ByTowne Cinema, Ottawa Mosque could be designated heritage buildings in Ottawa

The Bytowne Cinema in Ottawa. (Dave Charbonneau/CTV News Ottawa)

The ByTowne Cinema and the Ottawa Mosque could soon be designated heritage buildings in the City of Ottawa.

The Built Heritage Committee will vote Tuesday on recommendations to issue notices of intention to designate the ByTowne Cinema and the Ottawa Mosque as heritage buildings under the Heritage Act.

ByTowne Cinema

The two-storey building on Rideau Street that houses the ByTowne Cinema was originally constructed as the Nelson Theatre in 1947 and re-opened as the ByTowne Cinema in 1988. Staff say the building meets six of the nine criteria to designate it a heritage building.

“The property has cultural heritage value for its design, associative, and contextual values,” staff said in the report for the Built Heritage Committee.

Staff say the building was listed on the City’s Heritage Register in 2017, but changes to the Ontario Heritage Act through Bill 23 and Bill 2000 will result in the removal of the property from the city’s Heritage Register if Council does not issue a notice of intention to designate the property.

The report says the ByTowne Cinema is a “representative example of a purpose-built post-war neighbourhood movie theatre.”

“A neighbourhood movie house refers to a smaller-scale, local theatre situated in a residential area,” staff said. “Constructed in 1947, the ByTowne features typical elements of postwar neighbourhood movie houses, including a large lighted marquee, a former exterior ticket booth, as well as its two-storey massing, which was typical of the neighbourhood at the time of construction.”

Staff say the ByTowne Cinema has historical value, as it continues to operate as an “independent repertory theatre.”

“The ByTowne is a landmark on Rideau Street and in Lowertown. Its prominent frontage on Rideau Street and its iconic marquee distinguishes it from surrounding contemporary buildings,” the report says.

“At night, the ByTowne’s lighted marquee makes it highly visible on Rideau Street, uniquely reinforcing its status as a historic and familiar landmark on its streetscape.”

Ottawa Mosque

Staff are also recommending designating the Ottawa Mosque a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act, saying it was one of the earliest purpose-built mosque buildings in Ontario.

The Ottawa Mosque, on 251 Northwestern Ave., was built between 1973 and 1979. The Ottawa Muslim Association operates the Ottawa Mosque, which includes a library, educational programming and social services.

“It has cultural value for its design, associative, and contextual values and meets five of the nine criteria for designation,” staff say.

The report says the Mosque is a “unique and rare expression of a modernist place of worship” as the only “modernist mosque in Ottawa.”

“The building is characteristic of the Modernist style with its simple form and use of contemporary construction materials,” staff said in the report for the committee. “Finally, 251 Northwestern Avenue has design value as a representative example of a modernist mosque with traditional Islamic architecture features including its characteristic dome, minaret, and prayer hall with a square plan.”

City staff met with the Ottawa Muslim Association last November to discuss the potential of designating the property a heritage building.