City of Workshops at Bayview Yards up for heritage designation (Updated)

(Update: On March 26, the Built Heritage Advisory Committee recommended the designation described below. Planning Committee and then City Council will consider the recommendation next)

It's been a long road for the Hintonburg and Mechanicsville communities in their efforts to have the old City Works building at Bayview Yards provided with heritage protection. On March 26, the Built Heritage sub-Committee will consider a staff recommendation to designate the building. Staff says of the building in its report:

The building has design value as a rare example of an industrial building influenced by the Modern Movement, is associated with the expansion of municipal services in the 20th century and has contextual value as a reminder of the former industrial character of the Bayview area.

While many uses were considered for the site over the years, as has been well-publicized it will be turned into the flagship building for the new Innovation Centre.

I provided the following comments in support of designation:

"The Hintonburg and Mechanicsville communities have been seeking heritage protection for this property for many years. I am pleased that designation is now moving forward. 7 Bayview will be re-purposed for Ottawa's new Innovtion Centre, in the vein of similar adaptive re-uses in other cities. Old will meet new, and I trust that a sensitive renovation will appropriately preserve this touchstone of a different era even as we focus on Ottawa's future."

The full staff report is attached below. If designation is supported by the Built Heritage Sub-Committee, it will then proceed to Planning Committee for approval before finally receiving final designation at City Council.