Heritage Designation Given to Aylmer Street Building Dating Back to 1923

By Scott Arnold

A 1923 building on Aylmer Street with a connection to Peterborough’s electrical history is being designated as a heritage property.

The Sherbrooke Street Substation at 235 Aylmer Street North was constructed in 1923 and is being designated for its architectural, historical and cultural heritage value. (photo by scott arnold)

Peterborough City Council approved the Peterborough Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee’s recommendation to designate 235 Aylmer Street North under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Known as the Sherbrooke Street Substation, the building was constructed in 1923 to assist in providing a more stable electrical connection as Peterborough’s electrical system expanded.

The property was determined to have cultural heritage value because of its architecture, its history and its connection to Peterborough’s reputation as the “Electric City.”

A Connection To The Electric City

The building has a direct connection to Homer O. Fisk, who held several key positions in Peterborough’s electrical field.

Fisk was the manager of the Peterborough Light and Power Company and later became the first Managing Director of Electricity for the Peterborough Utilities Commission.

The heritage report notes that Fisk oversaw several updates to Peterborough’s electrical system, including the change to tungsten lights in the city’s streetlamps in 1915.

The Sherbrooke Street Substation was constructed in 1923 and contributes to an understanding of the history of electrical production in Peterborough. The building remains in use by a public utility provider.

The “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” lettering is one of the heritage attributes identified in the designation of 235 Aylmer Street North. (photo by scott arnold)

Why The Building Is Being Designated

The City describes 235 Aylmer Street North as a landmark and a representative example of industrial design with Neoclassical influences.

Despite its utilitarian purpose, the two-storey red-brick building features decorative elements including a cornice, recessed and rounded windows, decorative stonework and voussoirs with keystones.

Another piece of its history is built into the building itself, with the words “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” displayed on the property.

The heritage report also says the property helps define the southern end of Peterborough’s downtown as the city’s historic industrial centre. It is historically and functionally linked to other industrial buildings and to current and former railway lines, including the former Peterborough Street Railway.

What Heritage Designation Means

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, heritage designation is intended to protect a property’s identified heritage features.

The City’s report says designation “prohibits unwarranted demolition and controls alterations that might harm specific heritage features.”

For 235 Aylmer Street North, the heritage attributes identified for protection include the two-storey red-brick construction and one-storey addition, flat roof, cornice, recessed and rounded windows, voussoirs with keystones, sills, decorative stonework, entrance and surround, concrete features, the “Peterborough Utilities Commission A. D. 1923” lettering and concrete steps.

The report also notes that heritage designation may make property owners eligible for preservation grants and tax relief and provides access to professional expertise and advice.

The property had been identified as a priority for designation in 2025. Peterborough Utilities Inc. was notified of the recommendation, and City staff met with the utility to address questions and concerns about the implications of designation.

Council’s approval moves forward the heritage designation process for 235 Aylmer Street North, recognizing the building’s architectural and historical significance to Peterborough.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Peterborough City Council Gives Green Light to Otonabee River Trail and Shoreline Improvement Project

By Scott Arnold

Peterborough City Council has officially approved the concept plan for the long-planned project, allowing the City to move into detailed design and prepare the project for construction.

one of the changes in the project includes crescent street being converted to a one way stretch (rendering courtesy city of peterborough)

The Otonabee River Trail and Shoreline Improvement Project will bring major changes to Crescent Street, including converting the road to one-way traffic between Lake Street and Haggart Street, adding a two-way cycle track and new sidewalks, creating dedicated parking areas and expanding public space around the T-Warf.

The project will also address the deteriorating shoreline along Little Lake through restoration and naturalization work.

The project is currently estimated at $7 million, although that figure will be refined during detailed design. The City has applied for federal funding through the Active Transportation Fund, which could cover up to 60 per cent of eligible construction costs.

The City has already committed $2.66 million toward the project, which could be used as its 40 per cent contribution to eligible costs.

With Council's approval, detailed design can now move forward, with construction tentatively anticipated to begin in 2027.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Otonabee River Trail and Shoreline Improvement Project Moves Forward With Major Changes Planned for Crescent Street

By Scott Arnold

A long-planned project along Little Lake is moving toward detailed design, with a new one-way Crescent Street, separated walking and cycling facilities, shoreline restoration and a larger public space at the T-Warf among the proposed changes.

shoreline bank near the gore (rendering courtesy city of peterborough)

Peterborough City Council has endorsed the concept plan for the Otonabee River Trail and Shoreline Improvement Project, allowing the City to move ahead with detailed design and preparation of tender documents.

