The King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District (HCD) is an evolved historic district, with a concentration of late- 19th and early 20th century residential and commercial buildings, three historic parks, and a network of laneways. These historic resources as a whole reflect the District’s evolution from an institutional and residential neighbourhood to a warehouse and manufacturing area over the course of the District’s period of significance (1880s-1940s).
Residential properties largely date to the earlier half of this time period, and are part of the first wave of development in Toronto, west of Peter Street. Commercial buildings are generally representative of the second wave of development that was spurred following the construction of the railway on lands to the south of the District.
For the first half of the 20th century, the District was Toronto’s primary manufacturing and warehouse area, until after World War II when many industries left the downtown core and relocated to suburban or other locations. Subsequent waves of development in the mid- to late 20th century saw the regeneration of the District through the adaptive reuse of residential and commercial buildings for a variety of new uses, helping to revitalize the area as a desirable mixed-use neighbourhood alongside new development.
The King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Plan is currently under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
The King-Spadina District is valued for its collection of 19th and 20th century residential and commercial warehouse buildings, historic parks and a distinctive network of laneways associated with several periods of Toronto’s historical and economic development.
The area is generally bounded by King Street West, Wellington Street West and Front Street West on the south, Richmond Street West on the north (including the properties on the north side of the street), Simcoe Street on the east north of King Street West, and Bathurst Street on the west.
The King-Spadina HCD Study was authorized by Toronto City Council in October 2012 and commenced in April 2013. The Study concluded in May 2014.
Work on the Plan commenced, and a draft version was presented to the Toronto Preservation board in 2016. On October 2, 2017, City Council designated the King-Spadina HCD and adopted the Plan through By-law 1111-2017, as amended. On March 9, 2022, City Council approved a Staff Report seeking direction on the King-Spadina HCD, and authorized the public release of proposed redline revisions to the Plan. The Plan is currently under appeal at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).
Plan information, reports and publications will be listed below as they become available.
On October 2, 3 and 4, 2012, City Council adopted item PG17.12, directing staff to initiate the King-Spadina HCD study as a result of the application of prioritization criteria.
On May 23, 2014, the Toronto Preservation Board adopted item PB31.2, endorsing the King-Spadina HCD Study to proceed to district designation.
On November 23, 2016, the Toronto Preservation Board received for information item PB 18.4, an update on the proposed King-Spadina HCD Plan.
On December 16, 2016, City Council adopted MM23.41, enacting the King-Spadina HCD Study Area By-law.
On October 2, 2017, City Council adopted item TE26.14, designating the King-Spadina HCD and adopting the King-Spadina HCD Plan under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
City Council also enacted technical amending By-law 1241-2017.
On October 29, 2019, City Council adopted item CC11.6, providing directions to the City Solicitor and City Staff on the King-Spadina HCD.
On March 9, 2022, City Council adopted item CC41.6, in response to a Request for Direction regarding the Designation of the King-Spadina HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
On November 8, 2023, City Council adopted item CC12.4, in response to a Request for Direction regarding the Designation of the King-Spadina HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of the King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District Plan (June 2017) are available in PDF format. An updated version of the text with proposed redline revisions was approved by City Council at its meeting on March 9, 2022. The confidential attachment made public on March 18, 2022.
The King-Spadina Heritage Conservation District was completed in accordance with Heritage Conservation Districts in Toronto: Policies, Procedures and Terms of Reference as adopted by City Council.
Section 3.1.5 of the City of Toronto’s Official Plan includes policies that direct the City to identify, protect and conserve heritage conservation districts within the City.
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport created the Guide to District Designation under the Ontario Heritage Act to inform the identification, study and implementation of heritage conservation districts in Ontario.
Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act allows municipalities to designate heritage conservation districts.