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Ministre du Tourisme, de la Culture et des Loisirs 400, avenue University Toronto ON M7A 2R9 Commission des Biens culturels T l 416-314-7137 T l c 416-314-7175
CONSERVATION REVIEW BOARD RE: THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF BRANTFORD, ONTARIO; INTENTION TO DESIGNATE THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS "THE COCKSHUTT BUILDINGS" AND MUNICIPALLY AS 66 MOHAWK STREET, BRANTFORD, ONTARIO Stuart W. Henderson, Chair Andrew S. Mathers, Member Thomas F. McIlwraith, Member February 20, 2002
This hearing was convened under Section 29(8) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18, for the purpose of reporting to the Council of the City of Brantford whether, in the opinion of the Board, the property known municipally as the former Cockshutt Plow Company Office and Timekeeping Building located at 66 Mohawk Street, Brantford, Ontario, should be designated by By-Law under the Act, an objection having been raised by Mr. Bruce Dinsmore. Notice of this hearing was given under the Act and published in The Brantford Expositor on February 13, 2002, by the Conservation Review Board. The relevant affidavit by a member of the Board's staff is Exhibit #1. The Board, in accordance with its customary practice, had the opportunity to inspect the site and view the surrounding area prior to the hearing. The Board met in the Council Chamber, Brantford City Hall, on Wednesday, February 20, 2002. Present: Larry Tansley, Solicitor, City of Brantford Matt Reniers, Senior Planner, Policy & Programs, City of Brantford Thomas Oldham, Canadian Industrial Heritage Foundation, Brantford William Cockshutt, Citizen, Brantford Bruce Dinsmore, Objector, St. Thomas, Ontario 1
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In this report the "Cockshutt Buildings" is the term used to describe a connected threepart structure appearing in a photograph in Exhibit #9, Section 1, and labelled there as consisting of "Office Building," "Remaining Warehouse" and "Timekeepers Building." Other buildings standing on the full 33-acre parcel, and at one time part of the Cockshutt enterprise are, for the purposes of this hearing, not considered relevant. The Board was informed that the land on which the Cockshutt Buildings stand is a portion of a 33-acre parcel owned by Mr. Paul Doyle, President of bankrupt Go-Vacations Limited, and in arrears $686,000 in municipal taxes. The Cockshutt Buildings themselves are purportedly owned by Mr. Bruce Dinsmore, owner of a building salvage business. Case for the City of Brantford Mr. Tansley stated that the Cockshutt Buildings are of overwhelming historical and architectural significance and should be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. Mr. Tansley took some time to explain the ownership situation (Sections 23 to 25 of Exhibit #9) of the Cockshutt Buildings. On questioning by the Board, Mr. Tansley reported that the land is eligible for municipal tax sale or city seizure for unpaid taxes, but that the City has postponed acting on this option pending the results of an environmental rehabilitation study. The City could become owner of the site, but it is not clear whether it would also become the owner of the Cockshutt Buildings. Mr. Tansley introduced the City's one witness, Mr. Matt Reniers, who the Board qualified as an expert, without objection, in the area of heritage policy and planning. Witness - Matt Reniers Mr. Reniers reviewed for the Board the voluminous background of the Cockshutt family enterprise and the City's efforts in designating the property in question. He led the Board through the binder (Exhibit #9) section by section, without interpretation and with little comment. Contents included photographs, company history, and site plans (Sections 1 to 6); documents regarding the current arrangements for removal of buildings (Sections 7 to 11); the Heritage Designation process (Sections 12 to 18); objection to the proposed Heritage Designation (Sections 19 to 22); and heritage planning objectives in the City's Official Plan (Section 26).
