Item - 2021.NY22.18

North York Community Council:

1. Deferred consideration of the item until the April 20, 2021 meeting of the North York Community Council.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the listed heritage property at 2365 Bayview Avenue (the Frank P. Wood state) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, approve the alterations proposed for the heritage property in connection with a proposed development of the subject property and grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement for the subject property.

The property at 2365 Bayview Avenue, containing the Frank P. Wood estate now known as the Crescent School, is part of a sequence of grand estates, constructed between 1920 and1940, on the forested ravine above the western branch of the Don River, in the Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills neighbourhood.  The 30-acre property was purchased in 1928 by Frank P. Wood, the financier, art collector and major benefactor of the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario).  Wood commissioned the New York firm of Delano & Aldrich Architects who designed a meticulously-detailed Georgian Revival house and service buildings, clad in limestone and slate, set within a picturesque complex comprising a forecourt with terraces and formal gardens perched above the ravine landscape. A painting studio designed as a log cabin was commissioned by Emma Wood, Frank P. Wood's wife.  With Wood's death in 1955 the estate was bequeathed to the Art Gallery of Toronto and purchased in 1967 by the Crescent School.  The school relocated to the Bayview Avenue property in 1970 and have added a number of educational buildings, maintaining most of the original complex and its setting. 

The property was included on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in 2006.

Following City staff's additional research and evaluation under Ontario Regulation 9/06, the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation, it has been determined that the property at 2365 Bayview Avenue merits designation under Part IV Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design, associative and contextual value.

The designation of the Frank P. Wood estate (now known as the Crescent School) at 2365 Bayview Avenue would identify all of the property's cultural heritage values and heritage attributes which shall be conserved.  Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition. 

The proposed two-storey addition will connect to the north side-wall of the manor house's service wing. Its construction will result in the demolition of the remnant of the second garage and the infilling of the remaining portion of the service court. No alterations are proposed to the manor house.

At its meeting on February 17, 2021, the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB21.5, a report (January 25, 2021) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning on Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act Alterations to a Heritage Property and Authority to Enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement - 2365 Bayview Avenue.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the listed heritage property at 2365 Bayview Avenue (the Frank P. Wood state) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, approve the alterations proposed for the heritage property in connection with a proposed development of the subject property and grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement for the subject property.

The property at 2365 Bayview Avenue, containing the Frank P. Wood estate now known as the Crescent School, is part of a sequence of grand estates, constructed between 1920 and1940, on the forested ravine above the western branch of the Don River, in the Bridle Path-Sunnybrook-York Mills neighbourhood.  The 30-acre property was purchased in 1928 by Frank P. Wood, the financier, art collector and major benefactor of the Art Gallery of Toronto (now the Art Gallery of Ontario).  Wood commissioned the New York firm of Delano & Aldrich Architects who designed a meticulously-detailed Georgian Revival house and service buildings, clad in limestone and slate, set within a picturesque complex comprising a forecourt with terraces and formal gardens perched above the ravine landscape. A painting studio designed as a log cabin was commissioned by Emma Wood, Frank P. Wood's wife.  With Wood's death in 1955 the estate was bequeathed to the Art Gallery of Toronto and purchased in 1967 by the Crescent School.  The school relocated to the Bayview Avenue property in 1970 and have added a number of educational buildings, maintaining most of the original complex and its setting. 

The property was included on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in 2006.

Following City staff's additional research and evaluation under Ontario Regulation 9/06, the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation, it has been determined that the property at 2365 Bayview Avenue merits designation under Part IV Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design, associative and contextual value.

The designation of the Frank P. Wood estate (now known as the Crescent School) at 2365 Bayview Avenue would identify all of the property's cultural heritage values and heritage attributes which shall be conserved.  Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition. 

The proposed two-storey addition will connect to the north side-wall of the manor house's service wing. Its construction will result in the demolition of the remnant of the second garage and the infilling of the remaining portion of the service court. No alterations are proposed to the manor house.