Item - 2019.TE9.13

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Referred the item to the Senior Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, for review of the McGill-Granby Village Resident Association's independent consultant report; and

2. Directed the Senior Manager, Heritage Preservation Services, to report back to the November 12, 2019 meeting of the Toronto Preservation Board, and to the December 3, 2019 meeting of Toronto and East York Community Council, with their findings.

This report recommends that the Toronto and East York Community Council receive this report for information.  The report responds to City Council's request on December 4, 2018 (Motion MM1.7) that directed the Senior Manager of Heritage Preservation Services to “initiate a study of the formally nominated properties, at 79 and 81 Granby Street and to report back regarding designation within the first quarter of 2019." 

The properties at 79 and 81 Granby Street contain a pair of semi-detached house form buildings dating to 1891.  As outlined in Attachment 3 to this report, staff have undertaken an evaluation according to Ontario Regulation 9/06 (the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation that the City also applies to properties being assessed for its Heritage Register).

Although the properties demonstrate contextual value, specifically their historical and physical setting between the listed heritage properties at 77 Granby Street and 414-418 Church Street (at the southwest corner of Granby), the significant alterations to the exterior of subject buildings, including the removal of the original shared entrance arch (documented in archival photographs) and the recladding and changes to the window openings and roofline of 79 Granby, have impacted their integrity and ability to communicate their cultural heritage value.  As such, staff have determined that the individual properties do not merit inclusion on the City of Toronto’s Heritage Register.

The provision of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, requires that Motion MM1.7 be referred to the Toronto and East York Community Council.