Strip club site may get heritage nod from city for rich ‘character’

Dennis Hanagan —

A Riverside landmark that houses an infamous strip club could be designated a heritage building and be protected from developers.

Designating a building gives city council the legal authority to refuse an application that would adversely affect its heritage attributes.

At the January meeting of the Toronto and East York community council, Toronto-Danforth councillor Paula Fletcher asked staff to evaluate the 121-year-old Jilly’s building at Broadview and Queen for its heritage value.

She said in a letter to council that a recent Ontario Municipal Board decision approving—in principle—a re-zoning application that would allow a six-storey mixed-use development for 1884 Queen St. E. “demonstrates the critical importance of putting strong heritage protections in place for our most historic buildings.”

The Riverside district is currently being studied by city planners to see if it should be designated a Heritage Conservation District. The Jilly’s building, says Fletcher, “brings rich historical character to the streetscape.” She said it stands at a “signature intersection” that serves as a gateway to the east end.

At its meeting, community council also decided it wants the Hart Building on King St. W. at Brant St. to be listed in the city’s inventory of heritage buildings, and the William McBean Terrace at Church and Wellesley to be designated a heritage property.

Listing the Hart Building, built in 1918, would let Toronto’s Heritage Preservation department review development and building applications affecting the property.

Located at 489 King West the building is valued as a rare example of an early 1900s warehouse and displays “the dignified embellishments often found on the principal street facades of warehouses in this area,” says a city staff report.

The William McBean Terrace is valued as a late 19th century housing complex. It’s a “long-standing local landmark in Toronto’s Church and Wellesley neighbourhood,” say staff.

Council also approved a motion from Trinity-Spadina Councillor Adam Vaughan that the city’s Heritage and Preservation Services department evaluate the potential of including 91 Oxford St. in Kensington Market on the city’s inventory of heritage properties.

“As large sites in this area come under increased development pressure … it’s important to review the heritage significance of this property,” Vaughan said in a letter to council.