The city has finally confirmed the house will remain standing. I am nearly empty from this fight but the outcome makes every long night worth the effort.
May 4, 2016
Final supporters
UPDATE
City chooses not to go forward with heritage designation.
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/05/10/he...
UPDATE
The owners of the Stratford White House have applied for a demolition permit: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/04/20/de...
UPDATE: We presented our 329-signature petition to Stratford's Planning and Heritage Committee at the City Council meeting on April 11th. Afterwards the Mayor introduced a motion requiring City Council to retain legal representation and a planner and appear at the OMB hearing in May. The motion passed with one councillor opposed. We are pleased with this result. It seems Council is sympathetic to our position.
The petition is now closed but our funding site remains open. Again, thank you for your support. We could not have achieved this great result without you!
To make a financial contribution to the Friends of the Stratford White House legal costs: gofundme.com/exr8rb5g
Visit our website: http://bit.ly/1SwerDK
Visit us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1VQPcRY
Follow us on Twitter: @fotswh
Here's the link to the April 12, 2016 article in The Beacon Herald:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/04/12/om...
The Petition
To: Mayor Dan Mathieson and the Stratford City Council
Re: 265 St. David Street, the Stratford White House
The undersigned encourage the City of Stratford to support the preservation of the Stratford White House property by intervening in the Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the proposed minor variance and severance applications for 265 St. David Street, and to support the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to reject the applications.
The Stratford White House is an iconic part of Stratford’s heritage and an irreplaceable heritage resource. The original structure was built in the 1860s, and the property is currently the anchor of an unmatched collection of large heritage properties on the south side of St. David Street between St. Vincent and Birmingham Streets. The property is covered by a defined area zoning that was the result of a lengthy process less than ten years ago, and is designated as a Special Policy Area in the newly adopted Official Plan.
The bylaw and Official Plan designation are intended to preserve the integrity of the whole of the property. The proposed applications would substantially alter the defined area zoning bylaw, and render the Special Policy Area designation meaningless. These impacts are significant, not “minor”. Changes of this magnitude to a defined area bylaw and the Official Plan, should be made by City Council.
The requested variances and severance are contrary to the City’s Official Plan and its commitments regarding development involving heritage resources and areas. They are incompatible to and insensitive with the existing scale and density of the area, would destroy the inherent heritage qualities of the property, and significantly degrade the area as a whole.
We urge City Council to participate in the OMB hearing and ask the OMB to refuse the variances and not consent to the severances.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 8, 2016
April 7, 2016
My back is aching and these meetings are taking a toll but I refuse to let this building disappear. We are drifting toward the threshold of two hundred fifty names and I need you to push this a little further today. The committee is watching and they need to see that we have not lost our resolve.
Reached 100 supporters
March 13, 2016
104 Comments
This lovely property deserves to be preserved as is. It would be a desecration to divide up the site and build new homes on it. It's an attempt at a quick money grab at the expense of one of Stratford's most attractive and recognizable properties.
While theatre, chocolate, unique shops and pastoral scenes of swans swimming draw many to this beautiful town, they would not do so were the town itself not rich in heritage, charm and all the things represented by houses and architecture like the White House.
In addition to supporting the need to preserve heritage properties in Stratford, I also have concerns about the infrastructure of sewers and vehicle access in this residential neighbourhood.
City council needs to reinforce that we as a community value the history and growth of our city. If this happens it will set a precedent for outside investors that our city's cultured past isn't protected, it is for sale to the highest bidders to destroy at their will.
There are too many historical landmarks being destroyed nowadays. I lived and grew up in the White House, it's a magnificent property and I would hate to see it destroyed.
Please do the right thing and listen to the voices.
I thoroughly encourage the City of Stratford to support the preservation of the Stratford White House property by intervening in the Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the proposed minor variance and severance applications for 265 St. David Street, and as such, show full support of the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to fully reject the applications .
Share this petition
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The city has finally confirmed the house will remain standing. I am nearly empty from this fight but the outcome makes every long night worth the effort.
May 4, 2016
Final supporters
UPDATE
City chooses not to go forward with heritage designation.
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/05/10/he...
