BYLAW - Heritage Designation 53 Mosley St (Atkinson House) - 20230523 - 6512-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6512-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (53 Mosley Street l'The Atkinson House").
Whereas under subsection 29(1 ) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.0. 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 IlTown") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042, to
designate the property municipally known as 53 Mosley Street, as described on the
attached Schedule "A" (the "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served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn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 "Al', 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 IIB".
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.
/TomMrakas,Mayor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6512-23 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
53 Mosley Street, and being composed of PT LT 11 S/S Mosley St PL 68 Aurora, PT LT
12 S/S Mosley St PL 68 Aurora as in B24492B; Aurora, being all of PIN 03651-0088 (LT),
including the primary building thereon.
By-law Number 6512-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
53 Mosley Street 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 a 1.5 storey dwelling constructed circa
1860 in the Georgian cottage architectural style. The property is one of the earliest
examples of the style built in Aurora – over approximately 160 years ago. The dwelling
itself includes features indicative of its period of construction, including the wood frame
construction and stone foundation, horizontal cladding, side gabled roofline,
symmetrical 3-bay façade with original window and door openings, and chimney at the
east elevation. The property is a specifically rare and early example of construction
within the Southeast Old Aurora neighbourhood.
Historical and Associative Value:
The building was constructed in a very early period of growth and development for
Aurora. The property is located as part of John Mosley’s original subdivision for the
development of the Town (Yonge Street to the west, the railway to the east, Wellington
Street East to the north, and Metcalfe Street to the south) and specifically the Southeast
Old Aurora community. By 1873 the property was sold to William Atkinson, who was a
local wheelwright and would have been relied upon to build and repair carriage wheels
for the earliest unpaved roads of the area. The property was also later owned by John
van Nostrand, a local lumberman and farmer. The subject property has strong
association with the original development of the Town and evolution to a growing
community core. The property helps contribute to our understanding of the
development of the Town prior to Canadian Confederation in 1867 and prior to the
incorporation of the Town of Aurora itself in 1888.
Contextual Value:
The property defines, maintains and supports the historic character of the Southeast
Old Aurora neighbourhood. The building and its location as one of the earliest dwellings
in the community provides a significant link to the early growth and development of the
Town, and particular the Southeast Old Aurora area. The subject property is located on a
street with a high concentration of other heritage assets, and is also directly beside the
historic Rising Sun Masonic Lodge, formerly the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was
constructed in 1877 in the Gothic Revival architectural style. The subject property also
backs onto the designated Wells Street Public School at 64 Wells Street, which is
considered to be one of the best examples of Neo-Classical architecture in all of York
Region. The subject property helps contribute to the story of the early evolution and
growth of the Town in this historic area.
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
By-law Number 6512-23 Page 4 of 4
• Overall 2 storey scale and massing
• Cladding
• Side gabled roofline with overhanging eaves
• Symmetrical front 3-bay façade