Item - 2019.PB7.6

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends to the Toronto and East York Community Council that:

1. City Council include the properties at 2078 and 2086 Danforth Avenue on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in accordance with the Statement of Significance (Reasons for Inclusion), attached as Attachment 3 to the report (June 4, 2019) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, Urban Design, City Planning.

This report recommends that City Council include the properties at 2078 and 2086 Danforth Avenue on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register.  Located on the northeast corner of Danforth and Woodbine avenues, the properties contain two adjoining commercial buildings dating to 1925 and 1927 that were commissioned by William A. Summerville, a local politician, realtor, and theatre operator as the commercial components of a complex that included the Prince of Wales Theatre, which was located to the north and east.  The subject properties contribute to the historical development and contextual character of Danforth Avenue as it emerged in the 1920s as one of Toronto's pre-eminent "Main Streets," with Woodbine Avenue among the important cross-streets where commercial structures, including the William A. Summerville Buildings were designed to anchor and highlight this important intersection.

The properties were identified for their cultural heritage value in TE34.11, the “Danforth Avenue Planning Study – Coxwell Avenue to Victoria Park Avenue – City-initiated Official Plan Amendment – Final Report,” which was adopted with amendments by City Council at its meeting of July 23, 2018.  The report included Attachment 10: Map of Potential Heritage Properties where, in Block 5 on the north side between Woodbine and Cedarvale avenues, the properties at 2078 and 2086 Danforth Avenue are identified. 

The properties at 2078 and 2086 Danforth Avenue are the subject of a development application that would result in the demolition of the two 2-storey commercial buildings.

The inclusion of the properties at 2078 and 2086 Danforth Avenue on the City’s Heritage Register would identify all of the property’s cultural heritage values and heritage attributes.  Properties on the Heritage Register will be maintained and conserved in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies.