Item - 2025.TE20.8

The Toronto and East York Community Council: 

1. Deferred consideration of the Item until the April 3, 2025 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council.

This report recommends City Council approve the alterations and demolitions proposed under Sections 33 and 34(1)1 of the Ontario Heritage Act for the Part IV designated heritage property at 522 University Avenue and grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement, in connection with the proposed development of the property.

The property at 522 University Avenue is located at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street and contains a 15-storey office building, known as the National Life Building, constructed for the National Life Insurance Company of Canada between 1971 and 1974 to the design of John C. Parkin. It is a fine example of Monumental Modernist architecture utilizing precast concrete in Toronto.

A heritage permit application has been submitted in connection with applications for amendments to the Zoning By-law and Site Plan Approval. Following the property's designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, the applicant worked with the City to revise their applications to include a conservation strategy for the National Life Building. The revised applications propose to alter and integrate the building into the redevelopment as a podium, including interior heritage attributes. The northern two-thirds of the building will be retained in-situ, including its floor slabs and core. The southern bay of the building and its heritage attributes will be demolished and reconstructed to allow for construction of a 49-storey residential tower above. The applications conserve the onsite heritage building's cultural heritage value and attributes in accordance with the existing policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.

At its meeting on January 8, 2025 the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB26.6 and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (December 16, 2025) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

 
This report recommends City Council approve the alterations and demolitions proposed under Sections 33 and 34(1)1 of the Ontario Heritage Act for the Part IV designated heritage property at 522 University Avenue and grant authority to enter into a Heritage Easement Agreement, in connection with the proposed development of the property.

The property at 522 University Avenue is located at the southwest corner of University Avenue and Elm Street and contains a 15-storey office building, known as the National Life Building, constructed for the National Life Insurance Company of Canada between 1971 and 1974 to the design of John C. Parkin. It is a fine example of Monumental Modernist architecture utilizing precast concrete in Toronto.

A heritage permit application has been submitted in connection with applications for amendments to the Zoning By-law and Site Plan Approval. Following the property's designation under the Ontario Heritage Act, the applicant worked with the City to revise their applications to include a conservation strategy for the National Life Building. The revised applications propose to alter and integrate the building into the redevelopment as a podium, including interior heritage attributes. The northern two-thirds of the building will be retained in-situ, including its floor slabs and core. The southern bay of the building and its heritage attributes will be demolished and reconstructed to allow for construction of a 49-storey residential tower above. The applications conserve the onsite heritage building's cultural heritage value and attributes in accordance with the existing policy framework. The heritage impacts of the development proposal are appropriately mitigated through the overall conservation strategy.