The project would transform the Crescent Street corridor between Lake Street and Haggart Street while completing an important missing section of the Little Lake Loop.

Under the proposed design, Crescent Street would become one-way for vehicles, with traffic travelling south from Lake Street before continuing east along the waterfront toward Haggart Street.

The westbound movement would be removed, allowing space for a two-way cycle track, a new shoreline sidewalk, landscaping and dedicated parking areas.

At the Gore, between Romaine Street and Lock Street, vehicles would be removed entirely. The area would become public space connecting with the T-Warf, creating room for seating, gatherings, festivals, markets and other seasonal programming.

A turning circle at the east end of Crescent Street would maintain local access and access to Little Lake Cemetery.

(courtesy city of peterborough)

A Major Focus on the Shoreline

The project isn't just about changing how people move along Crescent Street.

Much of the shoreline was hardened decades ago using concrete, turfstone and rip-rap. Some of those materials are now failing and portions of the bank are eroding.

The proposed project would take a more naturalized approach, using native plantings, live stakes and an emergent aquatic edge to help stabilize the shoreline and restore habitat.

The City is also looking at how much of the existing shoreline material can be retained rather than removing everything and replacing it. Staff say this could reduce construction costs, waste and in-water work while still addressing areas that require stabilization.

The final planting plan will be worked out during detailed design, with the City also considering concerns about maintaining views of Little Lake while providing shade, habitat and erosion protection.

What Happens to Traffic?

The City commissioned a traffic analysis to examine what would happen if Crescent Street became one-way.

The analysis estimates that about 60 vehicles during the morning peak hour and 80 during the afternoon peak hour would be redirected from the westbound Crescent Street movement, primarily onto surrounding roads such as Ware Street.

According to the City's analysis, the surrounding road network can accommodate the additional traffic and the change is not expected to create significant new traffic operational impacts.

The analysis also identified existing and future capacity issues at several intersections along George Street, but those issues are attributed to existing conditions and future background traffic growth rather than the proposed Crescent Street changes.

(courtesy city of peterborough)

A Long-Planned Project

The Otonabee River Trail has been part of several City planning documents for years.

Council endorsed the direction of a Class Environmental Assessment in 2015, including making Crescent Street one-way, closing the Gore to vehicle traffic and creating separate walking and cycling facilities.

That environmental assessment was never formally completed and is now considered inactive and out of date. Under current rules, this type of work is pre-approved and no longer requires a Class Environmental Assessment.

The current project builds on the earlier direction while incorporating updated traffic, environmental, shoreline and engineering work.

The City held a Public Information Centre on May 28th, 2025, where two concepts were presented. The proposed one-way concept received the stronger response, with feedback highlighting traffic calming, more public space at the T-Warf and improved walking and cycling connections.

Concerns raised through the consultation included parking, potential traffic on neighbouring streets, maintaining mature trees and balancing shoreline planting with views of the lake.

(courtesy city of peterborough)

How Much Will It Cost?

The project is currently estimated at $7 million, although that is only a preliminary figure and will be refined through detailed design.

The City has applied for federal funding through the Active Transportation Fund, which could cover up to 60 per cent of eligible active transportation construction costs if the application is successful.

The City has already pre-committed $2.66 million toward the project through the 2025 Budget for 2026. That funding could serve as the City's 40 per cent contribution toward eligible project costs.

Additional funding, if required, would be requested through the 2027 Budget process.

proposed corridor north of romaine street (rendering (courtesy city of peterborough)

Construction Could Begin in 2027

With Council endorsing the concept, the City can now proceed with detailed design and prepare the construction tender.

A second Public Information Centre is planned during the detailed design stage, giving residents another opportunity to see the developed design and provide comments before the tender package is finalized.

Construction is tentatively expected to begin in 2027.

The first phase would include the main trail and shoreline improvements, reconstruction of the Crescent Street and Romaine Street roadways, the cycle track and walkway, landscaping in the Gore area, new sidewalk ramps and the turning circle at the east end of Crescent Street.

Some elements connected to the proposed redevelopment along Crescent Street have been placed into a future phase so the two projects can be coordinated as they move forward.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.