Staff Report
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STAFF REPORT January 30, 2006 To: Toronto Preservation Board Toronto and East York Community Council From: Director, Policy & Research, City Planning Division Subject: Yonge Street from Marborough Avenue to the CPR Underpass - Inclusion of 10 Properties on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties Toronto Centre-Rosedale - Ward 27 Purpose: This report recommends that City Council include 10 properties on Yonge Street between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR Underpass on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. Financial Implications and Impact Statement: There are no financial implications resulting from the adoption of this report. The cost of publishing the notice of intention to designate in the daily newspaper is included in the approved 2006 Policy and Research budget. Recommendations: It is recommended that: (1) City Council include the following 10 properties on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties: (i) 1148 Yonge Street (Dominion Bank Branch, 1929); (ii) 1150 Yonge Street (Empire Building); (iii) 1156 Yonge Street (James Williamson Building); (iv) 1158 Yonge Street (James Williamson Building); (v) 1160 Yonge Street (Charles Plowman Building); (vi) 1162 Yonge Street (Charles Plowman Building); (vii) 1164 Yonge Street (John Doney Building); (viii) 1166 Yonge Street (John Doney Building); (ix) 1170 Yonge Street ( United Empire Bank Building); and (x) 1176 Yonge Street (Dominion Bank Branch, 1904); and - 2 - (2) the appropriate City Officials be authorized and directed to take the necessary action to give effect thereto. Background: There is concern in the neighbourhood about the potential redevelopment of part of the block on the west side of Yonge Street between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR underpass. In examining the entire block, staff have identified 10 properties that merit inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The inclusion of the properties on the heritage inventory would enable staff to monitor any proposed changes to the sites and encourage the retention of their heritage attributes. Comments: The block on the west side of Yonge Street between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR underpass contains a group of late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings, anchored on either end by bank branches built by the Dominion Bank. The group creates a historic precinct on both sides of Yonge Street with the recognized heritage properties comprised of the late 19th century commercial buildings at 1095-1103 Yonge Street, the North Toronto CPR Station (1916) at 1107 Yonge Street, and the former Pearce Arrow Showroom (1930) at 1140 Yonge Street. In evaluating the properties in the block between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR underpass, it was determined that the commercial building at #1154 Yonge Street does not merit inclusion on the Inventory of Heritage Properties. The properties at #1172-1174 Yonge are also excluded from Recommendations Nos. 1 and 2 because the original buildings have been replaced with a recent residential development. A location map (Attachment No. 1), historical overview of the area (Attachment No. 2), and photographs and Reasons for Listing (Attachment No. 3A-G) are attached. - 3 - Conclusions: It is recommended that City Council list the 10 properties identified in Recommendation No. 1 on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. Contact: Denise Gendron Manager, Heritage Preservation Services Tel: 416-338-1075 Fax: 416-392-1973 E-mail: [email protected] __________________________ Barbara Leonhardt Director, Policy and Research List of Attachments: Attachment No. 1 - Location Map (Yonge Street from Marlborough Avenue to the CPR Underpass) Attachment No. 2 - Historical Overview (Yonge Street from Marlborough Avenue to the CPR Underpass) Attachment No. 3 A-G - Photographs and Reasons for Listing (1148, 1150, 1156-1158, 1160- 1162, 1164-1166, 1170 and 1176 Yonge Street) LOCATION MAP: 1148-1176 YONGE STREET ATTACHMENT NO. 1 Note: within the group of properties outlined above, those at #1154 & #1172-74 are not included in the recommendations in the attached report HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ATTACHMENT NO. 2 Yonge Street from Marlborough Avenue to the CPR Underpass Photograph: Yorkville in Pictures (Toronto Public Library, 1978) page 20 From 1853 to 1883 when it was annexed by the City of Toronto, this section of Yonge Street was within the boundaries of the Village of Yorkville. The community developed north along Yonge Street, which represented the main route traveled by farmers delivering their goods to St. Lawrence Market. By the 1830s, a toll gate was in place north of Bloor Street near the Red Lion Inn, a famous hostelry. The adjacent ravine and watercourse attracted two major industries: brewing and brick making. While residential building lots were surveyed as early as the 1830s, improvements in transportation, particularly the “horse railway” operated by the Toronto Street Railway Company from 1861 onward, spurred the growth of the area. As illustrated in the photograph