Item - 2016.PB19.9

The Toronto Preservation Board received for information the report (November 24, 2016) from Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning entitled Proceeding from Study to Plan Phase for the Proposed Distillery District Heritage Conservation District.

The Toronto Preservation Board supported the preparation of a Distillery District Heritage Conservation District Plan.

The Toronto Preservation Board supported the establishment of a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) prior to the commencement of the Distillery District Heritage Conservation District Plan, with such committee to be comprised of a diverse and representative sample of property owners, residents and community organizations within and adjacent to the proposed Plan area.

This report recommends that the Toronto Preservation Board support City Planning's decision to proceed from the Study Phase to the Plan Phase of the proposed Distillery District Heritage Conservation District (HCD) as identified in the map below.

Beginning in February 2016, a consultant team led by Taylor Hazell Architects (THA) has undertaken a study of the potential for this area to be designated as an HCD under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act. This study followed the procedures adopted by City Council for the preparation of HCD studies (the Terms of Reference), and has determined that the area contains cultural heritage value and would be best preserved as an HCD. Designation as an HCD would provide a heritage planning framework that could better ensure the long-term conservation of the area's cultural heritage value and integrity, and to manage change to be complementary with the area's heritage character.

The purpose of this report is to summarize the findings of the HCD Study and make recommendations for the creation of an HCD Plan for the Distillery District, including the proposed HCD Plan boundary, draft Statement of Objectives, and draft Statement of Cultural Heritage Value.