Item - 2022.PH32.16

The Planning and Housing Committee:

1. Directed the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning and the Executive Director, Transit Expansion Office to invite Metrolinx to give a presentation to the Toronto Preservation Board on May 10, 2022 on the current plans related to the Ontario Line in the vicinity of the section of Queen Street West and University Avenue, as they relate to heritage conservation.

At its meeting on February 22, 2022, the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB31.6 and made recommendations to the Planning and Housing Committee.

Summary from the letter (February 22, 2022) from the Chair, Toronto Preservation Board:

The following request is based on information received during a deputation related to during agenda item PB30.5 of the Toronto Preservation Board Meeting 30, held on 24 January 2022, related to the former Bank of Canada building located at 250 University Avenue, on the southeast corner at Queen Street West.

The deputant stated that the developer of the new building to rise over the heritage building had proposed that the new main station of the Metrolinx Osgoode stop on the Ontario Line, could be built under the existing building. The Board was told that Metrolinx is recommending that the main station be built on the northeast corner of the intersection within the property associated with Osgoode Hall. The new structure would extend above grade.

Three of the corners of University Avenue and Queen Street West contain important heritage buildings: Campbell House on the northwest corner, Osgoode Hall on the northeast corner, and the Bank of Canada on the southwest corner. The Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts occupies the southeast corner. Together they form a very important cultural heritage landscape for our city.