1117 Queen Street West - Proposed Designation By-Law under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Consideration of Objection

The subject property is located on the south side of Queen Street West, between Lisgar Street and Abell Street in the West Queen West neighbourhood, and contains Postal Station 'C', a two-storey building completed in 1903. The Beaux-Arts building was designed by the architecture branch of the federal Department of Public Works, with S.G. Curry acting as the local associate architect. The property was listed on the City of Toronto's Inventory of Heritage Properties (now the Heritage Register) on June 20, 1973, and is a landmark property within the proposed West Queen West Heritage Conservation District. In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act which included amendments to the listing and designation processes. The Bill 108 Amendments to the Act came into force on July 1, 2021. City Council has 90 days from the date of the end of the objection period, to make a decision on this objection as per the timeline under the Act. The objector submitted a waiver to the City extending the time period in which City Council must make a decision on the objection until April 17, 2023. Staff have reviewed the objections raised on behalf of Queen Street Post Inc. and remain of the opinion that this property holds cultural heritage value or interest. The property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, s. 29 of the Act under all three categories of design and physical, historical and associative, and contextual values. Staff have re-examined the Statement of Significance (Reasons for Designation) for the property at 1117 Queen Street West and recommend a revision to clarify that the loading dock on the rear (south) elevation is not considered a heritage attribute. As the property has cultural heritage value or interest and meets the prescribed criteria pursuant to Part IV, s. 29 of the Act, staff are of the opinion that this property should be designated. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.

2. City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the bill in City Council designating the property at 1117 Queen Street West under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.