Item - 2023.TE8.12

The Toronto and East York Community Council:

1. Deferred consideration of the item until the November 15, 2023 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council.

This report recommends that City Council refuse applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act to alter and demolish heritage attributes of the property at 415 Broadview Avenue.

Anchoring the northeast corner of Broadview Avenue and Simpson Avenue in the Riverdale neighbourhood and located directly across from the Don Jail, the property at 415 Broadview Avenue contains a Place of Worship completed in 1907 for the congregation of St. John's Presbyterian Church. Designed by the Glasgow School of Art-trained Scottish architect, Andrew Sharp, who built numerous early-20th century heritage churches across Toronto. The property is directly linked to the founding of the Scott Mission, which continues to provide important social outreach programs and services. Today St. John’s Presbyterian Church is valued as a local landmark. The property at 415 Broadview Avenue is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act through by-law 137-2023.

Applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Act have been submitted to alter the property and demolish heritage attributes in order to allow for the construction of a seven-storey mixed-use building with commercial units at grade and residential units above. Staff is recommending refusal of the applications as they have not demonstrated that the heritage impacts of the proposal are consistent with the heritage planning policy framework or that they would be satisfactorily mitigated.

At its meeting on October 10, 2023 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB10.6 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (September 18, 2023) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council refuse applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Ontario Heritage Act to alter and demolish heritage attributes of the property at 415 Broadview Avenue.

Anchoring the northeast corner of Broadview Avenue and Simpson Avenue in the Riverdale neighbourhood and located directly across from the Don Jail, the property at 415 Broadview Avenue contains a Place of Worship completed in 1907 for the congregation of St. John's Presbyterian Church. Designed by the Glasgow School of Art-trained Scottish architect, Andrew Sharp, who built numerous early-20th century heritage churches across Toronto. The property is directly linked to the founding of the Scott Mission, which continues to provide important social outreach programs and services. Today St. John’s Presbyterian Church is valued as a local landmark. The property at 415 Broadview Avenue is designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act through by-law 137-2023.

Applications under Sections 33 and 34 of the Act have been submitted to alter the property and demolish heritage attributes in order to allow for the construction of a seven-storey mixed-use building with commercial units at grade and residential units above. Staff is recommending refusal of the applications as they have not demonstrated that the heritage impacts of the proposal are consistent with the heritage planning policy framework or that they would be satisfactorily mitigated.