1998 Proposed Additions to the City of Toronto's

Inventory of Heritage Properties, North York District -

Black Creek, North York Spadina,

North York Centre South and Don Parkway

The North York Community Council recommends the adoption of the following report (November 24, 1998) from the Commissioner of Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

Purpose:

The Inventory of Heritage Properties for the North York district, is a compilation that recognizes the architectural and historical value of buildings, structures and properties that are unique and significant in our community. North York's current Inventory was approved by North York City Council in the late 1970s. In 1997, thirty-eight (38) properties were added by North York Council. The North York Heritage Committee/Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee has been reviewing additional properties within the North York area that should be listed on the Inventory. It is the recommendation of the North York Heritage Committee that the twenty-six (26) properties reviewed in the attached report be added to the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage Properties for the North York district.

Source of Funds:

N/A

Recommendations:

It is recommended that:

(1)the twenty-six (26) properties outlined in Appendix "A" be added to the Inventory of Heritage Properties for the North York district, as per the recommendations of the North York Heritage Committee (Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee); and

(2)the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto.

Background:

An important task in documenting and preserving a community's history is to identify, catalogue and maintain an inventory, or listing of significant heritage properties on an ongoing basis. In the late 1970s, an Inventory of Heritage Buildings was created for the North York area and approved by North York Council. At the time, the Inventory identified a number of properties considered to be significant in some way to North York's 19th and early 20th century history. In 1997, the North York Heritage Committee and North York City Council approved thirty-eight (38) additional properties which included examples of North York's recent heritage and the Modern Movement of Architecture.

To date, there are 127 properties listed on the Inventory, with 19 properties designated under part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act (R.S.O. 1990). However, this small number of properties represents only a partial inventory of the area and efforts to expand the Inventory continue.

The purpose of this report is to present another group of significant properties representing a broad range of architectural styles, historical themes and urban development in the North York area. A total of 26 properties (shown in Appendix "A" of this report) have been identified and are proposed for inclusion in the Inventory of Heritage Properties for North York.

Discussion:

The Inventory of Heritage Properties is a compilation that recognizes the architectural and historic value of properties that are unique and significant in the North York community. Listing, unlike designation under part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act, places no legal restriction on a property. The Inventory is intended to be an up-to-date record containing significant buildings, structures and sites. As a research and planning tool, acknowledging these properties through the Inventory helps to provide the City's residents with an understanding and appreciation of place, while helping to preserve the City's unique built heritage for the enjoyment of future generations.

This new group of properties deals with a number of architectural, functional, social, and contextual themes spanning North York's history from the middle of the 19th century to the closing decades of the 20th century. Specifically, these deal with "Historic Revivalism" in early 20th century housing design, industrial heritage, gates and physical barriers of architectural significance, and historic burial grounds.

City staff and the North York Heritage Committee have recently begun to study, document and commemorate buildings and structures representing North York's recent heritage and the Modern Movement of Architecture. Modernism was an international movement that revolutionized the approach to the design of buildings, structures and urban planning. It had considerable impact on North American culture, attitudes and lifestyles and it is a period in the history of architecture that is being recognized, reviewed and carefully documented by several leading communities and cities across Canada.

Last year, North York Council approved 16 examples representing this style for inclusion in the Inventory of Heritage Properties. Several more examples have been identified within the group of new properties, some of which are from the study entitled "North York's Modernist Architecture" - a publication undertaken jointly by the former North York Planning Department's Urban Design Division, and the Culture Branch, Parks and Recreation Department, in 1997. These properties are also contained in Appendix "A".

Listing on the Inventory of Heritage Properties for North York places no legal restriction on a property, nor does it impose obligations on a property owner or affect property rights. Listing does not affect legal title or sale, restrict the legal use of a property, prohibit development, building alterations or additions. With this in mind, and with the advice of the City's Legal Department, the City is not obligated to obtain the consent of a property owner for listing their property on the Inventory of Heritage Properties.

At its meeting of October 27, 1998, the North York Heritage Committee/Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee reviewed twenty-six properties for inclusion in the Inventory of Heritage Properties for the City's North York district and adopted the following staff recommendations:

(a)that the North York Heritage Committee/LACAC approve the properties identified in Appendix 'A' for inclusion in the Inventory of Heritage Properties in the North York district.