UPDATE
The owners of the Stratford White House have applied for a demolition permit: http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/04/20/de...
UPDATE: We presented our 329-signature petition to Stratford's Planning and Heritage Committee at the City Council meeting on April 11th. Afterwards the Mayor introduced a motion requiring City Council to retain legal representation and a planner and appear at the OMB hearing in May. The motion passed with one councillor opposed. We are pleased with this result. It seems Council is sympathetic to our position.
The petition is now closed but our funding site remains open. Again, thank you for your support. We could not have achieved this great result without you!
To make a financial contribution to the Friends of the Stratford White House legal costs: gofundme.com/exr8rb5g
Visit our website: http://bit.ly/1SwerDK
Visit us on Facebook: http://bit.ly/1VQPcRY
Follow us on Twitter: @fotswh
Here's the link to the April 12, 2016 article in The Beacon Herald:
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2016/04/12/om...
The Petition
To: Mayor Dan Mathieson and the Stratford City Council
Re: 265 St. David Street, the Stratford White House
The undersigned encourage the City of Stratford to support the preservation of the Stratford White House property by intervening in the Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the proposed minor variance and severance applications for 265 St. David Street, and to support the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to reject the applications.
The Stratford White House is an iconic part of Stratford’s heritage and an irreplaceable heritage resource. The original structure was built in the 1860s, and the property is currently the anchor of an unmatched collection of large heritage properties on the south side of St. David Street between St. Vincent and Birmingham Streets. The property is covered by a defined area zoning that was the result of a lengthy process less than ten years ago, and is designated as a Special Policy Area in the newly adopted Official Plan.
The bylaw and Official Plan designation are intended to preserve the integrity of the whole of the property. The proposed applications would substantially alter the defined area zoning bylaw, and render the Special Policy Area designation meaningless. These impacts are significant, not “minor”. Changes of this magnitude to a defined area bylaw and the Official Plan, should be made by City Council.
The requested variances and severance are contrary to the City’s Official Plan and its commitments regarding development involving heritage resources and areas. They are incompatible to and insensitive with the existing scale and density of the area, would destroy the inherent heritage qualities of the property, and significantly degrade the area as a whole.
We urge City Council to participate in the OMB hearing and ask the OMB to refuse the variances and not consent to the severances.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
April 8, 2016
April 7, 2016
My back is aching and these meetings are taking a toll but I refuse to let this building disappear. We are drifting toward the threshold of two hundred fifty names and I need you to push this a little further today. The committee is watching and they need to see that we have not lost our resolve.
Reached 100 supporters
March 13, 2016
104 Comments
This is a lovely old heritage property with beautiful gardens, and is an ideal place for an Events Facility, both inside and out. It would be such a shame for such a stately piece of property to be sub-divided and the beauty and grandeur of this stately home destroyed.
This lovely property deserves to be preserved as is. It would be a desecration to divide up the site and build new homes on it. It's an attempt at a quick money grab at the expense of one of Stratford's most attractive and recognizable properties.
While theatre, chocolate, unique shops and pastoral scenes of swans swimming draw many to this beautiful town, they would not do so were the town itself not rich in heritage, charm and all the things represented by houses and architecture like the White House.
In addition to supporting the need to preserve heritage properties in Stratford, I also have concerns about the infrastructure of sewers and vehicle access in this residential neighbourhood.
City council needs to reinforce that we as a community value the history and growth of our city. If this happens it will set a precedent for outside investors that our city's cultured past isn't protected, it is for sale to the highest bidders to destroy at their will.
There are too many historical landmarks being destroyed nowadays. I lived and grew up in the White House, it's a magnificent property and I would hate to see it destroyed.
Please do the right thing and listen to the voices.
I thoroughly encourage the City of Stratford to support the preservation of the Stratford White House property by intervening in the Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the proposed minor variance and severance applications for 265 St. David Street, and as such, show full support of the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to fully reject the applications .
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This is a lovely old heritage property with beautiful gardens, and is an ideal place for an Events Facility, both inside and out. It would be such a shame for such a stately piece of property to be sub-divided and the beauty and grandeur of this stately home destroyed.