IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO
HERITAGE ACT
R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER O.18 AND
CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO
164 AND 166 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 164 and 166 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
Description
The properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street
are located on the north side of Isabella Street between Sherbourne Street and
Huntley Street in the North St. James Town neighbourhood. Constructed in 1887
by builder James Hewlett, the properties are a pair of large semi-detached
residences that appear as a single grand residence. Designed in a
late-nineteenth century vernacular interpretation of the Gothic Revival style the
properties feature symmetrically organized gabled bays and steeply pitched
complicated roofline.
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value
Design and Physical Value
The properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street
have design and physical value as a representative example of pair of
semi-detached residences designed in a late-nineteenth century vernacular
interpretation of the Gothic Revival style to appear as a grand single-family
residence. The combination of cross gabled bays featuring decorative
bargeboards and brackets, pedimented dormers with decorative woodwork, and
complicated roofline are hallmarks of the Gothic Revival style. Symmetrically
organized around a shared central bay, the principal elevation of the two
properties presents the unified appearance of a single structure.
Contextual Value
The properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street
are important in defining, supporting, and maintaining the predominant
late-nineteenth century residential character of the surrounding area bounded
by Sherbourne, Selby, Huntley, and Isabella Streets where an eclectic mix of
Victorian-era architectural styles continue to define the streetscape today.
The properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street
are physically, functionally, visually, and historically linked to their
surroundings. Designed to appear as a grand single-family residence, the
properties were constructed during the period when the surrounding area emerged
as an upper-class neighbourhood in late 19th century. The properties, along
with the adjacent properties at 168 Isabella Street and 556 Sherbourne Street
to the east, anchor the northwest corner of Sherbourne and Isabella Streets.
Heritage Attributes
Design or Physical Value
Attributes that contribute to the physical value
of the properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street as a pair of semi-detached
residences designed in a late-nineteenth century vernacular interpretation of
the Gothic Revival style to appear as a grand single-family residence:
·
their scale, form and
massing with red brick cladding and complicated rooflines with steep two-storey
roof with slate shingles
·
the east, west, and
south elevations with their three-storey gabled bays with decorative woodwork
including carved wooden bargeboards and brackets
·
the two-storey oriel
window on the west elevation's rectangular bay
·
the central chimney
above the central gable on the principal elevation
·
the symmetrically
organized window openings with stone sills and lintels on the principal (south)
elevation and stone sills with brick voussoirs on the east and west elevations
·
the pedimented
dormers with decorative woodwork at the principal
(south) elevation
·
the raised entrance
on the principal (south) elevation at 166 Isabella Street with interior
vestibule double wooden doors and glass transom
·
the raised entrance
facing Isabella Street on the west elevation at 164 Isabella Street
·
the stone verandah
foundations at 164 Isabella Street
Contextual Value
Attributes that contribute to the value of the
properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street in defining, supporting, and
maintaining the predominant late-nineteenth century residential character of
the surrounding area and being physically, functionally, visually, and
historically linked to their surroundings:
·
their scale, form,
and massing as a pair of late-nineteenth century semi-detached residences
·
their siting and
orientation on the north side of Isabella Street and shared setback with 168
Isabella Street and 556 Sherbourne Street
·
their legibility as a
pair of grand semi-detached residential structures
·
the material palette
typical of Victorian Era buildings, including red brick with stone and wood
detailing
·
the complicated
roofline with prominent cross gables, dormers, and two-storey oriel window at
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:
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 November 17, 2025, which is December 17, 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.PH25.15.
Dated at the City of Toronto on November 17, 2025.
John D. Elvidge
City Clerk