Engagement of the Public in New Development Proposals that Include “Batch-Listed” Heritage Properties

If the listings are adopted by City Council, they are added to the Heritage Register. In due course, they are considered by Heritage Staff for designation under the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA), often in association with development applications that include all or some of the buildings in a particular batch. Listed properties affected by the development that are not recommended for designation are not protected from demolition by the OHA. As a result of discussion at Toronto Preservation Board on July 11, 2022, of agenda item 36.8 regarding the designation of 1913 Yonge Street, one of a row of previously batch-listed buildings, board members Geoff Kettel and Paul Farrelly noted that there is no documented process to inform the public of the potential demolition of any listed properties not considered by Staff as worthy of designation. If they are demolished the Heritage Registry would be amended to indicate the demolition (without any public notice or further documentation).