Hallmark Heritage Society

At the meeting of the City of Victoria Heritage Advisory Panel held on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, there were 2 items of significance to be recommended to the city Council for further action. Both of these items related to the relocation of heritage registered properties from the South block of the Legislative Precinct.

The first item dealt with the relocation of the three heritage registered properties from 521, 539 and 545 Superior Street to new locations in the south east quadrant of the South block along Michigan Street. The relocation of these three buildings, the Jamison, the John and the Black residences, respectively, was approved by the Heritage Advisory Panel subject to some minor conditions.

The Heritage Advisory Panel also considered the relocation of the two heritage registered properties located at 524 and 526 Michigan Street to some unknown sites within James Bay. This item was tabled due to a lack of quorum.

Out initial concerns are that the three houses to be moved to Michigan Street will be situated on small properties that will diminish the historical significance of the buildings. They also appear to have a closer relationship to the street than the properties on the south side of Michigan Street.

As for the two houses currently on Michigan Street, numbers 524 and 526, the Heritage Advisory Panel is requested to move them to some currently unknown location within the James Bay community. We would far rather have them moved within the present South Block property but this seems to be a problem for the developers. If they are moved, they must not result in the demolition of any existing building that could prove to be of heritage significance in the future.

To view the Conservation Reports for all of the properties and some conceptual plans relating to the relocation of 521, 539, and 545 Superior Street please follow the following links.