IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
2930 LAKE SHORE BOULEVARD WEST
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 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West
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
Description
The property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West,
formerly the New Toronto Post Office, is located on the northeast corner of
Lake Shore Boulevard West and Islington Avenue in the downtown area of New
Toronto. The property is comprised of a two-storey flat-roofed structure
constructed in 1935, featuring a double height main wing with prominent front
entrance, a two-storey rear wing, and a one-and-a-half storey flat-roofed annex
to the east constructed in 1960-61. Together the 1935 structure and 1960-61 annex
feature limestone cladding, polished black granite foundation and coping, and
flat-headed window and door openings with stone sills and voussoirs. The 1935
structure also features a cornice of four courses of alternating polished black
granite and limestone.
Statement of Cultural
Heritage Value
Design and Physical Value
The New Toronto Post Office has design and
physical value as a fine and representative example of a small-scale public
building constructed as part of the interwar period (1918-1939). Designed in
the Stripped-Classical style with Art Deco elements, it reflects the transition
towards modernism that typifies this period. Its flattened classical details
including cornice of contrasting stonework bands, flattened pilasters and
imposing door surround flanked by fluted columns are hallmarks of Stripped
Classicism, while the strong planarity of the contrasting bands of limestone
and black granite at the cornice and interior plasterwork of the lobby reflect
the influence of Art Deco. Constructed as part of the Public Works Construction
Act of 1934, its scale and high-quality materials, including exterior and
interior stonework, are particularly fine when compared to smaller scale public
buildings constructed after new design guidelines were introduced by the
Department of Public Works in 1936 to reduce costs. Designed to complement the
1935 structure, the 1960-61 addition features the same limestone cladding above
a polished black granite foundation and coping, and pilasters between windows.
Historical and Associative Value
The property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West
has value for its association with the Canadian postal system, which underwent
considerable change in the 1930s as a result of the Public Works Construction
Act of 1934. The Act resulted in the construction of 185 federal public
buildings across Canada. Constructed in 1935, the subject property's individual
design, finely executed in high quality materials on both the exterior and
interior, is reflective of this period.
The property at 2930 Lake Shore Boulevard West
has additional associative value for its contribution to the understanding of
the historical development and evolution of New Toronto as an independent
community where the property, like many post offices, occupies a prominent
location at the centre of the community.
Contextual Value
Constructed to house New Toronto's post office
by the Government of Canada in 1935, when Lake Shore Boulevard West between
Fifth and Ninth Streets emerged as New Toronto's downtown, the property at 2930
Lake Shore Boulevard West is physically, functionally, visually, and
historically linked to its surroundings.
The property is important in defining,
supporting, and maintaining the small-town commercial main street character of
Lake Shore Boulevard West between Fourth Street and Ninth Street which forms
the centre of New Toronto's downtown.
Prominently located at the centre of New
Toronto's downtown, where it anchors the northeast corner of Lake Shore
Boulevard West and Islington Avenue, the property has served as a community
landmark since 1935.
Heritage Attributes
Design or Physical Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the design and physical value of the
Property.
Exterior
·
The placement,
setback, and orientation of the structure at the northeast corner of Lake Shore
Boulevard West and Islington Avenue
·
The scale, form, and
massing of the structure with its rectangular plan, two-storey height, and flat
roof
·
The limestone
cladding and polished black granite foundation and coping on all elevations of
the structure
·
The stringcourses of
contrasting black granite and limestone on all elevations of the 1935 structure
·
The flat-headed
window and door openings with stone voussoirs and sills
·
The flattened fluted
carved stone pilasters between the windows on the south and west elevations of
the main wing of the 1935 structure and south elevation of the 1960-61 annex
·
The blind balustrades
below the first storey windows on the principal (south) and west elevations of
the 1935 structure
·
The raised central
entrance with semi-circular stone steps, transom and door surround flanked by
single fluted quarter columns beneath a metal casting of the Coat of Arms of
Canada
·
The central
entrance's recessed double doors with brass hardware and security shutters
·
The semi-circular
stone steps at the location of the former post office box
·
The decorative iron
work including transom grilles and basement light well covers
·
The chimney at the
rear northeast corner of the 1935 structure
Interior
The identified interior attributes are located
in the vestibule and former postal hall and include:
·
The terrazzo flooring
·
The gray-green marble
dado with black marble base and chair rail
·
The former post
office wicket openings
·
The decorative
plasterwork
·
The double vestibule
doors with hardware
·
The central skylight
Contextual Value
The following heritage attributes contribute to
the contextual value of the property:
·
The placement,
setback, and orientation of the structure at the northeast corner of Lake Shore
Boulevard West and Islington Avenue
·
The scale, form, and
massing of the structure with its rectangular plan, and flat roof
·
The limestone
cladding and polished black granite foundation and coping on all elevations of
the structure
·
The stringcourses of
contrasting black granite and limestone on all elevations of the 1935 structure
·
The flat-headed
window openings with stone voussoirs and sills
·
The flattened fluted
pilasters between the windows on the south and west elevations of the main wing
of the 1935 Structure and south elevation of the 1960-61 annex
·
The raised central
entrance with semi-circular stone steps, transom and door surround flanked by
single fluted quarter columns beneath a metal casting of the Coat of Arms of
Canada.
·
The central
entrance's recessed double doors with brass hardware and security shutters
·
The semi-circular
stone steps at the location of the former post office box
·
The flat headed
entrance on the west elevation with stone header and transom
·
The decorative iron
work including transoms and basement light wells covers
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 (30) days of March 31, 2025, which is April 30, 2025. 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=2025.PH19.8.
Dated at the City of Toronto on March 31, 2025.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk