Inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage
Properties - 200 Annette Street (High Park)
The Toronto Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (May 25, 1998) from the
Managing Director, Toronto Historical Board:
Purpose:
This report recommends that the property at 30 Edwin Avenue 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 30 Edwin Avenue 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 hereto.
Background:
In March, 1998, Heritage Toronto was requested to consider the property at 30 Edwin Avenue for inclusion on the
City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.
As outlined in the attached report to the Board of Heritage Toronto (May 11, 998), 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:
A representative of Toronto Hydro, owners of the property, appeared at the May 20, 1998 meeting of Heritage
Toronto. Hydro does not object. Following the deputation, the Board recommended that the property be added to the
Inventory of Heritage Properties. The property at 30 Edwin Avenue (Toronto Hydro-Electric System Substation) is
identified for architectural reasons for its well-integrated design and its importance as a prominent feature in the
West Toronto neighbourhood.
Conclusion:
Heritage Toronto recommends that City Council include the property at 30 Edwin Avenue 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
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(Report dated May 11, 1998, from the Managing Director, Heritage Toronto, addressed to the Chair and Members,
Toronto Historical Board)
Recommendation
That the property at 200 Annette Street (Annette Street Baptist Church) be recommended for inclusion on the City
of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.
Comments
1.Background:
In a letter dated March 27, 1998, the president of the West Toronto Junction Historical Society requested that the
property at 200 Annette Street be included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The Toronto
Region Architectural Conservancy and the pastor of the Czechoslovakian Baptist Church have sent letters
supporting the request.
2.Discussion:
The property at 200 Annette Street was evaluated according to the Board's criteria which indicates that it is worth of
inclusion on the Inventory of Heritage Properties as a Neighbourhood Heritage Property.
A Property Research Summary is attached.
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HERITAGE TORONTO
PROPERTY RESEARCH SUMMARY
Basic Building Data:
Address:200 Annette Street (northeast corner of Annette Street and High Park Avenue)
Ward:21
Current Name:Czechoslovak Baptist Church
Historical Name:Annette Street Baptist Church
Construction Date:1888
Architect:none found
Contractor/Builder:John Shelley Turner, contractor
Additions\Alterations:1906, addition, west wing; west tower replaced; south gable replaced with dormers; 1920,
addition, west entrance porch; date unknown, chimney rebuilt
Original Owner:Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec
Original Use:religious (church)
Current Use*:religious (church)
Heritage Category:Neighbourhood Heritage Property (Category C)
Recording Date:May 1998
Recorder:HPD:KA
*this does not refer to permitted use(s) as defined in the Zoning By-law
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Property Research Summary
Description:
The property at 200 Annette Street is identified for architectural reasons. John Shelley Turner, a local contractor,
constructed the Annette Street Baptist Church in 1888. Its design is similar to one prepared by Toronto architect
Edmund Burke that appeared in the April 1886 issue of The Canadian Baptist. In 1906, the original west tower was
replaced when the church was extended to the west. A new entrance vestibule was added to the west end of the
structure in 1920. The Czechoslovak Baptist Church has occupied the building since 1976.
The Annette Street Baptist Church displays stylistic features influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late
19th century with its low walls, steeply-pitched and flared roofs, and half-timbering. Constructed of brick on a stone
base, the church is trimmed with brick and stone. A gable roof with flared eaves, chimneys on the north slope, and
gabled dormers covers the rectangular plan. The church was designed to face south onto Annette Street with two
towers of varied heights at the east and west ends. Covered by a pyramidal roof with flared eaves, the east tower has
segmental-headed door and window openings with transoms and brick labels, and brick string courses and panels.
The west tower displays rounded-arched window openings. Its pyramidal roof extends from a raised base with brick
chimneys. Between the towers, the low south wall has round-headed window openings divided by brick buttresses.
The north (rear) and west walls display similar fenestration. The west wall facing High Park Avenue contains the
main entrance to the church. A single-storey vestibule is covered by a steeply-pitched gable roof supported on
brackets and filled with half-timbering. A round-arched door opening contains paired wood doors with transoms
above. Round windows are found in the gable ends of the west and east walls.
The property at 200 Annette Street is located on the northeast corner of Annette Street and High Park Boulevard.
Placed in a landscaped setting with trees, the Annette Street Baptist Church is part of an important streetscape of
churches. On Annette Street, the Keele Street Church of Christ at #99, Victoria-Royce Presbyterian Church at #152,
and High Park-Alhambra United Church (formerly High Park Avenue Methodist Church) at #260 are included on
the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The Annette Street Baptist Church is a well-executed example
of period architecture influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement.
(Copies of map and photographs attached hereto, are on file in the office of the City Clerk.)
