Mackie Lake House on Kidston Road in Coldstream. (Photo credit: Mackie Lake House Foundation)

By Pete McIntyre

Coldstream

UPDATE: Mackie House gets approval for new building

Dec 6, 2022 | 2:00 PM

UPDATE: Dec. 6, 2022

The Mackie Lake House Foundation has received approval from Coldstream council to proceed with a project on its site on Kidston Road.

The non-profit group that runs the historic house had applied to replace the existing caretaker’s residence, located at the south-eastern corner of the heritage-designated lot on Kidston Road, with a garden suite. The portion of the lot on which the proposed garden suite is planned for, is not under heritage designation.

District chief administrative officer Trevor Seibel said a staff report had recommended that the foundation’s proposal be sent to the advisory planning commission for further review.

“However, at the meeting, council decided to issue the development permit as was presented. We are currently working on getting the development permit registered,” Seibel told Vernon Matters.

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Proposed garden suite to replace caretaker’s residence at Mackie House site. (Image credit: District of Coldstream)

Coldstream mayor Ruth Hoyte said the current caretaker’s building is in disrepair and the MLHF is looking for an upgrade.

District staff said in a report to council, the plan does not reflect the arts and craft architectural form and character which influenced the Mackie Lake House, nor the caretaker’s residence (circa 1920s) located in nearby Sovereign Park.

“Therefore, it is for these reasons that a deferral of the current proposal is recommended by District staff,” the report stated.

Hoyte calls the Mackie House one of Coldstream’s “premiere historical sites,” adding council is very supportive of the society.

“I fondly remember Paddy Mackie. He was a character, and he definitely did contribute to the community in many ways,” Hoyte remarked.

Paddie Mackie, was the son of Hugh and Grace Mackie [former owners of the house] who bequeathed the property to the Mackie Lake House Foundation.

According to the foundation’s website, Mackie Lake House was once part of the Coldstream Ranch which was subdivided in the early 1900’s and planted with apple and pear trees.

Rupert Charles Buchanan, a businessman from Montreal, commissioned architect Robert Findlay to build the house in 1910, and when completed, was considered one of the finest private homes in the Okanagan.

The house was designed in high-style arts and crafts architecture with a unique eastern Canadian influence. The four tall chimneys and the high chateau roof give the house a commanding presence.