Item - 2025.PB27.1

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends that:

1.  City Council state its intention to designate the property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1, to the report (January 17, 2025) 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 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West - 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 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West 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 subject property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West is located on the northeast corner of Lake Shore Boulevard West and Islington Avenue in the downtown area of  what has been historically known as New Toronto. It contains the former New Toronto Post Office, a 2-storey institutional form building. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property is found in Attachment 2.

The New Toronto Post Office was completed in 1935 as part of the Public Works Construction Act of 1934, which saw the construction of 185 public buildings by the Government of Canada between 1934 and 1939. Designed by Catto and Catto Architects in the Stripped Classical Style with Art Deco elements, the limestone clad structure with polished granite accents has stood as a community landmark at the centre of downtown New Toronto since 1935.

Staff have determined that the property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West has cultural heritage value and meets six of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 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.

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

The subject property has been identified as a candidate for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act and the strategy for Listed Properties that must be removed from the Register by January 1, 2027.