Item - 2021.TE25.9

The Toronto and East York Community Council recommends that:

1. City Council state its intention to designate the property at 625 Church Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, in accordance with the Revised Statement of Significance: 625 Church Street (Reasons for Designation) attached as Attachment 1 to the report (May 17, 2021) from the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, Urban Design, City Planning.

2. If there are no objections to the designation, City Council authorize the City Solicitor to introduce the bills in Council designating the property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

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

4. If the designation 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 designate the property.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 625 Church Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value for its design, associative and contextual values.

Located on the east side of Church Street between Charles Street and Isabella Street in the Church and Bloor neighbourhood, the property at 625 Church Street contains the Traders Building, which was constructed in 1956 for the Traders Finance Corporation and designed by the architectural firm of Marani & Morris. The six storey plus penthouse office building is a fine and representative example of the Neo-Georgian architectural style, and is part of a larger context within the Church and Bloor neighbourhood comprised of corporate office buildings, many designed by Marani & Morris, built during the pre- and post-World War II period. The Traders Building is historically linked with buildings located within the neighbourhood, including the Confederation Life, Manufacturers Life, and Crown Life Insurance Buildings, and is visually linked to the Crown Life Building, located at 120 Bloor Street East at the northwest corner of Church Street.

Following research and evaluation undertaken according to Ontario Regulation 9/06,

the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation, it has been determined that the property at 625 Church Street merits designation under Part IV Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design, associative and contextual value.

Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 625 Church Street under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value for its design, associative and contextual values.

Located on the east side of Church Street between Charles Street and Isabella Street in the Church and Bloor neighbourhood, the property at 625 Church Street contains the Traders Building, which was constructed in 1956 for the Traders Finance Corporation and designed by the architectural firm of Marani and Morris. The six storey plus penthouse office building is a fine and representative example of the Neo-Georgian architectural style, and is part of a larger context within the Church and Bloor neighbourhood comprised of corporate office buildings, many designed by Marani and Morris, built during the pre- and post-World War II period. The Traders Building is historically linked with buildings located within the neighbourhood, including the Confederation Life, Manufacturers Life, and Crown Life Insurance Buildings, and is visually linked to the Crown Life Building, located at 120 Bloor Street East at the northwest corner of Church Street.

Following research and evaluation undertaken according to Ontario Regulation 9/06,

the provincial criteria prescribed for municipal designation, it has been determined that the property at 625 Church Street merits designation under Part IV Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its design, associative and contextual value.

Properties on the Heritage Register will be conserved and maintained in accordance with the Official Plan Heritage Policies. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations for the property, enforce heritage property standards and maintenance, and refuse demolition.

The purpose of this Supplementary Report is to respond to the Toronto Preservation Board's request for staff to review and refine proposed heritage attributes for the property at 625 Church Street, and to report to the May 19, 2021 meeting of the Toronto and East York Community Council on the findings of the review.

As a result of staff review and the input of the Toronto Preservation Board, this report contains proposed revisions to the Statement of Significance (Attachment 1) and provides an overview of staff's additional review and analysis. The recommended changes to the property's heritage attributes do not alter the conclusions of the original report that the property is of cultural heritage value.