Item - 2025.PH23.13

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 324 Old Yonge Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 324 Old Yonge Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (June 13, 2025) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, 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.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 324 Old Yonge Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance and description of heritage attributes found in Attachment 1.

The subject property, known as the Jephcott -Sanderson Residence, is located in the St. Andrews - Windfields neighbourhood in the North York-York Mills area of Toronto. It is situated on the west side of Old Yonge Street, north of York Mills Road, east of Yonge Street, and south of Highway 401. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are found in Attachment 2.

The property contains a two-and-one-half-storey brick house and a detached two-storey brick garage and was constructed in 1935 in the Georgian Revival style. It was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Allward & Guinlock for Alfred Jephcott (1866-1940), president of the Dominion Paper Box Company. Jephcott commissioned the house for his daughter, Amulette Sanderson, and son-in-law Arthur C. Sanderson,  a salesman with the Toronto Brick Company Ltd who later became Secretary Treasurer of the company. The Sandersons purchased the land in 1935 from St Andrew's Estates and Golf Course and owned the property until 1947. Directories suggest that Jephcott and the Sandersons occupied the property together from the time that the house was completed until Jephcott's death in 1940.

The Jephcott - Sanderson Residence property is among the original seven grand mansions situated in an exclusive enclave that was constructed on the west side of Old Yonge Street in York Mills. These grand mansions were defined by lots with large frontages and setbacks, circular driveways, and expansive landscaped grounds. Three of these properties are designated or listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register and the other three houses have been demolished.

Staff have determined that the property at 324 Old Yonge Street has cultural heritage value and meets four 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 February 3, 2021.

At its meeting on June 30, 2025 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB33.2 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (June 11, 2025) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:
 

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 324 Old Yonge Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value according to the Statement of Significance and description of heritage attributes found in Attachment 1.

The subject property, known as the Jephcott -Sanderson Residence, is located in the St. Andrews - Windfields neighbourhood in the North York-York Mills area of Toronto. It is situated on the west side of Old Yonge Street, north of York Mills Road, east of Yonge Street, and south of Highway 401. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are found in Attachment 2.

The property contains a two-and-one-half-storey brick house and a detached two-storey brick garage and was constructed in 1935 in the Georgian Revival style. It was designed by the prominent architectural firm of Allward & Guinlock for Alfred Jephcott (1866-1940), president of the Dominion Paper Box Company. Jephcott commissioned the house for his daughter, Amulette Sanderson, and son-in-law Arthur C. Sanderson,  a salesman with the Toronto Brick Company Ltd who later became Secretary Treasurer of the company.  The Sandersons purchased the land in 1935 from St Andrew's Estates and Golf Course and owned the property until 1947.  Directories suggest that Jephcott and the Sandersons occupied the property together from the time that the house was completed until Jephcott's death in 1940.

The Jephcott - Sanderson Residence property is among the original seven grand mansions situated in an exclusive enclave that was constructed on the west side of Old Yonge Street in York Mills. These grand mansions were defined by lots with large frontages and setbacks, circular driveways, and expansive landscaped grounds. Three of these properties are designated or listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register and the other three houses have been demolished.

Staff have determined that the property at 324 Old Yonge Street has cultural heritage value and meets four 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 February 3, 2021.