Item - 2027.PB1.2

The Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 106 Beverley Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act in accordance with the Statement of Significance for 106 Beverley Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1, to the report, October 28, 2026, 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.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 106 Beverley Street 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 106 Beverley Street, known originally as Esten House (1855), and later as Georgina House (1909), is located on the west side of Beverley Street, south of Dundas Street West, within the Grange neighbourhood of downtown Toronto.

A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are included in Attachment 2.

Constructed in 1855 for Toronto lawyer James Esten, the property contains a three-storey detached house-form building in the Italianate architectural style, which was designed by architect James Grand. Following its sale to philanthropist Georgina Broughall, who converted the property into an interdenominational women’s residence, the renamed Georgina House underwent extensive interior and exterior alterations and additions. These modifications were overseen by architect Eden Smith, including unspecified interior alterations, the front verandah (1909), a four-storey rear addition (1912), and the Osler Wing (1914), which was officially opened via public ceremony by His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught. The property forms part of the historic residential context of the Grange neighbourhood, comprising Victorian- and Edwardian-era houses interspersed with places of worship and institutional buildings. Georgina House fits within this context of mid- to late-Victorian era houses and reflects this important period of development in Toronto.

The subject property at 106 Beverley Street was listed on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register on November 21, 1977.

This property is one of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties citywide which have been identified as candidates for designation through the City's implementation of Bill 23 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act and its ongoing prioritization strategy for listed properties that must be designated or removed from the Heritage Register by January 1, 2027.

Part of the strategy for the review of listed properties on the Heritage Register includes the procurement of qualified heritage consultants to research, evaluate, and prepare heritage evaluation reports for a subset of listed properties prioritized for designation. City Planning retained the services of Alex Corey Heritage Consulting ("the Consultant") to research and evaluate a citywide group of eighteen pre-1870 listed properties which includes the subject property at 106 Beverley Street. The Consultant evaluated the subject property and determined that it meets the provincial criteria.

The Consultant's research on the subject property is included in Attachment 3 of this report. The research, analysis, and evaluation contained within Attachment 3 reflect the Consultant's professional expertise and opinion. Staff have independently reviewed the Consultant's research and heritage evaluation and concur with the determination that the property at 106 Beverley Street has cultural heritage value and meets five 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.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

There are no financial implications resulting from the recommendations included in this report in the current budget year or in future years.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact Section.