Don't de-list historic home: committee

Winnipeg's historical buildings committee has said no to a condo developer's plan to de-list an Osborne Village heritage property, throwing a potential roadblock in the way of a 74-unit, 12-storey tower on Roslyn Road.Sunstone Resort Communities wants to demolish the 101-year-old Dennistown House at 166 Roslyn Rd. to make room for the construction of a new residential complex called Dennistown Flats in 2010.

The three-storey Dennistown house, built for and named after Manitoba judge Robert Dennistown, was designated a Grade III heritage structure -- the weakest form of heritage protection -- on the basis it's a rare surviving example of an "early suburban" Winnipeg home, a good example of a Tudor-style design by prominent architect John D. Atchison and one of the few remaining stately homes on Roslyn Road.

After visiting the home in March, the city's historical buildings committee issued a report recommending against de-listing, noting the historical and architectural value of the building has not changed since it was designated a heritage structure in 1984.

"The historical connection with Judge Dennistown gives the structure a prominence representing the career of a notable figure in Manitoba's judicial and military history," committee chairwoman Jenny Gerbasi, the city councillor for Fort Rouge, writes in a letter to council's property and development committee, which will consider the de-listing request on Tuesday. "The architectural style also makes the Dennistown House of particular importance in establishing the dominant character of the area and contributes to the historical continuity of the streetscape."

Two Osborne Village residents who live near the proposed condominium site have registered to speak against the de-listing at Tuesday's public hearing, while Sunstone and its potential architect, construction company and realtor will speak in favour of what amounts to permission to demolish the home.

According to documents submitted to the city, Sunstone plans to "recognize the home's historical significance in a professionally designed 'legacy gallery' of descriptive images within the main lobby" of the proposed condo tower.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 30, 2009 B9