171 Lowther Avenue - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

Constructed between 1901 and 1902, the three-storey house-form building is designed in a mix of the Queen Anne Revival and Edwardian Classicism styles. Staff have determined that the property at 171 Lowther Avenue meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act under the categories of design/physical and contextual values. A property may be designated under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, if it meets two or more of the nine criteria. As of January 1, 2023, should a property be subject to an Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment and/or Draft Plan of Subdivision Application that would trigger a Prescribed Event, the property must be listed in the heritage register prior to the Prescribed Event occurring to designate a property under Section 29(1.2)1 of the Ontario Heritage Act. The property was listed on the City's Heritage Register on July 19, 2023. The City received a notice from the property owner objecting to the inclusion of the subject property on the Heritage Register. Following a review of the objection, staff are of the opinion that the property 171 Lowther Avenue holds cultural heritage value. On November 6, 2023, the Toronto Preservation Board recommended to the Planning and Housing Committee that City Council continue to include the property at 171 Lowther Avenue on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register. That report will be considered by Planning and Housing Committee on November 30, 2023 and together with this report at City Council at its meeting on December 13, 14 and 15, 2023. An Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment application for the properties at 171-175 Lowther Avenue has been submitted, but not yet deemed complete. The application proposes the partial conservation of the building at 175 Lowther Avenue. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.

2. If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the Bill in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.