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Hallmark Society
#18 Centennial Square
Victoria, BC V8W 1P7
Phone/fax: (250) 382-4755
office@hallmarksociety.ca
Roger's Chocolates interior in danger
February 2010 Update:
The Court has ordered the City of Victoria to pay $650,000 plus costs to Roger's Chocolates in compensation for the decrease in value due to the interior designation.
February 12, 2009 Update:
Victoria City Council has designated the historic interior against the owner's wishes with one vote against. The company announced they intend to seek compensation for the decrease in value as a result of the designation.
January 2009 Update:
Victoria City Council set the date for the public hearing for the final adoption of a heritage designation bylaw for the protection of the interior of Rogers' Chocolates. It will be Thursday, February 12, 2009.
Winter 2008 Update:
According to press reports, the company still wants to "renovate" the interior to provide for more space. There has been no decision by Council at this time.
Spring 2008 Update:
Renovations have been put "on hold" and the store will reopen for the Valentine and Easter markets. This does not mean that the renovations will not take place but we have been assured that the owner is now aware of the heritage value and will proceed with caution.
Letter sent to members on December 31, 2007
Dear Hallmark Society member,
We wish to bring to your attention a most urgent situation for this building at 913 Government Street.
This is a "national treasure" --a designated National Historic Site and a Municipal Heritage Building. The national designation was given because "both the interior and the exterior have been maintained in their original state." (Ottawa News Release, 1996). And of course Rogers’ own website extols the untouched beauty of the building: “the retail shop and its furnishings remain unaltered from the time of Rogers’ personal occupancy in 1917.” ( http://tiny.cc/YgY8j )
Ottawa
lists the store's "Character Defining Elements" as including: "the Art
Nouveau interior elements including cast iron, leaded glass,
mosaic-tiled floor, wood panelling, light fixtures, wood and glass
display cases, and marble detailing."
And Ottawa's "Standards and Guidelines for Canada’s Historic Places" say that the paramount concern must be,
"Conserve the heritage value of a historic place. Do not remove,
replace, or substantially alter its intact or repairable
character-defining elements. Do not move a part of a historic place if
its current location is a character-defining element."
( http://www.historicplaces.ca/nor-sta/norm-stan4_e.aspx )
Contrary to the information in the Times-Colonist article of December 22, 2007, there will be significant changes made to the interior. Current plans for are for moving counters and the installation of bookcases - not original - in order to increase sales space. We oppose any change to the virtually intact interior of a National Historic Site as commemorated by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada in 1991 with a plaque installed in 1996. The interior also received a Hallmark Society award in 1981 for " continued preservation and maintenance of the historic interior of 913 government Street" and Roger's staff paid a fee to the Hallmark Society to use our archival material in the construction of the history portion of their website.
As
work is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, please phone or email
Roger's to express your concern over the pending destruction of one of
the few remaining intact commercial interiors from the early 19th
century.
Contact Tracey Robertson
Marketing, Rogers' Chocolates Ltd.
tel: (250) 384-7021
fax: (250) 384-5750
Mail to Tracey Robertson
Time is of the essence. Thanks for your support.
Helen Edwards
Administrative Director