The Bay opposes heritage status as city moves to protect Rideau Street history

UPDATED | The heritage committee approved staff recommendations to designate the property's on Rideau Street on June 11. The affected property owners will have an opportunity to appeal the decision after a council vote later this month. 

Tom Smith snapped a picture of a tattoo parlour while touring Rideau Street in downtown Ottawa on Monday.

He's from South Bend, Ind., and something about the way the rusty metal on the "Universal Tattoo" sign contrasted with the old brick above caught his eye.

"You see a lot of the craftsmanship in the different features," he said. "That's really nice to feel the age of the city that you're walking through, and the history.

"The scale of the buildings feels more human, too."

City of Ottawa heritage staff also see value in that tattoo parlour, and the Silverline Tattoo parlour right next door, as well as three other nearby buildings. They're recommending a wave of heritage designations to better protect the history of Rideau Street.

But Skyler Seccaspina, the owner of the buildings housing Universal and Silverline, said he's "with Hudson's Bay."

He means he will be following the department store giant's example in opposing the designations. He worries they will "handcuff" the future of the site.

The buildings at 152 and 156-158 Rideau St. are both up for heritage designation at council's built heritage committee. (Arthur White-Crummey/CBC)

"That corner, right to Dalhousie Street, is on the slate for redevelopment," he said, arguing that the city's plans will "just add more red tape to the situation" and could mean taking an expensive financial "haircut" with any sale.

In April, city council voted to protect the exterior of the Freiman Mall, built as Freiman's department store between 1926 and 1929. It stands across the street from Rideau Centre and has long been the home of the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC).

But HBC and its partner Rio-Can are now opposing that move. RioCan-HBC (Ottawa) Holdings Inc. sent a letter to the city clerk arguing that the designation will reduce the property value and make redevelopment more costly, while preserving the first-storey display windows could make it tougher to attract tenants.

Heritage status would come at cost: HBC

The city offers grants to help preserve heritage-designated buildings, but RioCan-HBC says the cost of maintaining the property would far exceed the $25,000 available.

There are larger grants to retain heritage elements in redevelopment projects. According to RioCan-HBC, though, the current building form is "incompatible with residential redevelopment."

It says the cost of preserving it, or even its facade, would undermine housing affordability.

The objection means the council decision will come back to the built heritage committee for a second look next week.

City heritage staff are standing by the designation, saying financial considerations are irrelevant under the Ontario Heritage Act.

In a report, staff call the Freiman Mall "a unique example of Beaux-Arts architectural style." Under the Freiman family, which the report describes as integral members of the city's Jewish community, it hosted "the largest and most iconic department store in Ottawa."

RioCan-HBC is requesting a delay to review the city's heritage documents on the property. HBC declined a request for further comment.

Heritage preservation called a 'no-brainer'

David Flemming of Heritage Ottawa said he's surprised and annoyed that HBC, a historic Canadian institution, is standing in the way of heritage protection.

"HBC would be the last company I would imagine would be opposed to something like this," he said, adding that the building fills so many Ontario Heritage Act criteria that designation is "a no-brainer."

Flemming said heritage status doesn't prevent redevelopment.

"It just means that you have to be a bit more imaginative," he explained.

He said the five other buildings — at 149, 152, 156-58, 198 and 217 Rideau Street — are emblematic of Rideau Street's historical role as Ottawa's commercial main street.

According to city staff, the five buildings date from 1875 to 1918. While most now house tattoo parlours, they've previously been home to a "prestigious" tailor shop patronized by prime ministers, a furniture store, a wholesale grocery store, a sporting goods store and a dance hall.

The staff reports describe their styles as highly varied, representing everything from romanesque revival to art deco.

"The massing and scale of them are very similar to what the streetscape was like in the early part of the 20th century," Flemming said.

The building at 149 Rideau St. has long housed Rock Junction, a rock, punk and heavy metal-themed apparel store, as well as a tattoo parlour. It is up for heritage designation next week along with four other properties. (Arthur White-Crummey/CBC)

Rideau-Vanier Coun. Stéphanie Plante agrees. She represents the area, and is also vice-chair of the built heritage committee, which will consider the designations on Tuesday.

Plante said her ward has already seen successful redevelopment projects that preserve historic elements.

"It doesn't preclude them from redeveloping," said Plante. "It just means that when they do redevelop, they can't just demolish and rebuild."

Seccaspina said the brickwork on his buildings is "too far gone" to preserve in redevelopment.

Plante is pleased to see the city prioritizing the heritage of Rideau Street's, since so much of Ottawa's history "started right there."