Garden District gets HCD status

At its July meeting the Toronto Preservation Board approved a plan to make the Garden District as a Heritage Conservation District.

Under Part V of the Ontario Heritage Act the designation would help protect the community’s historical buildings and character. The area studied for the HCD designation is generally bounded by Gerrard, Sherbourne, Shuter and George streets.

Along with heritage buildings two “potential” archaeological sites are in the vicinity, one along George St. between Shuter and Dundas and the other on Dundas St. between George and Pembroke. Aboriginal people once occupied the area.

Part of the area’s historical value relates to its long-standing history of social housing, from the 19th century Boy’s Home and Fegan Boy’s Home.

A city planning report says the area tells the story of more than a century and a half of urban development in Toronto. The planning phase of the HCD designation is to begin this fall and will include a community consultation meeting.—D.H.