Coming hot off their Canada Day designation of Lock 25, the city’s Heritage Committee is interested in turning the area around Lock 7 into a heritage district.
It is no surprise that the committee is eyeing that particular neighbourhood as it boasts a number of heritage sites, such as Lynch House, The Stewart House, and Flannery House.
“We have enough properties designated in this area to actually have a heritage conservation district,” said local resident Linda Borland, during a committee meeting on Sept. 26. “I know it’s a long process but I think it’s a process worth doing.”
Thorold has long been known for its rich history, with 54 designated heritage sites all across the city.
By designating a whole neighbourhood, the committee hopes to lure even more tourists to downtown Thorold.
But to bestow a heritage designation upon a larger area, 25 per cent of the buildings need to conform to that designation.
“It’s really the character of the area,” explained Nick Bogaert, who sits on the committee as a liaison to the city’s planners. “Through a study you can define what that character is — whether it’s a certain construction or architectural style. Definitely areas with a lot of designated buildings are a great start.”
According to Bogaert, more and more municipalities in Ontario are starting to pursue a heritage district, “just to be able to designate a lot of properties at once.”
“We’re starting to see a lot of places where that’s their way to get possibly designated properties addressed altogether,” he said.
Committee members think that the designation is a worthwhile pursuit, and they are adamant it is not meant to curb further development.
“For those people that are scared that in a heritage district you can’t do anything anymore — Not true,” said Committee Chair Anna O’Hare. “It does not put a stop on any kind of development. It just makes it very clear that the development has to be the right one.”
“It’s to manage change,” added Bogaert. “It’s not to freeze an area but to manage how it’s going to change appropriately.”
Designating a historic district is a lengthy process and while the heritage committee has expressed interest, they’ve not taken any formal steps yet.
Check the photo gallery to read about the history of some of the houses located in the area.
