A PLACE WORTH SAVING KILMORIE 21 WITHROW AVENUE Sky View - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A PLACE WORTH SAVING KILMORIE

21 WITHROW AVENUE

Sky View

• Kilmorie and the 2 acre property

surrounding it is a landmark in the City View/Merivale Community

• It was built in the 1840's along what was

then the newly developing Merivale farming corridor

• This beautiful heritage home is currently

awaiting the development of an elite housing development. The developer has given the community until April 15th, 2020 to purchase this property before he starts construction

• In 1913 City View was subdivided into streets & 25 foot

lots for market gardeners and was called St. Claire

• Gardens. There were no requirements at that time to

provide infrastructure or parkland. Streets were laid out in the early 20th century grid pattern

• When home construction started in the 1940’s and

1950’s, each home was built on 4 of these 25 foot lots. Builders were required to construct the roads and dig drainage ditches

• It was considered an unplanned community. In fact,
• ur whole community still has rural drainage with

ditches and the lack of storm sewers continues to cause drainage and flooding issues

• Although park allocation is now mandated by the City
• f Ottawa and the Ontario Government, our

Community has always been advised that there is no green space available to rectify this anomaly

• This large green space with mature trees - has become
• available. It is our last opportunity to preserve some

much needed green space.

Lack of Parkland

The History of 21 Withrow Ave

• 21 Withrow Ave was one of the original farms

along the Merivale Corridor

• The house was built by Archibald Scott for his

brother William Scott

• This beautiful house was built with locally

quarried stone in 1842

• There are many architectural features that are

specific to this time period

• The Scott family lived here until the early 1900's

when they sold the farm to William Wilfred Campbell who named it "Kilmorie "

• The Merivale district was known as the "Back Bush" because of the bush terrain that

enveloped it. This area is where many Irish immigrants settled and established productive farms with fine farm houses. Many of our founding families were settlers here (Hoopers, Nesbitts, Boyd's, Sullivans, Scott's...)

The History continued...

• William Wilfred Campbell was a renowned

Confederation poet. He was also hired by the public service in 1893 to the Department of Militia and Defence

• Campbell was close friends with poets Archibald

Lampman and Duncan Campbell Scott and with William Lyon Mackenzie King who was the Prime Minister in the 1920’s – 1940’s

• His friend Mackenzie King bought his cemetery

plot when Campbell died of pneumonia in 1918

• The Campbell family remained at the property

until it was sold to Dr. Roger, a well known

• cardiologist. He lived at 21 Withrow Ave for over

65 years, until his death in 2015

Famous Resident Confederation Poet

• You may recognize one of William

Wilfred Campbell’s poems, Indian Summer:

"Along the line of smoky hills The crimson forest stands, And all the day the blue-jay calls Throughout the autumn lands..."

• From Kilmorie he also wrote the

poem “Down the Merivale Road." This poem is on a plaque along the Poets’ Pathway at Colonnade Road, Nepean Ontario.

• Campbell wrote a heart warming poem in memory of

Henry Albert Harper who died trying to save Bessie Blair at a Skating Party

• Campbell was present at the party with future Prime

Minister Mackenzie King

• Today, the statue of Sir Galahad that welcomes you to

Parliament Hill, actually tells the touching but heartbreaking story of Harper’s heroism and sacrifice

• The Statue is the only non-political statue at Parliament

Hill

• Campbell’s poem – A Canadian Galahad - captures in

words what the statue says in its structure.

A Part of Canadian History

The Magic of Kilmorie

• This is a magical space that has created many

memories for the families in the neighborhood. Children collected berries and played, families spent beautiful evenings here. The trees and animals are a part of the community

• Our community, City View, is determined to

save this property. We envision it as a National Arts and Culture Community Center that has the potential to attract visitors and artists from around Canada. It will also fulfill the requirement for the much needed green space in the community

Local News Stories

• The City View Community Association and

Poet’s Pathway worked closely with the City of Ottawa to have Kilmorie declared as a Heritage House.

• We are also keenly aware of the funding
• pportunities that will help 21 Withrow carry on

its legacy.

• However grants can be applied for only once

the property has been purchased from the current resident.

• The association has been creating fundraising
• pportunities, however there is a need for

private funding from an organization that cares about green spaces and community welfare.

• If a local levy is approved by the community

this will save Kilmorie.

