HomeMy WebLinkAboutBy-law 7290/13The Corporation of the City of Pickering
By -law No. 7290/13
Being a by -law to designate the lands legally described as that
part of Lots 12 & 13, Plan 175, being Part 1, Plan 40R -27959
(the "Nesbit- Newman Property ") and municipally known as
560 Park Crescent, City of Pickering, as being of cultural
heritage value or interest.
Whereas the Ontario Heritage Act authorizes the Council of a municipality to enact a
by-law to designate real property, including all buildings and structures thereon, to be of
cultural heritage value or interest; and
Whereas on April 16, 2012, Council endorsed the recommendations of its Heritage
Advisory Committee to designate the Nesbit - Newman Property as being of cultural
heritage value or interest; and
Whereas the reasons for designation are set out in Schedule "A" to this by -law; and
Whereas the Council of The Corporation of the City of Pickering has caused to be
served on the owners of the Nesbit - Newman Property and upon the Ontario Heritage
Trust, Notice of Intention to designate the property and has caused the Notice of
Intention to be published in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality
as required by the Ontario Heritage Act; and
Whereas a notice objecting to the proposed designation was received on May 31, 2012,
and the objection was withdrawn on April 2; 2013.
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of. the City of Pickering enacts as follows:
1. The Nesbit - Newman Property is designated as being of cultural heritage value or
interest for the reasons set out in Schedule "An attached hereto.
2. The City Solicitor is hereby authorized to cause a copy of this by -law to be
registered on title to the Nesbit - Newman Property.
3. The City Clerk is authorized to cause a copy of this by -law to be served upon the
owners of the Nesbit - Newman Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and to
publish notice of this by -law in a newspaper having general circulation in the City of
Pickering as required by the Ontario Heritage Act.
By -law passed this 8th day of July, 2013.
David Rya a . r
Debbie Shields, City Clerk
Schedule "A" to By -law No. 7290/13
Reasons for Designation
Description of Property
The subject property is a one =and -a -half- storey, three -bay fieldstone farmhouse built in
the mid -1850s in a modified Georgian style. It is located on the west side of Park _
Crescent, at the western terminus of Surf Avenue, in the City of Pickering's Westshore
neighbourhood.
Statement of Cultural Value or Interest
The Nesbit - Newman House is historically significant as a vestige of the early Scottish
settlement surrounding the Village of Dunbarton and for its association with several
prominent Pickering citizens. The house was constructed by Peter Nesbit (1808 -1896)
as part of his "Lakeview" farm in the mid -1850s at a time when Pickering's booming
economy prompted residents to build permanent and sturdy homes in place of earlier,
sometimes temporary, structures. Nesbit, a native of Haddington, Scotland, was part of
an influx of Scottish settlers to Pickering in the 1830s following the arrival of William
Dunbar and the development of Dunbarton. A renowned farmer, Nesbit has been
described as one of the "worthies" of Dunbarton and contributed a long and
distinguished service to the local church. When the new Dunbarton Church (now
Dunbarton- Fairport United Church) was constructed in 1886, it was Nesbit who was
given the honour of laying the cornerstone. A later resident of the home, Harry A.
Newman (1888- 1976), also made significant contributions to Pickering's religious
community. In 1934, Mr. Newman established St. Paul's on- the -Hill Anglican Church by
funding the relocation of a deconsecrated Toronto church to lands that he owned in
Pickering along Kingston Road. Mr. Newman remained active in the community
throughout his life and served as the first Canadian President of Lions Clubs
International and Chairman of the fundraising campaign for the expansion of the Ajax
and Pickering General Hospital in 1964. Mr. Newman's son, William G. Newman
(1928- 1988), is another notable citizen with a connection to the property. William G.
Newman served as Reeve of Pickering Township in 1956 at age 27, making him the
youngest ever head -of- council in the municipality. He enjoyed a long history in politics
as a Member of Provincial Parliament from 1967 to 1981, becoming Minister of
Environment in. 1974 and Minister of Agriculture and Food in 1975.
The Nesbit - Newman House is architecturally significant in its proportions, unified
design, symmetrical balance and general massing as a fine, extant example of an
Ontario farmhouse in the vernacular American classical tradition. The ashlar fieldstone
masonry of the exterior walls is of a very fine order and the door, window and other
exterior details are reflective of the Georgian principles of proportion and symmetry. The
house is characterized by a symmetrical centre hall plan and possesses a traditional
rear "tail" in this case, a contemporary two- storey. addition.
The house is set atop a small raise of land, providing a proud and imposing presence
from the street. Its park -like surroundings are key to its history as a farm and the natural
spaces immediately surrounding all sides of the building are critical in retaining its
pastoral setting. As the only remaining 19th century building in the Westshore
neighbourhood and one of very few buildings of this vintage in South Pickering, the
Nesbit - Newman House is a visible landmark and a cherished resource in the
community.
Description of Heritage Attributes
Key attributes that embody the heritage value of the. Nesbit - Newman House include its:
• Historical association with early Scottish settlement near Dunbarton and notable
citizens Peter Nesbit, Harry A. Newman and William G. Newman
• Existence as a fine, extant example of a Georgian- inspired Ontario farmhouse
• Rectangular plan with symmetrical three -bay main facade
• Finely crafted ashlar fieldstone masonry with flat -arch voussoirs above all
openings
• Medium sloped gable roof
• Stone chimneys centrally located on both gable walls
• Moulded wooden cornice with eave returns on gable walls
• Formal fenestration arrangement with small windows in relation to surface area
of stone walls
• 12- over -12 Georgian - style, double -hung windows on the main facade
•. Central entrance with well - proportioned transom and truncated sidelights
• Stone cellarway enclosure on the northern elevation
• Two Arts and Crafts -style stone posts bordering the driveway north of the house
• Neatly arranged loose rubble stone pile running parallel to the street at the front
of the house
• Setting atop a small raise of land at the terminus of Surf Avenue
• Clear and unobstructed relation to Park Crescent
• Pastoral setting with natural space immediately surrounding all exterior walls
• Status as a visible landmark in the Westshore neighbourhood and South
Pickering community
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DATE: June 27, 2013
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