IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
2451 AND 2489 BAYVIEW AVENUE
NOTICE OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO
DESIGNATION BY-LAW 31874
TAKE NOTICE that Council for the
City of Toronto intends to amend By-law 31874, as amended by By-law 872-2010, being a by-law designating the property known
municipally as 2451 and 2489 Bayview 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, to amend the legal description, clarify or
correct the Reasons for Designation, Heritage Attributes, Statement of Cultural
Heritage Value pursuant to Section 30.1 of the Ontario Heritage Act.
Proposed Amendment to Designation By-law
The purpose and effect of the
proposed amendment to the designation by-law are as follows:
To revise the Reasons for Designation to
describe the site's cultural heritage value and attributes and to amend the
legal description to include the entirety of the historic 20-acre property, and
to protect the archaeological sites known as the Whitney Site (AkGu-77) and the
Whitney 2 Site (AkGu-82).
AMENDED STATEMENT OF SIGNFICANCE
2451 AND 2489 Bayview
Avenue
(REASONS FOR
DESIGNATION)
The Windfields Estate property located at 2451
and 2489 Bayview Avenue is worthy of designation under Part IV, Section 29 of
the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural value and meets Regulation 9/06, the
provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation.
Description
The designated portion of the property is now located within City of
Toronto parkland known as Windfields Park (2451 Bayview Avenue) and is publicly
accessible via the Wilket Creek Trail running along the southern portion of the
property from Bayview Avenue to Wilket Creek. The eastern boundary of the
property is within a Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) regulated
area. The property also encompasses the Whitney Site (AkGu-77) and the Whitney
2 Site (AkGu-82), which have been identified and registered for their
archaeological significance. The built components and landscaped grounds of the
historic Windfields Estate have been tenanted and adaptively-reused by the
Canadian Film Centre since 1988 – a bequest of E.P. Taylor and gesture befitting
his long-term patronage of the arts.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Design or Physical Value
The Main House (1937) is designed with features of the Colonial Revival
style, which was particularly popular for prestigious residential buildings
during the early to mid-1900s. With elements drawn from English Georgian
architecture as interpreted in North America in the 18th century, the style was
promoted in American pattern books as part of the renewed patriotism evoked by
the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. Often called Georgian
Revival in Canada, the Main House at Windfields demonstrates the style in its
overall symmetry, application of classical elements, and multi-paned sash
windows. The Main House is complemented by the adjacent Stables that date to
the same period with the classically detailed window openings and portico, as
well as a seamlessly integrated north wing extension to the Main House in 1948
and auxiliary buildings added after the Second World War that combine the
bungalow style with classical highlights. Among the outbuildings, the
Greenhouse was built according to plans from the famous American company of
Lord and Burnham, which was founded in the mid-19th century and introduced its
prototypical steel-framed greenhouse with curvilinear glass walls in 1891.
Historical or Associative Value
Windfields is also valued for its historical
associations with businessman E. P. Taylor, architects Earle C. Morgan and
Jocelyn Davidson and since 1988, as the headquarters of the Canadian Film
Centre.
Toronto architect Earle C. Morgan laid out the estate and prepared the
plans for several of the buildings on the grounds. After graduating from the
University of Toronto, Morgan (1903-1972) practiced alone during the 1930s, a
period when he received the commission for Windfields from his brother-in-law,
E. P. Taylor. In the late 1940s during his association with Toronto architect
Gordon S. Adamson, Morgan designed the Gatehouse at Windfields, followed by the
north wing of the Main House and the basement theatre, the Potting Shed and
Greenhouse, Garage, and three Cottages for the gardener, chauffeur and other
staff. While Morgan is credited with numerous industrial buildings and
facilities for horse racing, his most notable commission was the O’Keefe Centre,
which he co-designed with Peter Dickinson during the pair’s association with
the Toronto architectural partnership of Page and Steele.
Following the layout of the Windfields estate, Toronto architect Jocelyn
Davidson (1892-1974) designed the Main House and the Stables (1937). Davidson
can be credited with some of the most impressive private residences and
mansions in Canada in the early-20th century, having previously accepted
commissions for country houses in North York for important businessmen and
jurists, including George B. Heintzman, Justice Henry H. Davis and Percy R.
Gardiner's Rivermede estate at 3100 Weston Road. Prior to preparing the plans
for Windfields, Davidson designed his own residence on Old Yonge Street in
North York. Davidson relocated to Vancouver after World War II, and Windfields
remains both his largest residential commission and one of the few surviving
examples of his portfolio in Toronto.
While no landscape architect is identified with
the Taylor era of Windfields, a commemorative plaque on the grounds
acknowledges Joe Hayward, a member of the British Horticultural Society who
contributed to the landscaping of the property.