City of Ottawa Green Space Policies

• The City prides itself on its policies for open space and parkland. It

spends millions of dollars in constructing and maintaining parkettes, community and district parks, playing fields etc. in some communities. Most areas in Ottawa also have easy access to other recreational facilities – pathways, cycle paths, sports fields, natural lands, Green Belt or NCC land

• The City of Ottawa Greenspace Master Plan 3.2.1. states ”The

City’s Official Plan sets a target of 4.0 ha of total greenspace for every 1,000 residents and this has been achieved throughout most

• f the urban area.” (8 to 10% of developable land area)
• And yet, our community has none of these. We are now

sandwiched between heavy commercial areas (Merivale Road) and heavy traffic roads (Baseline Road, Woodroffe Avenue, and Meadowlands Drive). Baseline has now been approved as a “Transit Intensive Corridor”and the Clyde Triangle is set to become another commercial development. These traffic levels have caused increased pollution, noise and cut-through traffic for us

• The open space we once enjoyed on the Frank Ryan farm has

been reconstructed and paved over by Algonquin College. Both

• f our elementary schools have closed. The Baseball Park at the

Nepean Museum is reserved all year exclusively for the East Nepean Little League

The Possibilities at KILMORIE are Limitless

• Arts and Culture Center
• Community Center
• Center for Visual Arts
• Family/Children's Play Area
• Poets and Writers retreat
• Display and Performance
• Horticultural Showcase
• School Trips
• Outdoor Theatre
• Music Groups
• Shakespeare in the Park
• Wellness Center
• Yoga/Tai Chi
• Seniors Drop In Centre
• Wedding/Party Venue
• Reconciliation Centre

Save the ecological balance that this property helps to give to City View. People and nature coming together. Ideas and projects become limitless!

The Children are Our Future

• There is always need for a space that helps our children grow to their maximum

potential

• A creative open space that introduces children to different aspects and careers

and helps them broaden their horizon

• Music, Art, History, Botany, Architecture and so much more come together in
• ne location at 21 Withrow to give children a beautiful foundation for the future.

Community Benefits

Children/Senior Play Park

Small/Medium Conference Rooms Passive Parkland

A place where seniors and children can play. A place where anyone can go just to relax and get rid of everyday stress. Flowers, trees, benches, come sit and watch and feel the natural wonders all around this beautiful

• property. Minutes from the busy

hustle and bustle of Merivale Rd. Have your meetings in quiet small to medium private conference rooms.

What has been done before?

Old Grant School

The old Grant Alternative School in Ottawa's west end was bought by the City in 2010 and the buildings and the land were sold to the Centre multiservices francophonè de l'Ouest (CFMO) for $1. This is a French- language community centre. Millions have been invested into this project. http://www.pressreader.com/canada/

• ttawa-

citizen/20160616/281535110274363

Cash for Parks Piling up in City's Wards

On Dec 31st 2016 the city councillors found they had $11.2 million at their discretion to buy new parkland etc.. Two new park planners have been hired. In Somerset ward a lack of available parkland has the Councilor "looking for opportunities for purchases". City View has the same problem but we have found our land. http:/ottawacitizen.com/news/local- news/cash-for-parks-piling-up-in-citys- wards

The Al Purdy A-frame Association Poets Retreat

The A-frame was built on Roblin Lake in 1957 by the late Al Purdy, one of Canada’s greatest poets, and his wife, Eurithe. Thanks to the generosity of Eurithe Purdy and donors from across Canada, the A-frame was acquired in 2012 by the Al Purdy A-frame Association, a national non-profit organization with a mandate to promote Canadian literature and to preserve the home as a retreat for future generations of Canadian writers. http://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/late- poet-al-purdys-home-a-retreat-for-writers-

• nce-again

How this helps Ottawa

• There are currently only 15 Major parks listed for the the

region of Ottawa and this list includes those in Gatineau, Quebec

• This Arts & Culture Park will be one of the first of its kind

in Ottawa and will be a positive step towards:

• Preserving Heritage
• Promoting Arts & Culture in the city

Why Private Partnership and Community will help

• Kilmorie is located one block away from the bustling Merivale Road which is a shopper’s

paradise and a dream for foodies; but it misses that touch of nature from many years ago

• With the help of a private partner, or the Community itself, Merivale Road will have a little oasis,

a beautiful heritage property. A farmland that will not completely change and give in to the new commercial world

• 21 Withrow Ave is easily accessible by bus and is close to the Baseline/Merivale transitway.
• The Arts & Culture Center could be a new landmark for the City of Ottawa, its residents and its

visitors

• The Community could be attached to the apt transformation of one of Nepean’s first

settlements

THANK YOU

If you have any questions…please contact Joan Clark, President, 613-228-1619 Nancy Wilson, Vice President, 613 314-6555 Jill Prot, Vice President, 613 226-1559 The City View Community Association cityviewassociation@gmail.com