Item - 2012.TE14.5

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1.         City Council adopt Recommendations 5 to 11 in the report (December 20, 2011) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning, amended to read as follows:

"5.        City Council state its intention to designate the property at 297 George Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

6.         City Council state its intention to designate the property at 303 George Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with the Revised Reasons for Designation: 303 George Street (Statement of Significance) attached as Attachment 1 to the supplementary report (February 29, 2012) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning Division.

7.         City Council state its intention to designate the property at 309 George Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with the Revised Reasons for Designation: 309-311 George Street (Statement of Significance) attached as Attachment 2 to the supplementary report (February 29, 2012) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning Division.

8.         City Council state its intention to designate the property at 311 George Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with the Revised Reasons for Designation: 309-311 George Street (Statement of Significance) attached as Attachment 2 to the supplementary report (February 29, 2012) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning Division.

9.         If there are no objections in accordance with Section 29(6) of the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the bills in Council designating the properties in Recommendations Nos. 5 to 8 under Part IV, Section 2 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

10.       If there are objections in accordance with Section 29(7) of the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council direct the City Clerk to refer the designations in Recommendations Nos. 5 to 8 to the Conservation Review Board.

11.       If the designations in Recommendations Nos. 5 to 8 are referred to the Conservation Review Board, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Conservation Review Board in support of Council’s decision on the designation of the properties."

The Toronto and East York Community Council on February 14, 2012, deferred consideration of Recommendations 5 to 11 in the report (December 20, 2011) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning, until its meeting to be held on March 20, 2012, with the condition that the owners of 297, 303, 309 and 311 George Street not apply for a demolition permit during the intervening period.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act the properties on George Street that are listed in Recommendations Nos. 5 to 8 below.  Located on the east side of George Street, north of Dundas Street East, the sites contain a group of house form buildings dating to the late- 19th and early-20th centuries.

Heritage Preservation Services staff were in the process of researching and evaluating the properties at 295-311 George Street prior to October 19, 2011 when a fire damaged the front (west) portion of the structure at 295 George.  Following consultation with the Toronto Preservation Board, at its meeting of November 29, 2011, Toronto City Council stated its intention to designate the property at 295 George Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The designation of 295 George Street and the neighbouring properties at 297, 303, 309 and 311 George Street would enable City Council to control alterations to the buildings, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.  The Thomas Meredith House at 305 George Street, which is part of this group of properties, was designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in 2008 by By-law No. 77-2008.

The Toronto Preservation Board on January 16, 2012, considered the report (December 20, 2011) from the Acting Director, Policy and Research, City Planning, respecting Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - George Street Properties.

The following persons addressed the Toronto Preservation Board.

-           Jonathan Kearns, Principal, Kearns Mancini Architects Inc.

-           Michael McClelland, E.R.A. Architects Inc.

At its meeting of February 14, 2012, the Toronto and East York Community Council considered Item TE13.14 concerning the staff report "Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - George Street Properties" and directed that the recommendations in the report concerning the proposed designation of the properties at 297, 303, 309 and 311 George Street be deferred until the meeting of the Toronto East York Community Council on March 20, 2012 on the condition that the owners not apply for a demolition permit during the intervening period.  The other recommendations contained in the report were adopted.

Staff have met with the property owners' representatives who have agreed to the proposed designations of the sites provided that the original Reasons for Designation (Attachments Nos. 1 and 2) are revised to specifically exclude the rear (east) wings on the buildings at 303, 309 and 311 George Street (the revised Reasons for Designation are attached as Nos. 3 and 4).