The property at 2451 and 2489 Bayview Avenue
also contains two registered archaeological sites. These sites, which pre-date
the creation of the Windfields Estate, are historically significant for their
potential to yield information that contributes to an understanding of an
early- to mid-19th century occupancy of the property by members of the Whitney
family and their tenants. The Whitney Site (AkGu-77) is located near the west
end of the property within the open space with grass and trees that is outlined
by the curved driveway. A Stage 1 and 2 archaeological assessment in 2010 and
two Stage 3 archaeological assessments in 2010 and 2018 documented the presence
of early 19th century artifacts, including building materials, kitchenware and
other domestic objects, as well as faunal material (mammal bone
fragments). The Whitney 2 Site (AkGu-82)
is located in the southwest corner of the estate (south of the circular drive
in the open space with trees and remnant orchard). A Stage 1 and 2
archaeological assessment in 2010 and a Stage 3 archaeological assessment
(dated August 2013) documented the presence of early 19th century
artifacts, including building materials,
faunal material, kitchenware, and additional domestic objects, including a clay
pipe.
Contextual Value
Contextually, Windfields is a landmark on Bayview Avenue with
its expansive site with natural features and landscaping, the prominent estate
house (Main House), and the collection of related buildings. The site is
historically linked to its surroundings in North York, where it was among the
first country estates developed on the street following the extension of
Bayview Avenue north of Eglinton Avenue East in 1929. Other country estates in
North York that were commissioned by E. P. Taylor’s contemporaries have been
either demolished or reduced in size, making Windfields unique with the
retention of its original 20-acre site, buildings and landscape features.
Heritage Attributes
The heritage attributes of the property located
at 2451 and 2489 Bayview Avenue are:
Windfields Estate (1937; 1948-1952 expansion)
·
The location and
configuration of the country estate on the east side of Bayview Avenue, with
the built components situated on former rolling farmland containing heritage
woodlots and orchards alongside Wilket Creek
·
The placement and
orientation of the Main House and auxiliary buildings to one another and to
their informal and formal landscaped setting
·
The unifying exterior
material palette of the built components, featuring Credit Valley limestone,
red brick cladding, wood cladding and trim, slate and cedar shingles, and iron
and copper detailing
Main House (1937; north wing, 1948)
Exterior Attributes
·
The scale, form and
massing of the detached house-form building with the 2-storey rectangular plan
and frontispieces on the west and east elevations
·
The materials, with
textured stone cladding and smooth stone, wood, and metal detailing
·
The gable roof with
extended eaves and friezes, returned eaves on the main roof, wing and
frontispieces, stone chimneys (including an oversized chimney at the north
end), and slate cladding
·
On the principal
(west) elevation, the placement of the main entrance in an enclosed porch with
octagonal window openings beneath a gabled frontispiece with a Palladian window
·
The west entry, which
is recessed in a panelled and classically detailed wood surround that is
surmounted by a swan’s neck pediment incorporating a pineapple motif (the
original door was replaced)
·
The rear (east)
elevation that overlooks the terrace, where the gabled frontispieces
incorporate balconies with metal detailing in the second storey
·
The fenestration,
which consists of flat-headed openings that are placed in singles, pairs and
trios and contain multi-paned sash windows
·
The window detailing,
with wood lintels on the first-floor openings on the west elevation, and
panelled aprons on some of the openings on the west and north elevations
·
The flagstone terrace
with its steps and retaining walls, accessed from openings on the east
elevation
·
The placement of the
house on the east side of Bayview Avenue where it is set back from the
thoroughfare and accessed by a circular driveway
Interior Attributes
·
The first-floor
entrance hall (west) with the classical frieze, the wood panelling and wood and
marble fireplace surround in the library, and the main staircase with metalwork
bows decorating the spindles
·
The second-floor
plaster frieze with racehorse motifs on the main staircase landing and the
fireplace surround in the study
·
The movie theatre in
the basement
Stables (1937)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the complex, with a single-storey stable (east) attached to a
1.5-storey garage (west)
·
The materials, with
wood cladding and trim
·
On the stables, the
gable roof with a catslide (north) and hip-roofed ventilators with
weathervanes, the classically-detailed door and window openings, the panelled
doors, and the portico protecting the north entrance with the glazed door and
sidelights
·
The garage, which is
covered by a gable roof with a catslide (north), shed-roofed wall dormer
(north), returned eaves (south), and a pair of gable-roofed dormers (south),
and has classically-detailed flat-headed door and window openings with
multi-pane sash windows
·
The placement and
orientation of the complex south of the Main House and at the west end of the
group of auxiliary buildings, with the Potting Shed and Greenhouse directly
east
