By-law - Heritage Designation 15 Kennedy Street West (The Bishop House) - 20240924 - 6632-24
The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6632-24
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (15 Kennedy Street West llThe Bishop 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 25, 2024, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the llTown") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS24-060 to
designate the property municipally known as 15 Kennedy Street West, as described on
the attached Schedule I'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served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn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 IIA", 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 I'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 24th day of September, 2024.
Tom Mrakas, Mayor
Michael de Rond, Town Clerk
By-law Number 6632-24 Page 2 of 3
Schedule l'A"
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate,
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipalJy
15 Kennedy Street West, and being composed of LT 3 PL 131 ; Aurora, being
03659-0082 (LT), including the primary building thereon.
lying and
known as
all of PIN
By-law Number 6632-24 Page 3 of 3
Schedule I'B"
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
15 Kennedy Street West 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 2.5 storey Edwardian/ Foursquare house.
Features indicative of the Edwardian/ Foursquare style include the red brick exterior
walls, a verandah with wooden railings and columns, the open gabled roof, generally
symmetrical window openings, and stone headers and sills. The house is a good
example of the architectural style and adds value to the streetscape based on its
craftmanship.
Historical and Associative Value:
The dwelling was constructed circa 1913, being among several of the houses built by
Benjamin Stephenson in the Yonge/Kennedy/Temperance area in the years during and
preceding the First World War. The parcel is also located on property that the Crown
initially gave to William Kennedy, an early settler. Kennedy Street runs down the middle
of his original farm. The house is also the former residence of Elvie Bishop, a local
school teacher. The subject property has strong association with the early development
of the Town as a growing community. The building helps contribute to our
understanding of the development of the Town post-Confederation.
Contextual Value:
The house maintains the character of the area and is important in its visual link to its
surroundings along the south side of Kennedy Street. The building defines, maintains
and supports this historic core of early Aurora, with its orientation and proximity in
particular to Yonge Street also highlighting the early growth context of the Town. The
property is visually and historically linked to its surroundings and helps tell the story of
the evolution and growth of the Town.
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 Edwardian/ Foursquare scale and massing
* Brick exterior
* Covered verandah
* Open gabled roof
* Window openings with stone headers and sills