above, by 1865 the toll gate was relocated north of Marlborough Avenue. The first surviving tax assessment roll for Yorkville, dating to 1870, reveals that Edward Crown was the toll keeper and, in addition to his duties for York County, operated a store on the adjoining property. At that time, the only other occupants of the block north of Marlborough Avenue were a family of wagon makers. The following year (1871) witnessed the beginning of the steady development of this section of Yonge Street with a variety of tradespeople. Following annexation to the city, the 1880s were a period of infilling and rebuilding. Further development was delayed until the early 20th century when two bank branches appeared, presumably in anticipation of the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s North Toronto Station, located directly opposite this block. This report recommends that 10 properties within the block between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR underpass be included on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties. The group includes three bank branches (one of which is still in operation), along with a series of commercial buildings that date from the early 1880s and, with alterations, the mid-20th century. They include the James Williamson Buildings at #1156-1158 Yonge (c.1880), distinguished by their mansard roofs and shown on the left side of the photograph above. Beyond the architectural merits of the 10 properties, they contribute contextually to the area. A historic precinct is formed on both sides of Yonge Street north of Marlborough, anchored by the CPR North Toronto Station (1916) at 1107 Yonge Street with the adjoining late 19th century commercial buildings at #1095-1099, 1101 and 1105 Yonge and, at the southwest corner of Marlborough, the former Pierce Arrow Showroom (1930) at #1140 Yonge. All of the latter sites are recognized on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties for their cultural heritage value. Heritage Preservation Services January 2006 REASONS FOR LISTING ATTACHMENT NO. 3A 1148 Yonge Street: Dominion Bank Branch (1929) Description: The property at 1148 Yonge Street is worthy of inclusion on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties for its cultural heritage value or interest. Located on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Marlborough Avenue, the branch of the Dominion Bank (forerunner to the Toronto-Dominion Bank and TD Canada Trust) was completed following the issuance of a building permit in 1929. Statement of Cultural Heritage Value: The cultural heritage value of the property at 1148 Yonge Street is related to its architectural significance as a representative example of an early 20th century bank branch designed in the Modern Classical style. Popularized for public buildings in the 1920s, the design incorporates the hallmarks of this style, particularly the symmetrical placement of the door and window openings, flat roof and simplified Classical detailing. The cultural heritage value of the Dominion Bank Branch also relates to its historical association with Toronto architect John M. Lyle, among whose commissions of note were the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Runnymede Library and Union Station (in partnership). Apart from branch, Lyle designed numerous other bank buildings, including the Yonge and Gerrard Branch of the Dominion Bank (1930) at 378 Yonge Street, which is a recognized heritage property. The cultural heritage value of the Dominion Bank is also connected to its contextual value as the anchor building at the south end of the block on the west side of Yonge Street between Marlborough Avenue and the CPR underpass. This group of late 19th and early 20th century commercial buildings forms a historic precinct on both sides of Yonge Street with the recognized heritage properties comprised of the late 19th century commercial buildings at #1095-1099, 1101 and 1103 Yonge, the North Toronto CPR Station (1916) at #1109 Yonge, and the former Pierce Arrow Showroom (1930) at #1140 Yonge. 2 Heritage Attributes: The heritage attributes of the Dominion Bank Branch related to its architectural significance as a representative example of an early 20th century bank branch designed in the Modern Classical style are found on the principal (east) façade, the south elevation facing Marlborough Avenue, and the flat roof above. Rising one extended storey above a stone base, the structure is clad with red brick and trimmed with cast stone. The piers that anchor the northeast, southeast and southwest corners of the building are connected by a cornice that extends across the east and south elevations (on both walls, the namebands beneath the cornice have been removed). The cornice incorporates roundels and scalloped mouldings under a brick parapet with stone coping. On the east façade, the main entrance is centrally placed in a moulded stone surround with an entablature, dentils and a nameplate reading “YONGE & MARLBOROUGH BRANCH.” The entry is flanked by single flat-headed window openings in moulded stone frames with sculpted garlands and bracketed sills. This detailing is repeated on the three symmetrically-placed window openings that mark the south wall.