50 Park Road - Alterations to a Designated Heritage Property under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act - Refusal

The building was constructed in 1954 as the headquarters of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) by the Toronto firm of John B. Parkin with John C. Parkin as the project architect. It won critical acclaim as a "landmark modern building" in Toronto with its simple low form, clean lines, smooth surfaces and exposed steel. Its relationship to the surrounding landscape is also a noted aspect of the design which took advantage of the "park setting created by the southern extension of Rosedale Park." The development proposes the demolition of the buildings on the adjacent properties at 38 and 40 Park Road and the construction of a new 31-storey mixed-use building that retains and integrates with the heritage building at 50 Park Road. Permission is required under Section 33 of the Ontario Heritage Act for the alterations to the heritage property associated with this new construction. The current proposal does not conform with the policies of the Official Plan and does not conserve the cultural heritage values and attributes of the Part IV designated property at 50 Park Road as a matter of provincial interest.

2. In the event this decision is appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and the necessary City staff to attend the Ontario Land Tribunal in opposition to the appeal and to continue discussions with the applicant to resolve outstanding issues.