Potting Shed (1948) and Greenhouse (1952)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the complex, where the Greenhouse is attached to the east end of the
Potting Shed
·
The Potting Shed,
with the single-storey rectangular plan, the gable roof with a central brick
chimney, the wood applied for the clapboard cladding, corner boards and
dentilled cornice (west), the centrally-placed main (west) entrance, and the
fenestration where the symmetrically-placed flat-headed openings contain
multi-paned windows
·
The Greenhouse, with
the single-storey rectangular plan, the curved roof with glazing, and the
glazed walls on a concrete base
·
The placement of the
complex southeast of the Main House, where it forms part of the collection of
auxiliary buildings with the Stables, Garage and three workers’ cottages
Cottage A/B (1948)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1.5-storey semi-detached house form buildings that feature a
rectangular plan with a north frontispiece and a rear (south) enclosed porch
·
The materials, with
brick cladding and wood trim
·
The gable roof, which
has cedar shingles, a central brick chimney, an extended shed-roofed dormer
(south), and returned eaves on the gable ends and frontispiece
·
On the principal
(north) facades, the central gabled frontispiece where the main entrances to
the cottages are placed on its east and west side walls
·
The entries,
containing panelled wood doors with multi-paned glazed inserts
·
The fenestration,
which is symmetrically organized with flat-headed openings and multi-paned sash
windows (some of the shutters are original, most have been restored or
replaced) complementing the style and vintage of the buildings
·
The placement of the
buildings beside (east of) Cottage D at the southeast corner of the group of
auxiliary buildings that adjoin the Main House to the northwest
Chauffeur’s Cottage / Cottage C (1948)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1.5-storey detached house form building with a rectangular plan
and an east wing
·
The materials, with
brick cladding and wood trim
·
The gable roof, with
extended and returned eaves and a brick chimney
·
The main (south)
entry, with the panelled door and a multi-paned glazed insert
·
The fenestration,
which is symmetrically organized with flat-headed openings and multi-paned sash
windows (the shutters, while not original, complement the style and period of
the building)
·
The placement and
orientation of the cottage beside (east of) the Potting Shed and Greenhouse,
and at the northeast corner of the collection of auxiliary buildings that
adjoin the Main House to the northwest
Gardener’s Cottage / Cottage D (1948)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1.5-storey detached house form building with a rectangular plan
·
The materials, with
brick cladding and wood trim
·
The gable roof with a
centrally-placed brick chimney and, on the rear (south) slope, an extended
shed-roofed dormer
·
On the principal
(north) facade, the centrally-placed main entrance with a panelled door and
multi-paned glazed insert, and the secondary entry on the east wall
·
The fenestration,
with symmetrically organized flat-headed openings and multi-paned sash windows
(the wood shutters are not original but complement the style and period of the
house)
·
The placement and
orientation of the building west of Cottage A/B, east of the Garage and
opposite (south of) the Potting Shed and Greenhouse where it forms part of the
collection of auxiliary buildings that adjoin the Main House to the northwest
Garage (1948)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1-storey garage
·
The materials, with
wood cladding and trim
·
The fenestration,
with symmetrically organized flat-headed openings on the north elevation
·
The placement and
orientation of the building opposite (south of) the Stables and east of Cottage
D, at the southwest corner of the collection of auxiliary buildings that adjoin
the Main House to the northwest
Gatehouse (1948)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1-storey detached bungalow with a U-shaped plan
·
The materials, with
brick cladding and wood trim
·
The gable roof with extended
eaves, a brick chimney, and slate shingles
·
The main (south)
entrance, which is recessed in a stone surround and features a panelled door
and a transom with a geometric pattern
·
The fenestration,
where the flat-headed openings with casement windows are grouped in pairs and
trios, with an extended glazed area on the south wall at the east end
·
On the interior, the
E. P. Taylor office at the south end (east) with wood panelling and a stone
fireplace surround
·
The General Manager’s
office at the south end (west) with cubbyholes for letterhead and envelopes
·
The flagstone patio
·
The placement and
orientation of the building at the northwest corner of the property near the
north entrance from Bayview Avenue and at the north end of the circular drive
Landscape and Circulation Features
·
The distinct formal
and natural landscape zones within the estate property that demonstrate the
highly considered positioning of the buildings within their surroundings
·
The estate’s
circulation system that negotiates between the natural and built components,
intentionally permitting certain views of these features and means of accessing
them
Formal, Planned Landscape Zones and Features
·
Directly west of the
principal (west) elevation of the Main House, including a defined green space
containing mature specimen trees planted for E. P. Taylor and stretching out
from the building’s main entrance to the west boundary of the property with its
