Inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage
Properties - 2190 Gerrard Street East
(East Toronto)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (August27, 1998) from the
Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board:
Purpose:
This report recommends that the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East be included on the City of
Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendations:
(1)That City Council include the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage
Properties.
(2)That the appropriate officials be authorized to take whatever action is necessary to give effect thereto.
Background:
In May, 1998, Heritage Toronto was requested to consider the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East for inclusion on the
City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. In letters dated August 6 and 10, 1998, the property owners were
advised of the request; no response has been received.
As outlined in the attached report to the Board of Heritage Toronto (August 10, 1998), Heritage Toronto staff researched
and evaluated the property according to the Board's criteria; it is worthy of inclusion on the Inventory of Heritage
Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property (Category C).
Comments:
At its meeting of August 26, 1998, the Board recommended that the property be added to the Inventory of Heritage
Properties. The property at 2190 Gerrard Street East (Donald Stephenson House) is identified for architectural and
historical reasons as the residence of the first Reeve of the Village of East Toronto, a well-designed example of the Queen
Anne style, and a prominent feature in the East Toronto neighbourhood.
Conclusion:
Heritage Toronto recommends that City Council include the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East (Donald Stephenson
House) on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property.
Contact Name:
Ms. Kathryn Anderson
Preservation Officer, Historical Preservation Division, Toronto Historical Board
Tel: 392-6827, ext. 239
Fax: 392-6834
CCCC
(Communication (August 10, 1998) from Managing Director, Heritage Toronto)
Inventory of Heritage Properties
Recommendation:
That the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East (Donald Stephenson House) be recommended for inclusion on the City of
Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.
Comments
Background:
In a letter dated April 16, 1998, Heritage Toronto was requested to consider the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East for
inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The owner was advised of the request in a letter dated
August 6, 1998.
Discussion:
The request arose from a concern that this property might be threatened by the Norwood Terrace development to the
north. Staff consulted the City's Planning Department who are unaware of any plans impacting this site. The property at
2190 Gerrard Street East was evaluated according to the Board's criteria which indicates that it is a Neighbourhood
Heritage Property and merits inclusion.
A Property Research Summary is attached.
CCCC
Property Research Summary
Basic Building Data:
Address:2190 Gerrard Street East (northwest corner of Gerrard
Street East and Enderby Road)
Ward:26 (East Toronto)
Current Name:not applicable
Historical Name:Donald Stephenson House
Construction Date:1894
Architect:none found
Contractor/Builder:none found
Additions/Alterations:date unknown: window opening converted to door opening on east wall; two-storey sunporch added
to east wall; portion of upper storey of east wall enclosed as sunporch;
window opening converted to door opening on west wall;
two-storey wing added to rear (north) wall
Original Owner:Donald G. Stephenson
Original Use:Residential (Single)
Current Use*:Residential (Apartment House)
Heritage Category:Neighbourhood Heritage Property (Category C)
Recording Date:August 1998
Recorder:HPD:KA
* this does not refer to permitted use(s) as defined in the Zoning By-law
Description:
The property at 2190 Gerrard Street East is identified for architectural and historical reasons. The house was constructed
in 1894 for Donald G. Stephenson, a lumber merchant, realtor and loans officer who served as the first Reeve of the
Village of East Toronto. The house is located one block west of the intersection of Gerrard and Main Streets, the centre of
the East Toronto community.
Stephenson's widow, Lucy, occupied the property until 1906 when William H. Clay acquired it. The Clerk and Treasurer
for East Toronto during its transition from Village to Town to annexation by the City of Toronto in 1908, Clay also served
as a school board representative and magistrate. He resided on-site until 1924.
The Donald Stephenson House displays the asymmetrical composition, mixture of materials, and variety of forms
associated with Queen Anne styling. Constructed of red brick on a rough sandstone base, the building is trimmed with
sandstone mouldings, string courses, window sills and labels, brick voussoirs, and wood window surrounds. Rising 22
stories, the irregularly shaped plan is covered by steeply pitched hip roofs with a gabled dormer on the rear (north slope).
Tall brick chimneys with multiple pots are located on the east, north and west slopes.
On the principal (south) façade on Gerrard Street East, a turret dominates the southeast corner of the second storey. The
turret has a moulded base, shingle cladding and a conical roof. It displays segmental-headed window openings with
multi-paned sash windows. A round-arched entrance porch is located in the right bay beneath the turret. Inside the porch,
an oval window opening highlighted by brick keystones flanks a single leaf door with a round-arched transom. In the left
bay, a frontispiece rises 22 stories beneath a pedimented gable with shingles and a double window opening. Beneath the
gable, a flat-headed window opening in the second storey surmounts a large round-arched window opening containing
three sash windows.
The east wall facing Enderby Road has a projecting frontispiece covered by a pedimented gable with shingle cladding, a
bracketed cornice, and a two-part window opening. Below, the wall contains asymmetrically placed round-arched and
flat-headed window openings (one has been converted to an entrance). The two-storey enclosed sunporch to the left of the
frontispiece and the single enclosed sunporch at the north end of the wall are not included as important heritage elements.
On the west wall, a pedimented gable tops a two-storey bay window. Left of the bay window, the wall contains individual
and paired flat-headed window openings. The rear (north) wall is covered by a two-storey flat-roofed addition which is not
identified as an important heritage element.
Located on the northwest corner of Gerrard Street East and Enderby Road, the property at 2190 Gerrard Street East is
associated with the early development of the East Toronto community. The Donald Stephenson House is a well-designed
example of the Queen Anne style and a prominent feature in the East Toronto neighbourhood.
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The documents do not retain the exact structure of the original versions. For example, charts, images and tables may be
difficult to read. As such, readers should verify information before acting on it. All council documents are available from
the City Clerk's office. Phone 392-8016 or e-mail clerk@city.toronto.on.ca.
Insert Table/Map No. 1
2190 Gerrard Street East