IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
639 YONGE STREET
(INCLUDING ENTRANCE ADDRESSES AT
2 AND 4 ISABELLA STREET)
NOTICE OF INTENTION TO DESIGNATE
THE PROPERTY
TAKE NOTICE that Council for the
City of Toronto intends to designate the property, including the lands, buildings
and structures thereon known municipally as 639 Yonge Street (including
entrance addresses at 2 and 4 Isabella Street) under Part IV, Section 29 of the
Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.O.18, as amended, as a property of
cultural heritage value or interest.
Reasons for Designation
The property at 639 Yonge Street is worthy of
designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its
cultural heritage value, and meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the provincial
criteria prescribed for municipal designation, under the categories of
design/physical value, historical/associative value and contextual value.
Description
The property at 639 Yonge Street (including
entrance addresses at 2 and 4 Isabella Street) is located on the northeast
corner of Yonge Street and Isabella Street and contains a mixed‐use brick building constructed in 1879. It retains its original scale,
form, and massing as a two-and-a-half storey building designed in the Second
Empire style. The property is part of a cohesive grouping of built heritage
resources that provide a distinct sense of place and represent Toronto's
1860s-1950s architecture, a period when Yonge Street's commercial main street
character was established and flourished.
The property was listed on the City of Toronto
Inventory of Heritage Properties (now known as the Heritage Register) on March
15, 1974 and is identified as a contributing property in the Historic Yonge
Street Heritage Conservation District, adopted by City Council in 2016, and
currently under appeal.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Dating to c.1879, the property at 639 Yonge
Street has design and physical value as a representative example of the Second
Empire architectural style that was popular in many prominent commercial,
public, and residential buildings in Toronto from 1860 to 1900. Although the
ground floor is altered, the corner property features several details that are
typical of the Second Empire style, including a slate mansard roof,
segmental-arched windows, and bell-shaped dormers accented by wood trim details
on both its street-facing elevations. The 2-1/2-storey property also has design
and physical value for its typology as a representative example of a Main
Street Commercial Row building constructed during a significant period of
development along Yonge Street.
The property at 639 Yonge Street is significant
for the retail activity which occurred here from 1924-31, being the first
retail location and office for the Canadian Tire Corporation. Established in
1922 by brothers J.W. and A.J. Billes and incorporated in 1927 while occupying
the premises at 639 Yonge Street, the business repaired tires, sold a variety
of automotive supplies, and pumped gasoline from under a canopy on the south
side of the building. Presently, the company is one of Canada's most
recognizable retail chains and operates a network of over 1700 stores and gas
bars across the country.
The property is also associated with the theme
of Yonge Street's role as a focal point for Toronto's counterculture, pop
culture, and music scene during the latter half of the 20th century as the
premises of the House of Lords hair salon from the early 1970's through 2017.
The House of Lords gained notoriety for catering to celebrities and rock stars
such as David Bowie, Axl Rose, Rod Stewart and others. During this time, the House
of Lords contributed to music, arts, and fashion culture not only through their
hair styling services, but also by hosting record release parties, album
launches, and live radio broadcasts at the salon.
Contextually, the property has cultural heritage
value for maintaining and supporting the historic main street character of
Yonge Street, south of Bloor Street. Situated on the east side of the block
between Isabella Street and Charles Street East, the subject property's scale,
form and massing contribute to the low-rise streetwall condition found on this
portion of Yonge Street and are consistent with the rhythm produced by
fine-grained storefronts along the streetscape. The building's Second Empire
style is one of several predominant architectural styles in the area.
The property at 639 Yonge Street (including 2
and 4 Isabella Street) is functionally, visually and physically linked to Yonge
Street, Toronto's "Main Street", as a commercial building housing the
services, amenities, and employment opportunities necessary to support daily
life in neighbouring residential areas. The property is also historically
linked to the metamorphosis of Yonge Street into Toronto's main commercial
corridor.
Heritage Attributes
Design and Physical Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the cultural heritage value of the property at 639 Yonge Street as a
representative example of a Main Street Commercial Row building designed in the
Second Empire style:
·
The placement,
setback and orientation of the building on the northeast corner of Yonge and
Isabella streets
·
The scale, form and
massing of the property as a 2-1/2-storey building with a rectangular-shaped
plan
·
The property's
material palette, consisting of brick with wood detailing (the brick has been
painted)
·
The 3-sided mansard
roof with patterned slate tile supported by a decorated soffit, eaves, and
cornice featuring ornamental brackets on the west, south, and east elevations
(some slates on the east slope of the roof have been replaced with asphalt
shingles)
·
The brick chimney
that projects from the exterior wall and roof slope of the south elevation
·
The architectural
details on the west and south elevations that are representative of the Second
Empire style, including:
·
The bell-shaped
dormers with carved wood trim on the mansard roof
·
The segmental-arched
windows on the second floor
·
The increased
proportion of glazing of the ground floor storefront compared to the upper
stories
Contextual Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the cultural heritage value of the property at 639 Yonge Street as supporting
and maintaining the character of this portion of Yonge Street, and as being
historically, functionally, and visually linked to its surroundings:
·
The placement,
setback and orientation of the building on the northeast corner of Yonge and
Isabella streets
·
The scale of the
building, which is consistent with the 2-4 storey streetwall height and rhythm
of narrow storefronts along this portion of Yonge Street
·
The recessed entrance
doorways, which are consistent with the storefronts along this portion of Yonge
Street
·
The materials of the
building's façade, which are consistent with the brick, stone, and wood
detailing found along this portion of Yonge Street
·
The higher percentage
of glazing on the ground floor façade along Yonge Street relative to upper
floors, which serves the purpose of indicating retail use at-grade that can be
accessed directly from Yonge Street and residential and/or commercial uses in
upper floors
Notice of Objection to the Notice of Intention to Designate
Notice of an objection to the Notice of
Intention to Designate the Property may be served on the City Clerk, Attention:
Registrar Secretariat, City Clerk's Office, Toronto City Hall, 2nd Floor West,
100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2.; Email: RegistrarCCO@toronto.ca within thirty days of July 25, 2023, which is August 24, 2023. The
notice of objection to the Notice of Intention to Designate the Property must
set out the reason(s) for the objection and all relevant facts.
Getting Additional Information:
Further information in respect of the Notice of
Intention to Designate the Property is available from the City of Toronto at:
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2023.PH5.13
Dated at the City of Toronto on July 25, 2023.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk