BYLAW - Heritage Designation 19-21 Machell Ave (Thompson House) - 20230523 - 6506-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6506-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (19-21 Machell Avenue 'lThe Thompson House").
Whereas under subsection 29(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as
amended, the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a property within the
municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on June 28, 2022, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the I€Town") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042, to
designate the property municipally known as 19-21 Machell Avenue, as described on the
attached Schedule "A" (the l'Property") to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property to
be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published in
a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn
the objection;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
1.The Property, as described on the attached Schedule I'A", be and is hereby
designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2.A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on the attached
Schedule "B".
3.The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this by-law on the owner of the Property and
the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this by-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4.A copy of this by-law shall be registered against the Property in the appropriate
land registry office.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 23rd day of May, 2023.
Tom Mrakas, Mayor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6506-23 Page 2 of 4
Schedule “A”
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
19-21 Machell Avenue, and being composed of:
(a) Part of Lot 5 Plan 36, Part 1 Plan 65R38713, being all of PIN 03637-0778 (LT),
including the primary building thereon, and
(b) Part of Lot 5 Plan 36, Part 2 Plan 65R38713, being all of PIN 03637-0779 (LT),
including the primary building thereon.
By-law Number 6506-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
19-21 Machell Avenue is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest based on its design and
physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.
Design and Physical Value:
The property is a representative example of the Gothic Revival architectural style and
can be described as a 2.5 storey yellow brick semi-detached dwelling constructed circa
1885. The dwelling itself includes features indicative of its period of construction and
high craftmanship and detail, including the distinct steeply pitched front elevation gable,
4-bay front façade, covered porch, ornate bargeboard, louvered shutter below the centre
gable and yellow brick as part of the overall symmetrical building design. The building is
a rare and well-preserved example of a Gothic Revival dwelling with exceptional design
detail and character.
Historical and Associative Value:
The building was constructed circa 1885, over approximately 135 years ago. The
building was home to John van Nostrand who was a timber lot and sawmill owner, and
previous to that, was also the home to the notable Matthew Hind Thompson, who was
the first Principal of the Church Street School located at 22 Church Street in Aurora.
The construction and program development for the Church Street School, which Mr.
Thompson would have been involved with, was designed to accommodate 400
students, which was a substantial size for the time period but reflective of the
confidence in Aurora’s future and expected growth. Mr. Thompson would have been
instrumental in leading the educational development for the burgeoning Town.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the historic character of the Aurora Town
centre. The building and its proximity to the heart of the Aurora historic centre in and
around Yonge and Wellington Streets provides a significant link to the early growth and
development of the Town. As the residence for the first Principal of the Church Street
School, this property is intrinsically tied to one of Aurora’s most valuable heritage
assets, with the Church Street School property recognized on the National and
Provincial Registers and often considered one of the finest examples of late Victorian
public architecture. Further, the connection to the theme of education and supporting
the new dawn of the growth of Aurora cannot be underscored.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The following provides a description of heritage attributes for the property which
contribute to the reasons for which the property is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Important to the preservation of the property are the original key attributes of the
building that express its value, which include:
Exterior Elements
• Overall 2.5 storey scale and massing composed of beige/yellow brick as part of
the Gothic Revival architectural style
• Side gabled roof with steeply pitched front elevation gable
By-law Number 6506-23 Page 4 of 4
• 4-bay front façade
• Decorative wood bargeboard
• All window openings and brick voussoirs and sills visible from the public realm
• Projected portions of windows on either side of the central entrance constructed
of brick with wood entablature
• Louvered shutter opening at the front elevation below the centred gable