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Heritagedowntowns.com Ltd.

Development Application Services, Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) Services
Heritage or Cultural Resources Preservation, Land-Use Planning

2016 - Present 

Heritagedowntowns.com is a planning consultancy specializing in the economic and social renewal of historic downtowns by providing strategies for rejuvenation and intensification. 

Current projects include redevelopment of sites in several Ontario municipalities for new infill multi-residential buildings that involve development on sensitive sites that may include retention and renovation of heritage buildings. 


Sample Projects

  • Ontario Land Tribunal Toronto, Papazian/Heisey/Myers (2023).
  • Cultural Heritage Risk Management Plan (CHRMP) with Englobe Corporation. Brantford, ON. Decommissioning of Waterworks Complex (2023).
  • HIA Town of Caledon (2023)
  • Cultural Heritage Risk Management Plan (CHRMP) with Envision Consultants. City of Toronto.  Metrolinx-Yonge St. North Subway Extension(2022).
  • Ontario Land Tribunal, London Ontario, Siskinds LLP (2023)
  • Opinion Letter for Siskinds LLP to City of Stratford (2023)
  • HIS for new construction adjacent to designated building, Kingston (2022)
  • HIS (Compatibility and Adjacency Study) for subdivision on Bath Road, Kingston (2021)
  • Building Alteration Report-Carruthers Hall, Queen’s University, Kingston with J.L Richards Assoc.
  • Planning Justification Report, Urban Design Brief and Public Consultation Strategy Brantford, ON (Skale Developments Inc., 2022)
  • HIA Brantford, ON with studioCANOO Architecture (2021)
  • Building Removal Report Brantford ON (2020).
  • Planning Justification Report, Urban Design Brief and Public Consultation Strategy for 120-138 Market Street / 31-35 Chatham Street Brantford (with studioCANOO Architecture, 2020)
  • HIA for 62 Baiden Street / 15 McDonald Avenue, Kingston, Ontario (2018-2020).
  • HIA for 120-138 Market Street, Brantford, ON with Allan Avis Architects (2018 - 2020).
  • LPAT,London, ON (2018)
  • HIA Windsor, ON with Allan Avis Architect (2015)

ADDRESS AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Heritagedowntowns.com Ltd.
990 Lombardy Street
Kingston , ON K7M 8M7
613 217 7742


Mark Gladysz, Principal Planner/Owner

  • Master of Environmental Studies – M.E.S.
  • Honours B.A. (Urban Planning)
  • Registered Professional Planner (RPP/OPPI, MCIP)
  • Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals (CAHP)

A registered professional planner, Mark Gladysz RPP OPPI has 40 years of experience in city planning in a variety of municipalities across Ontario. Mark has extensive experience in the areas of land development, planning studies, site plan control, intensification, urban design, infrastructure planning, historic building preservation and project management of special studies and construction projects. He is recognized as an expert witness in Heritage Planning and Land Use Planning by the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) and is a member of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals.  Currently, Mark is the principal consultant of Heritagedowntowns.com, which is a planning consultancy specializing in strategies for the rejuvenation and intensification of older commercial and mixed-use residential areas.
Previously, Mark worked for the City of Toronto and was a Heritage Planner for the City of London and City of Kingston. He was Senior Planner with the City of Brantford, ON and worked exclusively on the implementation of the Downtown Master Plan. Mark was also the Manager responsible for Downtown Whitby, ON. In Kingston, he initiated the Downtown Action Plan which was an infrastructure and streetscape plan for the downtown which is now completed. Mark has extensive experience working in implementing Heritage Conservation District Area Plans, Heritage Inventories, Building Conservation Master Plans, Heritage Impact Assessments (HIA/HIS), Planning Justification Reports, Urban Design Briefs, Building Removal Reports, Site Plan Control, and reuse strategies for individual buildings and restoration of historic parks within various municipalities across Ontario.

Senior Planner-Projects CITY OF BRANTFORD, Ontario
2008 - 2016
Policy Division, Planning Department
Project Manager overseeing implementation of the Downtown Master Plan. Completed the renovation of Victoria Park (designated under the Ontario Heritage Act), as part of the Downtown Streetscape Design Plan. Activities: Work closely with Wilfrid Laurier University, Nipissing University and BIA to create a     “Post-Secondary Downtown”. Assist the post-secondary institutions with their expansion plans including demolition control and approvals, specialized research reports to council and grant funding.

Manager Downtown Development TOWN OF WHITBY, Ontario
2004 - 2008
Downtown Coordinator’s Office, within the Planning Department.

Heritage Planner CITY OF KINGSTON, Ontario
2002 - 2004
Department of Planning and Development Services – Development Control Section

Senior Planner CITY OF KINGSTON, Ontario
2000 - 2004
Department of Planning and Development Services – Development Control Section

Heritage Planner CITY OF LONDON, Ontario
1989 - 2000
Planning Department/Policy Section (11 Years)
Heritage resource management within the overall municipal planning and development framework.

Parks Planner CITY OF TORONTO, Ontario
1985 -1988
Departments – Planning (Urban Design Group) and Parks and Recreation
Parks Planning Projects - Art Gallery of Ontario expansion, Allan Gardens Revitalization Program, High Park User Study, Market Lane User Study. Personally, received the Canadian Institute of Planners Award for Excellence in 1988 for “Five Inner City Parks”.

Planner MUNICIPALITY OF METROPOLITAN TORONTO
1988 -1989 - Land Use Planning

Conservation Officer MINISTRY OF CULTURE, Toronto
1988 - Land Use Planning

Education

Master of Environmental Studies York University, Toronto, Ontario, 1982-85
Architectural Restoration (Certificate) McGill University, Montreal, Quebec 1985
B.A. (Honours) University of Winnipeg, Institute of Urban Studies, Winnipeg, Manitoba 1978-82