Brock Street Heritage Design Guidelines: An introduction
Conrad Boyce, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Last month, the Cosmos provided an update on some of the plans for redevelopment of Uxbridge’s downtown, particularly the section known as Lower Brock, between Toronto and Main Streets. Any new, restored or re-constructed buildings on Brock and in the surrounding area must conform to a code of heritage design guidelines adopted by the Township council in the spring of 2004. They cover Brock St. between Cedar and First Ave., and are overseen by an advisory body to Township council, Heritage Uxbridge.
In her foreword to the guideline document, Uxbridge councillor Kathy Wasylenky wrote, “These guidelines have been developed as an advisory document for business and property owners, as well as council, to help ensure the retention of the downtown’s heritage resources. Its purpose is also to provide a unified approach to improving and standardizing future development and renovation, so that the area’s special heritage character is enhanced. There are many benefits for businesses and communities that retain their built heritage.”
Upper Brock St. W. in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
The document further explains that, “Over the last quarter century, many small to medium-sized towns in southern Ontario, particularly those within commuting distance of a larger urban centre, have seen and continue to witness an influx of growth. Within this context, the main street takes on added importance as both a cultural and economic resource - a place where old and new mix side-by-side. Therefore, in order to improve upon and preserve the best qualities of their main streets, towns such as Uxbridge are taking steps to augment current main street planning practices.” This document identifies and recommends general urban design principles and guidelines to instruct heritage building preservation/restoration ... in the form of infill projects, additions to existing buildings, streetscape and signage. Several full blocks of Uxbridge’s ‘original’ building fabric remain as part of the downtown main street façade.”
According to the document, Uxbridge was sited to take advantage of available and abundant water power. At its peak, eight man-made ponds provided energy to a brewery, sawmill, and several gristmills. A number of these enterprises were located in close proximity to the Brock and Toronto Street intersection. By 1870, owing to the entrepreneurial activities of men like Joseph Gould and John Plank, coupled with the decision to build the Toronto and Nipissing Railway through the township, Uxbridge’s long term commercial prospects looked promising. A series of fires throughout the late 1880’s and early 1900’s caused the township to lose many of its main street industries and commercial buildings. From the 1950s onwards, demolition of architecturally significant main street buildings further eroded the initial heritage character of Brock St. Now, as the Township embarks upon a plan to reinvigorate and protect the character of its main street, it is useful to look back to a time when all the services and goods desired by the residents could be found in the downtown.
The document outlines opportunities for enhancing the heritage character of the town’s downtown core, including very specific architectural features that should (or should not) be included in future development. Coming up, the Cosmos will take a closer look at those guidelines.