Old Aylmer residents on alert
What is coming to 22 rue Principale?
Laurent Robillard-Cardinal
In a heritage zone, all new building must “harmonize” with surrounding structures. Secondly, they must preserve the main features of the sector's original layout, or draw upon the design of nearby buildings. Additionally, new buildings should be inserted in a way to favour the over-all quality of the local urban landscape. This includes signs, landscaping, parking, etc.
Specifically, walls abutting a street must contain a certain amount of architectural detail drawn from the traditional appearance of nearby buildings. The same applies for the building material used, plus colours and decorative features. Wall siding should not reflect light dramatically, and the owner must camouflage mechanical equipment (A/C, ventilation, electrical poles, etc) or install them where they are not visible from the street.
Mr Bégin added that any new construction must enhance the natural and cultural landscape by maintaining existing panoramic views of buildings of historical and cultural interest, such as the Symmes Inn Museum only 200 meters away.
In the company of a “national site” Symmes Inn is one of the few heritage buildings in Aylmer classified as a historic monument by the government of Québec and designated as a national historic site of Canada. City council recognized the former inn as Gatineau’s “heritage jewel” in 2002. Once the building plans have been filed with the city by the builder, the neighbours will be able to review them.