Downtown Heritage Conservation District

Project Overview

The City of Peterborough is considering creating a Heritage Conservation District to preserve the heritage features of the City’s historic downtown.

As the first step in the process, the City is doing a Heritage Conservation District Study for the downtown. Following the Study, a plan with guidelines for preserving the heritage features of the downtown would be created and go to City Council for its consideration for approval.

The Study will research and document the historic commercial core’s heritage character and assess its heritage resources. The information from the Study would be used to determine the suitability of a Heritage Conservation District designation for the area and other appropriate tools to preserve its heritage.

Historic areas or neighbourhoods form part of the city's evolution and identity. Their careful management and protection contribute to the quality of life for everyone in the community.

Before the area became known as Peterborough, it was called Nogojiwanong, which is Anishinaabemowin for “place at the end of the rapids.” Peterborough is the native territory of the Mississauga Anishinaabeg.

What is a Heritage Conservation District?

Heritage Conservation Districts (HCDs) are a tool under the Ontario Heritage Act that cities can use to guide change and growth in their historic neighbourhoods. While each HCD is unique, they share common characteristics that can include:

• Groupings of historic sites, buildings, or structures
• Visual consistency (building size, material, height etc.) signifies a time and place
• Distinct characteristics that make it distinguishable from other areas

For an area to be designated as an HCD, the City must first undertake an HCD Study. An HCD Study is the research and evaluation phase that examines the history of buildings, public spaces, and the broader neighbourhood in relation to each other to determine if it meets the HCD criteria. The HCD Study includes:

• A review and analysis of existing land use, zoning, planning and heritage policies;
• A survey and research of the historical, architectural and landscape features of the study area;
• An analysis of prevailing conditions (setbacks, building materials, tree canopy, height, etc.);
• An evaluation of the area's overall historic character and significance.

Community input forms a vital piece of the HCD Study process to help understand the many layers of historic significance associated with places in the study area.

At the end of the HCD Study, City staff will present Council with recommendations on whether or not to proceed with the second phase of the HCD process, which involves preparing designation tools and developing a conservation plan for the area.

Public Consultation Meetings

The first public consultation meeting was held virtually on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The slides from this meeting can be viewed here.

The second public consultation meeting was held at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Feedback from this meeting can be submitted here and the slides can be viewed here.

Mapping Downtown Peterborough’s Heritage

The City of Peterborough has developed an online mapping application to gather community stories and identify what community members feel are important places in downtown Peterborough.

To add your stories to the City’s map, please visit Downtown Heritage Conservation District Stories.