(b)that this report and North York LACAC's recommendation be forwarded to City Council through the North York Community Council for consideration; and

(c)that Council for the City of Toronto be asked to add these properties to the Inventory of Heritage Properties for North York.

It should be noted that each of the following properties has been well researched and measured against the "Guidelines for Evaluating Heritage Property" adopted by the former North York Council in February 1996. The approved criteria, which examine the architectural merit, historic associations and urban context of a property, not only provide a framework within which properties are considered, but also provide Council with the assurance of a reasoned, well-considered process for the listing of heritage properties. The Criteria are attached as Appendix "B".

Conclusion:

The Inventory of Heritage Properties is a useful tool for the research and preservation of the City's heritage, serving as it does to identify properties of historical and/or architectural significance to the North York district. The properties herein recommended for inclusion in the Inventory are appropriate additions and add to our understanding of the built heritage of the North York district of the City of Toronto.

Contact:

Beth Hanna,

Manager, Culture Division - North York

(416) 395-7415 or (416) 392-5225

Fax: (416) 395-7886

---------------

The North York Community Council had before it a report (October 19, 1998) from the Manager, Culture Division, addressed to the North York Heritage Committee/Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC) presenting an additional group of significant properties for inclusion in the Inventory of Heritage Properties in the North York region.

"Appendix A"

(1)No. 21 Alexandra Wood (Ward 9) - Thomas and Dorothy Deacon Residence;

(2)No. 23 Alexandra Wood (Ward 9) - N.R. Firstbrook Residence;

(3)No. 2365 Bayview Avenue (Ward 9) - F.P. Woods Estate, Log Cabin Retreat;

(4)No. 2275 Bayview Avenue (Ward 9) - Glendon Hall Gatehouse;

(5)No. 2275 Bayview Avenue (Ward 9) - Gates of Glendon Hall;

(6)NO. 29 Beechwood Avenue (Ward 9) - Whealy Residence;

(7)No. 30 Beechwood Avenue (Ward 9) - Salmund Residence;

(8)No. 21 Devere Gardens (Ward 9) - Residence of Harland Steele;

(9)No. 20 Hedgewood Road (Ward 9) - Pinewood/Jarvis Residence;

(10)No. 49 Highland Crescent (Ward 9) - Residence of Jacobine Jones;

(11)No. 79 Highland Crescent (Ward 9) - The Birches, Orval D. Vaughan Residence;

(12)No. 4700 Keele Street (Ward 7) - Jacob Stong's Barn (York University);

(13)No. 33 Old Yonge Street (Ward 9) - Residence of Walter Seymour Allward;

(14)No. 12 Sunnydene Crescent (Ward 9) - E.H. Watt Residence;

(15)No. 134 Sandringham Drive (Ward 9) - Penryth/Rogers' Residence;

(16)No. 215 Yonge Boulevard (Ward 9) - Gates of Glenalton/Strathrobyn;

(17)No. 106 York Mills Road (Ward 9) - The Manse, Historic York Mills Baptist Church;

(18)No. 55 Ameer Avenue (Ward 9) - Baycrest Terrace and Wagman Centre;

(19)Citadel Village at Valley Woods Road (Ward 11);

(20)Canadian Forces Base, Downsview, Plant No. 1 (Ward 8);

(21)Canadian Forces Base, Downsview, Plant No. 2 (Ward 8);

(22)Canadian Forces Base, Downsview, Garage No. 55, Base Transportation Garage (Ward 8);

(23)Canadian Forces Base, Downsview, Workshop Building No. 58 (Ward 8);

(24)140 Sylvan Valleyway, Bedford Glen (Ward 9); and

(25)Townline Church Cemetery, Kaiserville, Black Creek Pioneer Village (Ward 7); and

(26)York Mills Baptist Church, Old Yonge Street/York Mills Road, Historical Burial Grounds (Ward 9).

(A copy of Appendix "B" referred to in the foregoing report is on file in the office of the City Clerk, North York Civic Centre.)