The first official designations under the Heritage Places Protection Act were announced today by The Honourable Gail A. Shea, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs. The four properties designated are Government House in Charlottetown, the Kings County Court House in Georgetown, the Atwell House in Clyde River, and Green Park (Yeo House) in Port Hill.
The designations provide legal protection for the structures and ensure that any changes, repairs and alterations respect the historic character of the buildings. "We are very sensitive to the fact that the government itself has a responsibility to set an example of good stewardship, and so the first structures designated under this program are under our control," said Minister Shea. "I hope that other organizations and individuals will see the benefit to our communities and nominate additional buildings for this protection."
Three of the structures are public buildings which are well-known to Islanders. The fourth (Atwell House) is one of the few surviving examples of a sandstone cottage in the province and possesses a unique curved roofline. The structure had been acquired by the province as part of the land assembly for the Cornwall bypass highway and is expected to be returned to private ownership. The designation is not affected by a change of owner, as the designation runs with the property.
Under the terms of the Heritage Places Protection Act, designated places cannot be demolished or altered without the prior approval of the Minister. "The goal of designation is not to freeze a property in time," said Community and Cultural Affairs Heritage Coordinator, John Boylan. "Designation is a tool that allows us to manage the change that may occur. The challenge is to determine what gives a place its heritage character and maintain that for the future."
Designated properties are drawn from the Register of Heritage Places, are reviewed by an advisory board and go through a process for public consultation and comment before designation by the Minister. Mr. Boylan indicated that designation is one of a number of measures available under the Heritage Places Protection Act to recognize and maintain the heritage architecture and landscape of the province.