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In relationship to section 7.8.15 of the Official Plan (Section 26 of Exhibit #9, discussing the Mohawk Street area, including the Cockshutt Buildings), he reported that the site of the Cockshutt Buildings is "probably cleanest", environmentally, of any part of the overall site, and that the City is monitoring wells along the front of the property. In the longer run this area is planned for mixed uses, including open space and institutions. Maintenance of the Cockshutt Buildings would appear to be consistent with City planning objectives. Mr. Reniers concluded that it would please the City to have the Cockshutt Buildings retained, but that it had not evaluated their structural condition. On questioning by the Board, Mr. Reniers stated that the residential context of the site was not considered among the reasons for recommending designation. He also reported that the architect for the Cockshutt Buildings is unknown, and that the City has made no contact with Heritage Canada regarding the Cockshutt Buildings. Case for Mr. Bruce Dinsmore Witness - Bruce Dinsmore Mr. Dinsmore introduced himself as a Brantford native and one-time Cockshutt employee who has had a 40-year career in building demolition, reclamation, and materials recycling. He believes he is the owner of the Cockshutt Buildings. He laid out the complex legalities of the case, in particular the demolition permit that included, and apparently authorized, removal of the Cockshutt Buildings in question. It was his intention to profit from the sale of the reclaimed materials. He spoke of the yellow pine timbers and hardwood flooring as particularly attractive recyclable elements (although less so in recent markets), and of customers for such materials in Canada and Europe. Mr. Dinsmore described the Office and Timekeeper's buildings as structurally sound and easily restorable. He characterized the Remaining Warehouse behind as being "in rough shape ... its junk." Some of the roof has caved in, removal of drainage downspouts has allowed water to run inside, and the floors have heaved. Regarding restoration of the Remaining Warehouse, his view was that "you can do anything for a price." Mr. Dinsmore claims that he tried to sell the Cockshutt Buildings to the city before the demolition permit was issued. He believes that there is little or no toxicity in the soil around the buildings, but that adequate testing has not been done. Mr. Dinsmore told the hearing that he now wishes to remove himself from a complex legal situation, exacerbated by the bankruptcy of the owner of the property. He is prepared to back off from his claim to the Cockshutt Buildings, and is sympathetic to 3
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their continued existence. He is content with the process of Heritage Designation proceeding, noting that, in fact, he "has no say if designation occurs." He wants the City to benefit from whatever happens, and believes that the Cockshutt Buildings could be a Museum; he added that "the museum would be good for the city" and "could be something really beautiful." Mr. Dinsmore invited the Board to see inside the Cockshutt Buildings, but changed his mind when the issue of liability was raised. Statements from the Public Thomas Oldham, Canadian Industrial Heritage Foundation Mr. Oldham described the Foundation, formed in 2000, as a rapidly growing organization committed to refurbishing the Cockshutt Buildings for use as a museum of industrial history. The CIHF is actively raising funds for such a project at this time. His organization favours Heritage Designation of the Cockshutt Buildings. He described the Office building as "a memorial to the workers." Mr. Dinsmore asked Mr. Oldham if it was proper to be collecting money to be applied to a building over which the organization has no current authority. Mr. Oldham replied that the money was for the industrial museum project, regardless of the building in which it might ultimately be housed. Mr. Dinsmore cautioned that donors are, nevertheless, likely to believe that their money is going towards preservation of the Cockshutt Buildings. William Cockshutt, Citizen Mr. Cockshutt, grandnephew of James George Cockshutt (founder of the plow works), was eloquent in his comments on the role of workers and citizens in making the Cockshutt firm a renowned Brantford institution. He recognized the significance of the worker housing neighbourhood across Mohawk Road from the factory. He spoke of the Remaining Warehouse as an integral part of the Cockshutt Buildings, with the Office section at the front. Findings of the Board Based on the testimony before it, the Board concludes that there is essentially no dispute between the parties on the architectural and historical significance of the Cockshutt Building. Opinions differed as to whether the Remaining Warehouse should be included in any proposal for designation. Mr. Tansley posed the question more than once, which 4
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prompted others to make specific reference to the Remaining Warehouse in their recommendations. In addition to architectural details described by the City, the Board notes that the Office Building has tapered bricks in the archwork and coloured mortar between the bricks detailing of an extraordinary sort showing this to be a finely crafted edifice. An industrial heritage museum is the only use proposed for the Cockshutt Buildings. The Board is unable to make any judgment of the viability of such a proposal in the absence of a thoroughly developed plan of action. The Board was struck by Mr. Dinsmore's commitment to the well being of the city. His willingness to forego the proceeds from salvage and to recognize the value of the Cockshutt Buildings to the Brantford civic fabric is extraordinary, and to be complimented. Recommendations of the Board The Board recommends that the Cockshutt Buildings be designated by By-law under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act. The Board suggests that the residential neighbourhood adjacent to the Cockshutt Buildings be cited as a contextual reason for recommending designation. Cockshutt employees undoubtedly lived there and walked to work. Their landscape is part of the Cockshutt story. The Board notes the urgency inherent in this recommendation for designation; the buildings have been vacant and without heat for 10 or 12 years, and frost action is beginning to take its toll. Still, the Board believes that the buildings are recoverable, and is cautiously optimistic that there is sufficient good will by the City and the buildings' owner for the Cockshutt Buildings to have a secure future. The Board urges that the City of Brantford and those promoting the museum project display a passionate interest in the Cockshutt Buildings, as a splendid anchor in a multiple-use area.
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