Another update from yesterday's Council meeting. Concerning the Robert McLaughlin House and the owner's demolition request: Council unanimously voted to refer the matter to the City's heritage advisory committee Heritage Oshawa.
Heritage Oshawa has a virtual meeting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Any recommendation Heritage Oshawa makes will go to the Development Services Committee meeting Monday March 8th 1:30 p.m. (Which is full circle because that is where the owner's letter about demolishing the house was discussed Feb 8th.)
It seems members of Council are listening to the voice the community about preservation and adaptive reuse of the City's heritage assets. The Save The Robert McLaughlin House from Demolition petition started Feb 13 is nearing 5,000 signatures in less than 10 days.
Then the recommendation will go to Council March 29th where a decision will ultimately be made.
I think the concern, expressed by both delegations who spoke to Council yesterday is that, with the continued snow and rain expected in the next month, the hole in the roof should be sealed. It seems if the owner is unwilling, the City could do the work and put a lien on the property to recover costs further to Sections 445 and 446 of the Ontario Municipal Act.
Work order
445 (1) If a municipality is satisfied that a contravention of a by-law of the municipality passed under this Act has occurred, the municipality may make an order requiring the person who contravened the by-law or who caused or permitted the contravention or the owner or occupier of the land on which the contravention occurred to do work to correct the contravention. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 21, s. 6 (38).
(2) An order under subsection (1) shall set out,
(a) reasonable particulars of the contravention adequate to identify the contravention and the location of the land on which the contravention occurred; and
(b) the work to be done and the date by which the work must be done. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184
Remedial action
446 (1) If a municipality has the authority under this or any other Act or under a by-law under this or any other Act to direct or require a person to do a matter or thing, the municipality may also provide that, in default of it being done by the person directed or required to do it, the matter or thing shall be done at the person’s expense. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Entry upon land
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the municipality may enter upon land at any reasonable time. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Recovery of costs
(3) The municipality may recover the costs of doing a matter or thing under subsection (1) from the person directed or required to do it by action or by adding the costs to the tax roll and collecting them in the same manner as property taxes. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Heritage Oshawa has a virtual meeting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Any recommendation Heritage Oshawa makes will go to the Development Services Committee meeting Monday March 8th 1:30 p.m. (Which is full circle because that is where the owner's letter about demolishing the house was discussed Feb 8th.)
It seems members of Council are listening to the voice the community about preservation and adaptive reuse of the City's heritage assets. The Save The Robert McLaughlin House from Demolition petition started Feb 13 is nearing 5,000 signatures in less than 10 days.
Then the recommendation will go to Council March 29th where a decision will ultimately be made.
I think the concern, expressed by both delegations who spoke to Council yesterday is that, with the continued snow and rain expected in the next month, the hole in the roof should be sealed. It seems if the owner is unwilling, the City could do the work and put a lien on the property to recover costs further to Sections 445 and 446 of the Ontario Municipal Act.
Work order
445 (1) If a municipality is satisfied that a contravention of a by-law of the municipality passed under this Act has occurred, the municipality may make an order requiring the person who contravened the by-law or who caused or permitted the contravention or the owner or occupier of the land on which the contravention occurred to do work to correct the contravention. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184; 2009, c. 33, Sched. 21, s. 6 (38).
(2) An order under subsection (1) shall set out,
(a) reasonable particulars of the contravention adequate to identify the contravention and the location of the land on which the contravention occurred; and
(b) the work to be done and the date by which the work must be done. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184
Remedial action
446 (1) If a municipality has the authority under this or any other Act or under a by-law under this or any other Act to direct or require a person to do a matter or thing, the municipality may also provide that, in default of it being done by the person directed or required to do it, the matter or thing shall be done at the person’s expense. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Entry upon land
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the municipality may enter upon land at any reasonable time. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Recovery of costs
(3) The municipality may recover the costs of doing a matter or thing under subsection (1) from the person directed or required to do it by action or by adding the costs to the tax roll and collecting them in the same manner as property taxes. 2006, c. 32, Sched. A, s. 184.
