Item - 2024.PB15.7

The Toronto Preservation Board:

1. Deferred the consideration of this item until the March 28, 2024 meeting of Toronto Preservation Board.

This report recommends that City Council refuse the alterations to the designated heritage property at 137 Roxborough under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The subject site is a "C-rated" property located in the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District. The applicant is requesting retro-active approval of alterations to the property that have already occurred. The alterations include the staining of the stone on the two-storey bay window on the front of the house, the installation of new windows that do not match the originals, the enlargement of a ground floor front window opening and alterations to the bay window in the front porch. These alterations do not comply with the policies in the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan or the Parks Canada Standards and Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places in Canada (the official document guiding planning and conservation of heritage properties in the City of Toronto). As such staff are recommending that this application be refused.

The owners have also requested permission under Section 42 of the Ontario Heritage Act to explore the potential of steam cleaning the stone on the front of this designated building. Full details of the proposed steam cleaning have not been submitted to assess the impact on this heritage building and as such it is recommended that permission is refused for this.

If City Council refuses to grant approval for the alterations noted above Heritage Planning staff will work with the owners to find solutions to restore the historic character and appearance of the designated property at 137 Roxborough Drive in accordance with the requirements of the Ontario Heritage Act, the Official Plan and the North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan.