Item - 2024.PB23.2

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends that:

1.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 630 Spadina Avenue under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 630 Spadina Avenue (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1, to the report, October 1, 2024, from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning.

2.  If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

Patrick Brown, Heritage Planner, Policy and Research, Urban Design, City Planning gave a presentation on 630 Spadina Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 630 Spadina Avenue under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance which includes a description of Heritage Attributes found in Attachment 1.

The property at 630 Spadina Avenue (Knox Presbyterian Church) is located on the west side of Spadina Avenue, approximately 30 metres south of Harbord Street, at the eastern boundary of the Harbord Village neighbourhood. The property contains a 1909 neo-Gothic style church with a 1907 Sunday school wing at the rear, a 1961 modernist-style church hall (Fellowship Centre), and 1961 modernist-style chapel. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property is found in Attachment 2.

The property has been an active place of worship since 1907 with each of the three structures having been designed and built for Knox Presbyterian Church. The church and Sunday school, designed by Toronto architect James Wilson Gray, features a neo-Gothic exterior and interior while the church contains stained glass windows crafted by the firms of N.T. Lyon Company and Robert McCausland. The chapel, built 52 years later with the Fellowship Centre, was designed by the significant architectural firm of John B. Parkin Associates, and features a unique design with atypical square plan, low slung brick clad walls and curved roof.

The property was listed on the City's Heritage Register on April 27, 2006.

A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria.

Staff have determined that the property at 630 Spadina Avenue has cultural heritage value and meets five of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

In accordance with 3.1.6.50 of the Official Plan and the City's Protocol for the Identification and Review of Heritage Places of Worship, Heritage Planning Staff met with Knox Church to seek their opinion on the heritage attributes of the property which are the liturgical elements to be identified in the designating by-law. Knox Church considers all interior spaces of the church, Sunday school and chapel to be liturgical elements.

On May 18, 2018, an Official Plan Amendment application (18 161814 STE 20 OZ) was submitted to the City to redesignate Neighbourhoods to Mixed-use to permit a 14-storey residential building. A Notice of Complete Application was issued on May 21, 2018.

A zoning bylaw amendment application has yet to be submitted.

The Prescribed Event occurred on this property before January 1, 2023, therefore, Section 29(1.2) 2 of the Ontario Heritage Act does not apply to require Council to issue a notice of intention to designate within 90 days of a prescribed event.