Item - 2026.PH32.14

The Planning and Housing Committee recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 39 Wynford Drive under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 39 Wynford Drive (entrance address 41 Wynford Drive) (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (June 15, 2026) 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 39 Wynford Drive 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 property at 39 Wynford Drive is located on the southeast corner of Wynford Drive and Gervais Drive one block northeast of Eglinton Avenue East and Don Mills Road in the Flemingdon Park neighbourhood.  It contains a 4-storey commercial office building. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are found in Attachment 2.

The property at 39 Wynford Drive was constructed in in 1962 for the A.C. Nielson Company of Canada Limited. Designed in the International Style by Peter Dickinson Associates in 1961, it was one of the earliest properties built in the Flemingdon Park Industrial Area. Following Dickinson's death in 1961, it was completed by his former associates, Webb, Zerafa, Menkes Architects (WZMH Architects). In 1967, Webb, Zerafa, Menkes Architects designed a complementary 2-storey addition on top of the structure to accommodate additional office space. With its Modernist design and prominent location at the broad curve in Wynford Drive in the Flemingdon Park Industrial Area, the property contributes to the Modernist design context of the area.

Staff have determined that the property at 39 Wynford Drive has cultural heritage value and meets 6 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 identified as a potential heritage resource in the 2019 Don Mills Crossing Cultural Heritage Resource Assessment as part of the Don Mills Crossing Secondary Plan.

The property at 39 Wynford Drive was included on the heritage register on December 16, 2025. Staff had originally recommended designation to Council in response to the owner submitting a demolition application. Following the voluntary revocation of the demolition permit, staff agreed to bring forward the designation later in the planning process.

On April 29, 2026, the City received an Official Plan Amendment related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject property at 39 Wynford Drive with a mixed-use development with four buildings with heights of 52, 41, 29, and 12 storeys. The proposed development will integrate part of the historic structure into the podium of one of the new buildings.

Since the above noted development application has been made to the City, a Prescribed Event under the Ontario Heritage Act will be triggered if the City Clerk issues a notice of complete application. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.