164 and 166 Isabella Street - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act

James Town neighbourhood. A location map and current photograph of the heritage property are found in Attachment 2. Constructed in 1887 by builder James Hewlett, the properties are a pair of large semi-detached red-brick residences that appear as a single grand residence. Designed in a late-nineteenth century vernacular interpretation of the Gothic Revival style, the red brick clad structure features symmetrically organized gabled bays with an elaborate steeply pitched roofline. Staff have determined that the properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street have cultural heritage value and meet 3 of the Ontario Regulation 9/06 criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act. 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. The properties were both listed on the City's Heritage Register on January 15, 1991. On August 18, 2025, the City received Official Plan Amendment, Zoning By-law Amendment, and Site Plan Control applications related to the proposed redevelopment of the subject properties at 164 and 166 Isabella Street, along with the adjacent Part IV designated property at 168 Isabella Street, with a 69-storey residential building containing 660 units. The proposed development will integrate the historic structures into the new residential building. Since the above noted development applications have been made to the City, a Prescribed Event under the Ontario Heritage Act may occur on this property.

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.