Warnock Streets in the south and the river's waterfront over to the west.
"In general, there was support for boundaries that were outlined," said Abraham Plunkett-Latimer, the city's senior planner for heritage, as he summarized the conversation from his group.
The area to the west of the Grand River was identified as being quite important to include, he added.
The suggestions, Plunkett-Latimer said, were around adding Queen's Square, in particular and the area immediately surrounding it.
Rebecca Sciarra, director of Cultural Heritage Division with ASI, said that had come up at previous public consultations, too.
"You can't talk about the downtown without crossing the river and what happens between it," she said. "That became a recurring theme during the engagement sessions. It was focused on the west side of the river, not extending into the residential area, but the cenotaph, parks, and churches."
Plunkett-Latimer said there was also discussion about the impact of the light rail transit coming through and how that intersects with the proposed boundaries.
"We also had a discussion about how it would be determined that some more modern properties were included in the district," he said, adding, "We discussed that it's about creating a good balance between it not being too restrictive on surrounding areas and making sure that properties that are likely to be redeveloped should be redeveloped in a sympathetic way."
Plunkett-Latimer said there was also support for extending protections for the riverfront.
"The idea is that what has been identified as something people would like to see is more control over key views along the waterfront," he told CambridgeToday. "We don't know exactly what it would look like. It's just been identified the river is significant and the views are important on eitherside of the river. The plan would figure out what it would look like."
Also, he said, participants suggested the potential for harmonizing the existing Main Street HCD within the new, larger boundaries.
Further, Plunkett-Latimer said there was interest expressed in integrating the Dickson Hill HCD into the Galt core HCD.
The existing Dickson Hill conservation plan, he said, only applies to public land in that area.
"There is interest now in revisiting that and thinking about implications about there being an integration with the Galt core HCD, which would most likely provide protection for both public and private properties within it," said Plunkett-Latimer. "That would involve more consultation to determine the right path forward. It will also go forward to council for a decision and council could recommend that we need to spend more time on it."
However, he said, nothing will be finalized around the integration of the Dickson Hill HCD with the Galt core one without first consulting the residents directly affected by such a move.
Sciarra said in previous public sessions participants had asked why the boundary wouldn't extended to the Cambridge Mill and Parkhill Dam.
"There's a break between the core that I was showing and the recommended boundary; there's an overwhelming visual interruption," she said. "To jump over that northerly and include the Cambridge Mill, we felt there would be fairly strong criticism in the sense that the north end is very altered."
Senior planner Mathew Blevins said there is also support for extending the the Galt core HCD boundary north and south along the river's edge to include the rail bridge to the north and go as far south as the Concession Street bridge in the south.
Further, he said, his group had expressed an interest in the Cambridge Sculpture Garden being included in the HCD as a preserved green space.
Plunkett-Latimer said residents that weren't able to attend the session are welcome to send in their comments and feedback via email [email protected] or to call him at (519)623-1340 ext. 4690.