stone pillars and stone and wood fences
·
Adjacent to the east
elevation of the Main House, the flagstone terraces and formal garden, with
boxwood and cedar hedges along the north and south edges, providing an
east-west axis connection with the former swimming pool and cabanas (now the
North Dancer Pavilion), and the retaining walls that separate the formal garden
from the informal open space
·
At the northeast end
of the property, east of the Gatehouse and north of the Main House, the open
green space containing mature specimen trees that were planted for E. P. Taylor
·
Directly north of the
Main House, the defined rose garden with its stone retaining walls and
commemorative plaque mounted on a large stone
·
North of the Northern
Dancer Pavilion, the circular stone water feature with hedge border and benches
(2014) that replaced the original concrete basins
·
At the south side of
the Main House, the designed courtyard (2014) with its stone stairs and
circular ramp (with railings featuring the Muybridge horses) providing access
to the collection of auxiliary buildings
Natural Landscape Zones and Features
·
Along the west
boundary of the property, the Bayview Avenue Woodlot, a wooded buffer
separating and screening the estate from Bayview Avenue
·
East of the Northern
Dancer Pavilion, the orchard that is flanked on the east by a line of trees and
shrubs and wood paddock fencing separating the orchard from the open lawns that
extend eastward to the wooded area bordering Wilket Creek (east of Wilket Creek
formerly the setting of E. P. Taylor’s golf course)
·
Along the south
boundary, the cedar hedge separating the property from Country Lane
·
Near the southwest
border of the property, the remnants of an orchard associated with the earlier
development of the site as farmland
·
Near the north border
of the property, the wooded areas
Circulation Features
·
The circular driveway
off Bayview Avenue with its gates with paired masonry posts that mark the north
and south entrances
·
Along the east edge
of the circular drive, the stone fence with the gap for a service driveway
between the Main House (north) and the Stables (south) that continues between
the auxiliary buildings
·
South of the terraces
and north of the Greenhouse, the allée with the two rows of trees on an
east-west axis
·
The flagstone walkway
north of the Gardener’s Cottage (Cottage D)
CFC Northern Dancer Pavilion (2014)
·
The scale, form and
massing of the 1-story pavilion structure on a rectangular plan with clerestory
and basement
·
The materials, steel
framed with stone cladding on the west side (matching the stone on the Main
House, from a quarry in Wiarton) and cedar cladding on the north, west and
south sides
·
The openings, with
the floor to ceiling glazing on the west side of the main room and a Nano wall
feature on the east side
·
On the interior, the
sprung hardwood floor, stained to replicate and commemorate the outline of the
former swimming pool
·
The placement and
orientation of the building east of the Main House at the foot of the terraced
gardens, on the site of the former swimming pool and cabanas
Views and Vistas
From the Main House:
·
northwest to the
north entrance from Bayview Avenue and the Gatehouse
·
north to the rose
garden with stone retaining walls
·
northeast across the
open space with the mature specimen trees and landscaped features to the north
property boundary
·
east across the
terraced gardens (with the retaining walls and hedges), past the Northern
Dancer Pavilion to the orchard and east property boundary
·
southeast to the
unique grouping of the auxiliary buildings (Stables, Potting Shed &
Greenhouse, Cottages A/B, C & D and Garage)
·
southwest to the
south entrance from Bayview Avenue and the remnant orchard
From the south end of the circular driveway:
·
the view northeast to
the Main House
From the Gatehouse:
·
the view southeast to
the Main House
From the east end of the property:
·
the view west from
the orchard, past the Northern Dancer Pavilion and across the terraced grounds
to the Main House
From the east side of the Gatehouse:
·
the view east across
Windfields Park with the landscaped grounds and specimen trees to the east
property boundary
Archaeology
·
The archaeological
site known as the Whitney Site (AkGu-77), which is located within the open and
treed space outlined by the circular driveway between Bayview Avenue (west) and
the main house (east)
· The archaeological site known as Whitney 2 Site (AkGu-82) that is situated in the southwest corner of the property, south of the circular driveway, east of Bayview Avenue and directly west of the westernmost parking area
N.B. The shed located south of the Garage and
the tennis court near the southeast corner of the property are not identified
as heritage attributes.
Notice of Objection to Proposed Amendment to Designation By-law
An owner may serve a notice of an objection to
the Proposed Amendment to Designation By-law 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 (30) days of December 19, 2024, which is January 20, 2025.
The notice of objection to the Notice of Proposed Amendment to Designation
By-law must set out the reason(s) for the objection and all relevant facts.
Getting Additional Information:
Further information in respect of the Proposed
Amendment to Designation By-law is available from the City of Toronto at:
https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2024.PH17.15.
Dated at the City of Toronto on December 19, 2024.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk