IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF
ONTARIO
171 LOWTHER AVENUE
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 171 Lowther Avenue 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 171 Lowther Avenue 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 and contextual value.
Description
Located mid-block on the south side of Lowther
Avenue between Walmer Road and Dalton Road, the
property at 171 Lowther Avenue was constructed between 1901 and 1902 for Emilia
Dixon on the site of a former ancillary building that formed part of the
property at 14 Walmer Road. Rising three-storeys over
a raised basement, the red brick structure features a design combining elements
of the Queen Anne Revival and Edwardian Classicism styles including simple
square massing and restrained brick work combined with decorative Dutch gables
on the principal (north) elevation, an oriel window on the east elevation, and
oeil-de-boeuf window on the west elevation. As part of its conversion to
apartments in 1943, dormers were added on the north, south, and west
elevations.
The property was listed on the City's Heritage
Register on July 19, 2023.
Statement of Cultural
Heritage Value
Design or Physical Value
The property at 171 Lowther Avenue is a
representative example of an early twentieth century residential structure
blending elements of the Queen Anne Revival and Edwardian Classicism styles.
This is evident in the pairing of decorative elements including curved Dutch
gables, oriel and oeil-de-boeuf windows with simple massing and restrained
brickwork, eschewing the exuberance of the late Victorian-Era in favour of
understated elegance.
Contextual Value
The property at 171 Lowther Avenue is important
in maintaining and supporting the historic character of the West Annex
neighbourhood which is defined by a mix of late-nineteenth and early twentieth
century residential structures and mid-century low- to high-rise apartment
buildings.
Constructed between 1901 and 1902 as a
single-family residential structure as part of the first phase of the
development of the West Annex, the property is historically linked to its
surroundings. Converted to apartments in 1943, the property continues to
maintain its appearance as a single-family residential structure.
Heritage Attributes
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the cultural heritage value of the property: as a representative example of an
early twentieth century residential structure blending elements of the Queen
Anne Revival and Edwardian Classicism styles; in maintaining and supporting the
historic character of the West Annex neighbourhood; and being historically
linked to its surroundings:
·
The square,
three-storey scale, form, and massing with cross gable roof with bracketed
eaves
·
Dutch gables on the
principal (north) elevation with decorative finials
·
The property's
material palette of red brick, with rough hewn stone sills
·
The fenestration on
the principal (north) elevation including paired windows at the first and
second storeys, and paired rounded arch windows at the third storey
·
The central raised
front entrance with beveled glass three-quarter lite wood door and sidelight
beneath a full width transom
·
The central front
entrance porch and stone steps with rough-hewn stone sidewalls
·
The oriel window with
leaded coloured glass, chimney, and third storey fenestration on the east
elevation
·
The first storey
oeil-de-boeuf window and northerly chimney on the west elevation
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:
Administrator, 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 December 20, 2023, which is January 19, 2024. 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.CC13.27
Dated at the City of Toronto on December 20,
2023.
John D. Elvidge
for City Clerk