Hamilton staff identify over 60 Ancaster buildings to be placed on heritage list
Last year's demolition of the Brandon House sparked a wider discussion around preservation of Ancaster's many heritage buildings. - Kevin Werner/Metroland
Hamilton’s Heritage Committee has recommended that 62 pre-Confederation properties in Ancaster be listed on the city’s heritage registry.
But several property owners objected to their residences being placed on the registry and eventually designated as heritage structures, with some arguing the impact of designation could hurt their market values, and a few even stated their homes didn’t meet historical requirements.
Members of the Ancaster Village Heritage Committee conducted an inventory of 110 buildings that were identified as being constructed before Confederation, late last year in partnership with city heritage officials.
City staff, though, recommended that 62 properties be placed on the heritage registry and that 11 of those properties be identified for designation. Heritage staff have a long list of Hamilton properties to designate with a work plan that extends to 2035. Staff complete about four properties per year for designation.
Bob Maton, president of the Ancaster Village Heritage Committee, said from the original 110 buildings, several were in “bad condition” and didn’t meet the provincial standard, while others could not be properly photographed because of privacy issues.
Maton said the community-led effort is being undertaken to protect Ancaster’s vital heritage buildings after the Brandon House was demolished in March 2020.
“We lost the Brandon House, which is outrageous,” said Ferguson. “We’ve got to do better to preserve the heritage of Ancaster.”
Heritage staff recommended last May that about 30 properties located within the Wilson Street Secondary Plan to the city’s registry of properties of cultural and heritage value.
Ancaster, established in 1792-93, is the third oldest police village in Ontario.
The 62 buildings that city heritage officials have identified for the registry include 11 Academy St., 451 Book Rd. E., 65 Central Dr., 259 Filman Rd., and 48 Garner Rd. W.
Yet there were seven property owners who objected to the designation.
Danyal Sheikh, owner of the house at 105 Filman Rd., near Rousseaux Drive, told heritage committee members Jan 29 that his building was constructed in 1925 and not before Confederation.
Ferguson said the building is “quite a fixture in our community” that sits on a hill as a “gateway” into the town similar to the Brandon House, which was located at the corner of Wilson and Rousseaux streets.
Tom Murison, a consultant hired by Sheikh, who produced a 70-page report on the building, stated it had electrical lights and mechanical ventilators. “The ancient building is actually a greenhouse from 1925.”
Also concerned about his property being placed on the heritage list was Paul Masotti. He said designating his 1719 Powerline Road building as a heritage structure could impose “future restrictions” on how he could use the building.
“It could stop us from renovating or (reduce) our market value,” he said.
Donato Cascioli opposed his 1157 Garner Rd. E. building being placed on the heritage list. He said the move would “affect my property values,” and “complicate” future developments.
And Carl Galli, of NGC Land Holdings Inc. said the building on 34 Llyoyminn Ave. has had anything of significant heritage value removed from the structure.
The committee’s recommendation was sent to the Feb. 2 planning and economic development committee for discussion. Ferguson said he wanted time to speak to the property owners who objected to the possible designation of their buildings.
“I want a chance to take a look at them myself,” he said. “Maybe make some changes and deferrals (on the recommendations).”
