Item - 2025.PH23.10

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council affirm its decision to state its intention to designate the property at 877 Lawrence Avenue East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act as set out in Council Decision 2025.PH19.6 on March 26 and 27, 2025.

2. City Council affirm its decision to state its intention to designate the property at 885 Lawrence Avenue East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act as set out in Council Decision 2025.PH19.6 on March 26 and 27, 2025.

3. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bills in Council designating each property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 

This report recommends that Council affirm its decision of March 26, 2025 (Item PH19.6) stating its intention to designate the properties at 877 and 885 Lawrence Avenue East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. The City has received an objection to the Notice of Intention to Designate on behalf of the properties' owner within the statutory timeline.

The subject properties at 877 and 885 Lawrence Avenue East are located on the south side of Lawrence Avenue East and northwest of The Donway West. The subject properties are purpose-built bank branches constructed to serve the post-war Don Mills community, and both have continuously operated for nearly seventy years. The design and development of the properties were coordinated together. The property at 877 Lawrence Avenue East, known as the Bank of Montreal Don Mills Branch, contains a one-storey International-Style pavilion bank building constructed for the Bank of Montreal in 1956 and expanded in 1967. The property at 885 Lawrence Avenue East, known as the Bank of Nova Scotia Don Mills Branch, also contains a one-storey International-Style pavilion bank building constructed for the Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank) in 1956 and expanded between 1966 and 1967.

City Council has until July 29, 2025, 90 days from the date of the end of the objection period, or 120 days from the issuance of the Notice of Intention to Designate, to make a decision on this objection as per the timeline under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Staff have reviewed the objections raised by the owner and are of the opinion that despite these objections, each property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, under 5 of 9 criteria for design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual values.

As the properties have cultural heritage value or interest and meet the prescribed criteria pursuant to Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, these properties should be designated. Designation enables Council to review proposed alterations for the properties, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.