Marr-Philippo House

398 Wilson Street East Ancaster , Ontario
Central Ontario

BUILDING HISTORY:

This distinguished stone residence was built for cabinetmaker Adam Marr about 1840 and served as the home of John Philippo, stone mason and township constable, until the end of the century. Its side-gabled structure is constructed of fieldstone with cut stone corner quoins; its Georgian style features a symmetrical façade, with a central doorway and five six-over-six-paned windows. It is part of a cluster of similar pre-Confederation stone buildings that contribute to the historic character of the village, including landmark buildings such as the Old Ancaster Hotel and the Rousseau House. In 1981, the Marr-Philippo House was recognized as a a significant heritage resource and was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.   

DETAILS OF THREAT:

In April 2019, a Hamilton News article revealed plans by UrbanCore Developments and Spallaci Homes to erect a multi-storey residential/commercial building on a 1-hectare piece of property on the east side of Wilson Street East north of Academy Street. The owner of the property, now known as Wilson Street Ancaster Inc., encompasses 392, 398, 406 and 412 Wilson Street East and 15 Lorne Avenue. Today, the only building still standing on this property is the Marr-Philippo House. The current proposal is to erect a 7-storey condo building, with ground floor commercial space, fronting onto Wilson Street and to relocate the Marr-Philippo House to the back of the property with access from Lorne Avenue. A recently completed Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment undertaken by GBCA Architects has supported this plan, on the grounds that the soil below the stone house has been contaminated by a former gas station and auto shop located close to the Marr-Philippo House and needs to be remediated.

The City’s Heritage Permit Review Sub-committee reviewed this proposal at its meeting on August 31, 2021, and its members rejected the relocation of the building to the back of the lot, passing a motion to relocate it (if necessary) on Wilson Street where it will remain a landmark in the historic streetscape. The Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee, at its meeting held September 24, 2021, endorsed this motion, rejecting the proposed relocation of the Marr-Philippo House to a site where it will be completely obscured from view by the new development and lose its strong visual presence on Wilson Street as part of Ancaster’s historic village core. Accordingly, a recommendation was made to the City's Planning Committee. The ACO Hamilton Region Branch and the Ancaster Village Heritage Community (led by president Bob Maton) also both strongly oppose the relocation of the Marr-Phlippo House to a site where it will have no visibility from Wilson Street and have publicly voiced their concerns. On September 21, 2021, The Hamilton Spectator published a letter written by ACO Branch president Shannon Kyles: “Fighting for the heritage of Ancaster Village”. She points out that “due to the concentration of significant buildings on Wilson Street, the village core has been identified as a cultural landscape and a special character area. Why do we have these plans if they are not enforced?”

NOVEMBER 2021 UPDATE

According to Ancaster resident Bob Maton’s response, "The vote by Hamilton council on October 13, 2021 to allow moving the building to the very back of the lot out of sight raises troubling issues. The process leading to the vote was an abuse of the council decision-making process, city bylaws, and the Ontario Heritage Act.  For a detailed report, visit The Hamilton Spectator website:  On Saturday November 13, a public rally, organized by the Hamilton Region ACO Branch, took place on Wilson Street in Ancaster. The goal was to show citizens’ strong support for keeping the building in its present location, requesting that the heritage legislation protection provided to protect the building under the Ontario Heritage Act be respected but to no avail.  Council was not swayed from its October 13 decision.  A very sad outcome for heritage advocates!

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP:
Voice your opposition to the relocation of the Marr-Philippo House by contacting Mayor Fred Eisenberger,  Ward 12 (Ancaster) Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, Councillor John-Paul Danko and/or your own Ward Councillor: link to contact information.