Item - 2019.PH11.15

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council approve the grant award for the 2019 Toronto Heritage Grant Program for the Kiever Synagogue located at 28 Denison Square, to assist the property owner in funding the scope of conservation work generally described in the report (November 27, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning.

2. City Council direct that the use of the grant award outlined in Recommendation 1 of the report (November 27, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, be limited to only the conservation work approved by the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and that the issuing of the grant award be subject to the grant recipient satisfying all conditions as set out in the Letter of Understanding between the City and the grant recipient.

This report recommends the approval of a grant totalling $102,000.00 for the conservation of the Kiever Synagogue located at 28 Denison Square under the Toronto Heritage Grant Program as set out in this report. The eligible conservation work includes restoration of the original historic cupolas, as well as extensive window and stained glass conservation.

The Toronto Heritage Grant Program provides matching grant funds for eligible heritage conservation work to owners of tax exempt or residential properties in the City of Toronto designated under Part IV or V of the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). Property owners may receive a grant once every five years for up to 50 percent of the cost of eligible conservation work. There is no maximum grant amount for owners of non-house form buildings such as places of worship.

In April 2019, Council approved 17 grant awards allocating $214,600.00 of the approved $317,000 in the City Planning 2019 Operating Budget and amended the grant eligibility requirements as set out in the Terms and Conditions so that any tax-exempt designated heritage properties including a house-form building may be eligible for a grant equivalent to 50 percent of the cost of eligible conservation work, with no limit.

The City Planning 2019 Operating Budget has a remaining balance of $102,000.00 to be allocated before the end of the fiscal year.  As such, City Planning (Heritage Preservation Services) initiated a second, special grant run in the third quarter of 2019 for tax-exempt designated heritage properties including house-form buildings in conjunction with Toronto's inaugural Not-for-Profit Recognition Day on October 2, 2019, to celebrate the important contribution that non-profit community organizations make to our city and communities.

The application from the First Russian Congregation of Rodfesolium Ansekiev and Ontario Jewish Archives, owners of the Kiever Synagogue located in the Kensington Market is recommended for a grant award.

The Toronto Preservation Board on December 2, 2019 considered the report (November 27, 2019) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning on 2019 Toronto Heritage Grant Award.