94 Isabella Street - Proposed Designation By-law Under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Consideration of Objections

Designed by Edmund Burke of the prominent architecture firm Langley & Burke, the house was constructed in c.1885 for Helen E. McMaster. The Queen Anne Revival-style residence later served as a private hospital, a rooming house, and a home for Jesuit priests. City Council included the subject property on the City of Toronto's Heritage Register in 1981. 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 Ontario Heritage Act came into force on July 1, 2021. City Council has until April 18, 2023, 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 Ontario Heritage Act. Staff have reviewed the objections raised by the owner and are of the opinion that despite these objections, the property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, under all three categories of design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual values. As the property has cultural heritage value or interest and meets the prescribed criteria pursuant to Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, this property should be designated. Designation enables Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.