Item - 2016.PB16.2

The Toronto Preservation Board recommends to the North York Community Council that:

1.  City Council state its intention to amend former Borough of East York By-law No. 6-87 to revise the Reasons for Designation in accordance with the Statement of Significance: 1477 Bayview Avenue attached as Attachment 4 to the report (August 10, 2016) from the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division to explain the cultural heritage value or interest of the property and describe its heritage attributes.

2.  If there are no objections to the proposed amendment in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the necessary bill in Council amending designating By-law No. 6-87.

3.  If there are objections in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, City Council direct the City Clerk to refer the proposed amendment to the Conservation Review Board.

4.  If the proposed amendment is referred to the Conservation Review Board, City Council authorize the City Solicitor and appropriate staff to attend any hearing held by the Conservation Review Board in support of Council's decision to amend the designating by-law.

5.  City Council include the views identified in this report in an amendment to the Official Plan Public Realm Policy, Section 3.1.1., Schedule 4.

This report recommends that City Council amend former Borough of East York By-law No. 6-87 designating the property at 1477 Bayview Avenue under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act to revise the Reasons for Designation in accordance with the 2005 changes to the Ontario Heritage Act.  The site contains the Garden Court Apartments (1939-46), a complex of 10 low-rise apartment buildings surrounding a central landscaped courtyard that is a local landmark in Toronto. 

The property owners have applied to convert the existing apartment complex with 104 rental units into a residential condominium.  To assist staff in assessing proposed changes to the site that may result from this application, it is important to update the existing designating by-law to reflect all of the property's cultural heritage values and attributes as set out in the 2005 amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act.