Discharge of Historical Designation and Heritage Easement
Agreement - 333 Bloor Street East (Downtown)
The Toronto Community Council again recommends that City Council
not support the repeal of the designation By-law 107-89 nor the
discharge of the heritage easement agreement CA32714 for the property
at 333 Bloor Street East (formerly known as 321 Bloor Street East, the
Confederation Life Insurance Company Building).
The Toronto Community Council submits the following Clause 55 of
Report No. 12 of the Toronto Community Council, headed "Discharge of
Historical Designation and Heritage Easement Agreement - 333 Bloor
Street East (Downtown)":
(City Council on September 28 and 29, 1999, referred this Clause, back
to the Toronto Community Council for further consideration.)
The Toronto Community Council recommends that City Council not
support the repeal of the designation By-law 107-89 nor the discharge
of the heritage easement agreement CA32714 for the property at 333
Bloor Street East (formerly known as 321 Bloor Street East, the
Confederation Life Insurance Company Building).
The Toronto Community Council submits the following report (June 29,
1999) from the Acting Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board:
Purpose:
This report responds to the property owner's request to repeal the
historical designation and discharge the heritage easement agreement.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Not applicable.
Recommendation:
That the Toronto Community Council not support the repeal of the
designation By-law 107-89 nor the discharge of the heritage easement
agreement CA32714 for the property at 333 Bloor Street East (formerly
known as 321 Bloor Street East, the Confederation Life Insurance
Company Building).
Background:
The property at 333 Bloor Street East (formerly 321 Bloor Street East,
the Confederation Life Insurance Company Building) was designated
under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, by City Council By-law 107-89 on January 26, 1989. It is also subject to a heritage easement
agreement, CT32714, registered on title on June 15, 1989. The
property is owned by Rogers Cantel.
Heritage Toronto received a communication dated June 18, 1999 from
the City Clerk regarding a letter from Mr. Stephen LeDrew, acting for the
owner, requesting the discharge of the historical designation and
heritage easement agreement.
Heritage Toronto dealt with this matter at its May 5, 1999, meeting, in
response to a letter dated February 12, 1999, from Mr. Robert Cook of
Oriolco Developments Inc. requesting the same. Heritage Toronto
adopted a motion not to support the request.
Comments:
The property at 333 Bloor Street East has undergone extensive
renovations over the last several years to accommodate the new Rogers
Cantel campus. Several alterations affecting the heritage attributes of
the building came before Heritage Toronto for consideration. The
alterations were permitted as they could be reversed by the current or
future owner.
At its May 5, 1999, meeting, Heritage Toronto heard from Mr. Cook and
Mr. LeDrew with respect to the request to discharge the historical
designation and heritage easement agreement. The Board was advised
that the owner wishes to be given freedom to make changes to the
property without having to come to the Board. The deputants were
asked whether Heritage Toronto had been unreasonable to deal with
during the recent renovations; they indicated the Board had been very
reasonable to deal with.
The former City of Toronto has entered into over 200 heritage easement
agreements for the preservation of heritage properties in perpetuity.
Permitting the repeal of the designation by-law and the discharge of the
heritage easement agreement so that the owner can easily make
changes to the property without review by Heritage Toronto would be
precedent setting and would negate the purpose of Council=s express
intent to protect this property.
Conclusion:
This request should not be granted.
Contact Name:
Marisa Williams
Preservation Officer, Architecture, Historical Preservation , Toronto
Historical Board
205 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5B 1N2
Tel: 392-6827, ext. 240 Fax: 392-6834
(City Council on September 28 and 29, 1999, had before it, during
consideration of the foregoing Clause, a communication (September 24,
1999) from Mr. Stephen LeDrew, Morris/Rose/Ledgett, Barristers and
Solicitors, on behalf of Rogers Cantel, requesting that consideration of
the foregoing Clause be deferred for approximately two months to
accommodate the negotiations being undertaken with the Toronto
Historical Board, and advising that Rogers Cantel agrees not to exercise
its right under s.32(3) of the Ontario Heritage Act.)
(City Council also had before it, during consideration of the foregoing
Clause, a communication (September 27, 1999) from Mr. Richard L.
Stromberg, Manager, Historic Preservation, Heritage Toronto,
supporting Mr. Stephen LeDrew's request that the Clause be deferred to
permit further discussions.)