4 Beaumont Road NORTH ROSEDALE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT PLAN Prepared by: E.R.A. Architects Inc. 10 St. Mary St. Suite 801 Toronto, Ontario M4Y 1P9 Date: May 03 2004 North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan AA MMeessssaaggee ffrroomm tthhee PPrreessiiiddeenntt ooff tthhee NNoorrtthh RRoosseeddaalllee RRaatteeppaayyeerrss AAssssoocciiiaattiiioonn Fellow North Rosedale Residents: The North Rosedale Ratepayers Association is pleased to enclose a copy of the Heritage Study for North Rosedale. This study has been in the works for more than 15 months. Our Heritage Committee, chaired by John Hogarth, and more than 50 volunteers have worked together, guided by E.R.A. Architects Inc. The study provides a brief but interesting history of the early development of North Rosedale. Additional research, including a photograph and other information for each of the 917 residential properties in North Rosedale, is now available on our upgraded web site (www.northrosedale.ca). This report, describing the heritage merits of North Rosedale, is the result of the tremendous enthusiasm and many hours of labour on the part of a group of community-minded volunteers. We hope this study provides North Rosedale residents – present and future -- with a clear link to the origins of their community. It presents a strong rational for the adoption of a historical district for North Rosedale. The initiative and costs were underwritten by the NRRA, and supported by the help and donations of generous individuals in our community, as well as the City of Toronto. The study has found that North Rosedale’s streetscapes have significant heritage value with 51% of the homes rated as having historical merit. North Rosedale has many significant and historical buildings on a scale that create a unique and exceptional streetscape -- bounded on three sides with ravines still in their natural state. Few neighbourhoods have such a rich architectural variety of homes, many built by renowned architects using classic styles, and many of which have been home to historically significant Canadians. This report presents the rationale for North Rosedale to be declared a heritage conservation district by The City of Toronto. This proposal has been unanimously supported by the NRRA board of directors. The designation will provide important tools to manage future change in our community so that the best parts of our heritage and the “feel” of our streetscapes are preserved. Heritage guidelines have been developed to provide guidance and assistance to those wishing to make changes to the fronts of their properties. Why is heritage preservation in the interests of individual property owners in North Rosedale? First, stable neighbourhoods enhance property values because they remain desirable communities. Second, guidelines such as these allow property owners to renew and make improvements while ensuring individual actions don’t have a negative impact on the streetscape. Third, the charm of what we have in the centre of a burgeoning city is truly worth preserving for many generations to come. You can check out the information about your property on our website. Please feel free to add any relevant and interesting information by following the instructions. Finally, on behalf of the NRRA Board and all members of the North Rosedale community, we thank all the volunteers for their many contributions to this study. Special thanks go to Councillor Kyle Rae for his enthusiasm and support, and to ERA Architects, particularly Michael McClelland and David Winterton, for their guidance that has made this report such a credible document. On behalf of the NRRA Board, J. Patrick Howe NRRA President ERA Architects Inc. Page 1 May 3 2004 North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan AAcckknnoowwllleeddggeemmeennttss When the NRRA first publicly announced it was undertaking a Heritage Conservation District Plan we were overwhelmed with 55 local residents volunteering to help with the research. Subsequently we have also had literally hundreds of community minded neighbours contribute money towards this most worthwhile study. In particular the NRRA would like to thank the following group of volunteers for outstanding commitment and exceptional work done on behalf of our community. The dedication, enthusiasm and leadership shown by this group of volunteers is inspiring. Gill Fortier Dorothy Macdonald Ed Freeman Carolyn MacLean Rona Gray Jim MacLean Marie Hall Nancy McFadyen Annabelle Heintzman Brian Pearson John Hogarth Michael Rodger Patrick Howe Guy Upjohn Sue Howe Kathy Von Laetham Harvey Kalles Niki Warrington Marian Lawson Jane Wilton The following lent their time and their digital camera prowess in documenting the houses of the neighbourhood: Ed Freeman, David Greyson, Gavin Illingworth, and Brian Pearson. In particular we commend Guy Upjohn and his consistently pleasant attitude as he tirelessly inputted all the data for the study. Thank you all for your efforts. ERA Architects Inc. Page 3 May 3 2004 North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Plan TTaabblllee ooff CCoonntteennttss A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH ROSEDALE RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION .............................................................................................................................................................1 LETTER FROM CITY COUNCILLOR ...................................................................................................................2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..........................................................................................................................................3 TABLE OF CONTENTS..............................................................................................................................................4 LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................................................5 1.0 SUMMARY OF THE HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT PLAN...................................................6 2.0 BACKGROUND TO THE PLAN.........................................................................................................................8 2.1 PLAN METHODOLOGY...........................................................................................................................................8 2.2 PLAN AREA ...........................................................................................................................................................8 3.0 ACHIEVING A HERITAGE CONSERVATION DISTRICT .........................................................................9 3.1 CITY OF TORONTO (PRE-AMALGAMATION) OFFICIAL PLAN ...............................................................................9 3.2 ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT....................................................................................................................................10 4.0 DISTRICT ANALYSIS ........................................................................................................................................11 4.1 COLONIAL DEVELOPMENT 1791-1850..............................................................................................................11 4.2 DEVELOPMENT 1850 - 1910 ..............................................................................................................................12 4.3 DEVELOPMENT 1910 – 1950..............................................................................................................................17 4.4 DEVELOPMENT 1950 – 2003..............................................................................................................................22 5.0 HERITAGE CHARACTER STATEMENTS ...................................................................................................23 5.1 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER STATEMENTS.....................................................................................................23 Pre 1900 - “Victorian” .......................................................................................................................................24 1900-1916 – Edwardian to mid-Great War........................................................................................................24 1917-1929 – Mid war to pre-Depression ...........................................................................................................25 1930-1945 – Great Depression / WWII ..............................................................................................................25 1946-1967 – Post War to Centennial Expo 67...................................................................................................26 1968 - Present......................................................................................................................................................26 5.2 STREETSCAPE CHARACTER STATEMENTS ..........................................................................................................27 Zone 1 – Ravine Lands ........................................................................................................................................28 Zone 2 - St. Andrews College Lands...................................................................................................................29 Zone 3 - Gore Lands............................................................................................................................................30 5.3 HERITAGE EVALUATIONS