Below is a letter to Oshawa City Council worth sharing, from a 5th generation descendant of Robert McLaughlin about the state of his former house at 195 Simcoe St. N. & the lack of preservation of Oshawa's history. The letter included a picture of Robert McLaughlin painting in his home.
"I am writing today to voice my concern regarding the state of the Robert McLaughlin house and to relay my utmost disdain at the lack of preservation of Oshawa's most treasured history.
As you are well aware , this house is steeped in history. To have it demolished would be a travesty to one of Oshawa's most treasured assets.
I was born and raised in Oshawa. 5th generation. My great great Grandfather was Robert McLaughlin. I am proud of my heritage. However, I am at a loss for words when it comes to the lack of preservation of Oshawa's history on the part of the politicians in Oshawa. I am sure you are all aware that the foundation of Oshawa was built on the hard work and sweat of Robert McLaughlin. If not for the McLaughlin Carriage Company, General Motors would have looked the other way when setting up operations. The McLaughlin Carriage Company had expanded dealerships across Canada which appealed to the expansion of General Motors . Roberts sons, George and Sam were able to negotiate to have General Motors reside in Oshawa due to their fathers successful carriage business.
As a descendant of Robert I implore you to seriously consider preserving this vital piece of Oshawa’s history as we all know that once it is gone, it will forever be forgotten. Progress should never replace history. Thank you for your time .
Regards, Susan
"I am writing today to voice my concern regarding the state of the Robert McLaughlin house and to relay my utmost disdain at the lack of preservation of Oshawa's most treasured history.
As you are well aware , this house is steeped in history. To have it demolished would be a travesty to one of Oshawa's most treasured assets.
I was born and raised in Oshawa. 5th generation. My great great Grandfather was Robert McLaughlin. I am proud of my heritage. However, I am at a loss for words when it comes to the lack of preservation of Oshawa's history on the part of the politicians in Oshawa. I am sure you are all aware that the foundation of Oshawa was built on the hard work and sweat of Robert McLaughlin. If not for the McLaughlin Carriage Company, General Motors would have looked the other way when setting up operations. The McLaughlin Carriage Company had expanded dealerships across Canada which appealed to the expansion of General Motors . Roberts sons, George and Sam were able to negotiate to have General Motors reside in Oshawa due to their fathers successful carriage business.
As a descendant of Robert I implore you to seriously consider preserving this vital piece of Oshawa’s history as we all know that once it is gone, it will forever be forgotten. Progress should never replace history. Thank you for your time .
Regards, Susan
Below is another wonderful letter to Oshawa Council added to yesterday's meeting FROM THE GREAT, GREAT, GRANDDAUGHTER OF ROBERT MCLAUGHLIN
The Robert McLaughlin House Proposed Demolition
There are always planned alternatives to demolishing historic buildings, whatever size.
Houses of those whose contribution to our towns, cities or country were of significance should at all costs be preserved when those costs are feasible. The home of my great-
great grandfather, the Robert McLaughlin House on Simcoe Street, falls into the category of the “Need to Preserve”. The house when restored could serve any number of community needs - hospice, palliative care, etc. while preserving Robert McLaughlin’s name. Today we are too often at risk of throwing away too many monuments of the past: without our
past where is our future sense of identity?
Jocelyn Shaw
The Robert McLaughlin House Proposed Demolition
There are always planned alternatives to demolishing historic buildings, whatever size.
Houses of those whose contribution to our towns, cities or country were of significance should at all costs be preserved when those costs are feasible. The home of my great-
great grandfather, the Robert McLaughlin House on Simcoe Street, falls into the category of the “Need to Preserve”. The house when restored could serve any number of community needs - hospice, palliative care, etc. while preserving Robert McLaughlin’s name. Today we are too often at risk of throwing away too many monuments of the past: without our
past where is our future sense of identity?
Jocelyn Shaw