Hamilton heritage activists host rally to preserve Marr House in Ancaster

Hamilton residents have been instrumental" in saving various historical buildings from being demolished.

Heritage activists are hoping that advocacy can also prove beneficial in protecting Ancaster's Marr House.

A Nov. 13 rally will be held on Wilson Street starting at 10 a.m., organized with the help of the Hamilton branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, to guarantee the heritage structure will survive a relocation plan to the rear of the 2.5-acre property on 15 Lorne Ave. that councillors approved in October.

Heritage professionals and masons have all concluded that the 200-year-old building will probably not survive the move," stated Shannon Kyles, president of the Hamilton branch of the organization. Volunteer members of the heritage community are becoming extremely frustrated as their recommendations have become misdirected and ignored."

That frustration was evident recently when Bob Maton, chair of the Ancaster Village Heritage Community, criticized Coun. Lloyd Ferguson, council, and staff for allowing the owners of the property to relocate the building.

Maton has stated that council ignored relevant information, such as alternative ways to remove contaminated soils on the property without relocating the building. He said no archeological survey has been conducted, no planning application has been submitted to the city and under the Ontario Heritage Act and Planning Act, relocating the Marr House will be considered a demolition and the heritage designation for this building will be removed and all its protection."

A letter from Wilf Ruland, a former member of the city's heritage committee, states the Marr House is extremely fragile" and may not survive" the relocation.

Members of the Heritage Permit Review subcommittee in August, opposed the application to relocate the building by Wilson Street Ancaster Inc. The members were adamant that the Marr House remain on Wilson Street East. But the planning committee and council approved the request.

UrbanCore Developments and Spallacci Homes, which bought the land in 2019, have proposed a 5.5-storey building with 122 condominiums and 14,000 square feet of commercial space.

Nicolas Barrette of GBCA Architects has said the Marr building is located near the site of a former gas station and auto shop that must be remediated before any development can take place. The remediation is expected to be extensive to remove hydrocarbons that are up to eight metres in depth and are impacting the groundwater and soil.

Ferguson has defended council's decision, calling Maton's statements misinformation."

I really doubt their allegations are correct," he said recently.

The city's Planning Director Steve Robichaud has argued planning staff has done everything possible to follow the process. He said the owners' application to relocate the building has complied with the city's Official Plan and the Ancaster Wilson Secondary Plan. The document states that council should encourage the conservation of heritage resources, but not require the conservation of heritage resources."

Robichaud said relocating the building will have several conditions attached to protect it. And prior to moving the building, the owners will be required to submit plans that will be peer reviewed, said Robichaud.

Kyles said relocating the Marr House from Wilson Street will not only effectively transform the Village of Ancaster, but it will also send a clear message both to developers and owners that the other buildings and streetscapes in Greater Hamilton are easy pickings. This will create a devastating precedent for Built Heritage."

Protecting Ancaster's heritage buildings has become even more important for activists after the sudden demolition in March 2020 of the Brandon House on the corner of Wilson and Rousseaux streets.

Kyles said that support from the public has been crucial to saving several Hamilton buildings from being demolished, including the Ancaster Old Town Hall, the Dundas Post Office, and the Lister Block.

We have to get together as a united force for heritage," said Kyles. If we keep fighting small battles on our own, we will lose the war."