Item - 2025.CC32.26

City Council on July 23 and 24, 2025, adopted the following:

1. City Council approve the application to demolish heritage buildings at the designated properties at 2726 Danforth Avenue (with entrance address at 2732 Danforth Avenue) and 2736 Danforth Avenue, with conditions, under Part IV,  Section 34(1)2 of the Ontario Heritage Act to allow for the construction of eight-storey and four-storey buildings and a contemporary reconstruction of 2726 Danforth Avenue being substantially in accordance with the plans and drawings dated June 16, 2025, prepared by Batay-Csorba Architects Inc. on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by ERA Architects Inc. dated June 6, 2025, and on file with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, all subject to and in accordance with an approved Commemoration Plan, satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

2. City Council direct that its consent to the application to demolish the designated properties at 2726 Danforth Avenue (with entrance address at 2732 Danforth Avenue) and 2736 Danforth Avenue under Part IV, Section 34(1)2 of the Ontario Heritage Act is also subject to the following conditions:

a. the related Zoning By-law Amendment requiring the proposed demolition of the heritage properties has been enacted by City Council and has come into full force and effect;

b. prior to the introduction of the Zoning By-law Amendment Bills to City Council, the owner shall:

1. provide a Commemoration Strategy, prepared by a qualified heritage consultant, that is consistent with the conservation strategy set out in the Heritage Impact Assessment prepared by ERA Architects Inc. dated June 6, 2025, for the property at 2726 Danforth Avenue (with entrance address at 2732 Danforth Avenue), including but not limited to preliminary plans for a contemporary reconstruction of the Little York Hotel and a publicly accessible interpretive display that conveys the rich history of Danforth Avenue in this area, and the history of the Little York Hotel and its construction, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

c. prior to the issuance of any permit for all or any part of the properties at 2726 and 2734 Danforth Avenue, including a heritage permit or a building permit (including a demolition permit), but excluding permits for repairs and maintenance and usual and minor works for the existing heritage building as are acceptable to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, the owner shall:

1. have obtained final approval for the necessary Zoning By-law Amendment required for the subject properties, such Amendment to have come into full force and effect;

2. provide a Commemoration Plan that includes detailed drawings, including notes, specifications, and descriptions of materials and finishes and estimated costs associated with a contemporary reconstruction of the Little York Hotel and a comprehensive interpretive program, substantially in accordance with the approved Commemoration Strategy required in Part 2.b.1 above, to be prepared by the project architect and a qualified heritage consultant to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

3. provide full documentation of the properties at 2726 and 2734 Danforth Avenue, including two printed sets of archival quality 8-inch x 10-inch colour photographs with borders in a glossy or semi-gloss finish and one digital set on a flash drive in tiff format and 600 dpi resolution keyed to a location map, elevations and measured drawings, and copies of all existing interior floor plans and original drawings as may be available, to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning;

4. provide a Lighting Plan that describes how the exterior of the reconstructed heritage property will be sensitively illuminated to enhance its heritage character to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning and thereafter shall implement such Plan to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager Heritage Planning;

5. provide a detailed landscape plan for the subject properties, satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning; and

6. provide a Letter of Credit, including provision for upwards indexing, in a form and amount and from a bank satisfactory to the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning to secure all work included in the approved Commemoration Plan;

d. prior to the release of the Letter of Credit required in Part 2.c.6. above, the owner shall:

1. provide a letter of substantial completion prepared and signed by a qualified heritage consultant confirming that the required commemorative and interpretive work has been completed in accordance with the Commemoration Plan and that an appropriate standard of completion has been maintained, all to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning.

3. City Council request the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning to continue to work with the applicant’s heritage consultant on the development of a commemoration plan that explores the opportunity to reintroduce lost elements such as early chimneys, verandahs and storefronts within the contemporary reconstruction of the Little York Hotel.