Item - 2022.PH31.11

The Planning and Housing Committee:  

1. Deferred consideration of the item until the April 27, 2022 meeting of the Planning and Housing Committee.

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 221 Sterling Road (including active entrances at 225 and 227 Sterling Road) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The property at 221 Sterling Road comprises a complex of adjoining one- and two-storey brick structures, constructed incrementally in c.1914-1918, c.1924-1939, and c.1954-1965. Originally part of a site developed alongside the Grand Trunk Railway tracks for the Fairbanks-Morse Canadian Manufacturing Company Ltd., the property served a variety of industrial uses through the 1980s. It reflects the history of industrial development along Sterling Road within the lower Junction Triangle and Brockton Village areas, and contributes to a concentration of former industrial buildings, many of which now have cultural functions.

The property is a rare and unique example of an evolved manufacturing complex that has been adaptively reused to support the arts. The complex has gained prominence since the 1980s as a hub of cultural activities, housing a number of creative organizations, studios, rehearsal and performance spaces for visual artists, artisans, dancers, circus performers, and other creators. It is one of the last such facilities remaining in Toronto.  

Heritage Planning staff have determined that the property at 221 Sterling Road meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, for its physical, historical/associative, and contextual values.

Zoning Amendment, Draft Plan of Subdivision, and Rental Housing Demolition applications have been made for the property, which propose to replace the existing building complex at 221 Sterling Road with a new development. The City Clerk issued a complete application notice on July 9, 2021.

In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). The Bill 108 Amendments to the OHA came into force on July 1, 2021, which included a shift in Part IV designations related to certain Planning Act applications. Section 29(1.2) of the OHA now restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the OHA to within 90 days after the City Clerk gives notice of a complete application.

The property owner provided a waiver to extend the 90-day timeline established under Bill 108 through December 31, 2021.

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is required for all development applications that affect listed and designated properties and will be considered when determining how a heritage property is to be conserved.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance. 

At its meeting on January 24, 2022, the Toronto Preservation Board considered Item PB30.9

and made recommendations to City Council.

Summary from the report (November 10, 2021) from the Senior Manager, Heritage

Planning, Urban Design, City Planning:

This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 221 Sterling Road (including active entrances at 225 and 227 Sterling Road) under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act.

The property at 221 Sterling Road comprises a complex of adjoining one- and two-storey brick structures, constructed incrementally in c.1914-1918, c.1924-1939, and c.1954-1965. Originally part of a site developed alongside the Grand Trunk Railway tracks for the Fairbanks-Morse Canadian Manufacturing Company Ltd., the property served a variety of industrial uses through the 1980s. It reflects the history of industrial development along Sterling Road within the lower Junction Triangle and Brockton Village areas, and contributes to a concentration of former industrial buildings, many of which now have cultural functions.

The property is a rare and unique example of an evolved manufacturing complex that has been adaptively reused to support the arts. The complex has gained prominence since the 1980s as a hub of cultural activities, housing a number of creative organizations, studios, rehearsal and performance spaces for visual artists, artisans, dancers, circus performers, and other creators. It is one of the last such facilities remaining in Toronto.  

Heritage Planning staff have determined that the property at 221 Sterling Road meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, for its physical, historical/associative, and contextual values.

Zoning Amendment, Draft Plan of Subdivision, and Rental Housing Demolition applications have been made for the property, which propose to replace the existing building complex at 221 Sterling Road with a new development. The City Clerk issued a complete application notice on July 9, 2021.

In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act (OHA). The Bill 108 Amendments to the OHA came into force on July 1, 2021, which included a shift in Part IV designations related to certain Planning Act applications. Section 29(1.2) of the OHA now restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the OHA to within 90 days after the City Clerk gives notice of a complete application.

The property owner provided a waiver to extend the 90-day timeline established under Bill 108 through December 31, 2021.

A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is required for all development applications that affect listed and designated properties and will be considered when determining how a heritage property is to be conserved.

Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.