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City of Toronto Serves Property Owner and Contractor with Summons for Demolition of Heritage Building

May 24, 2013      

The City of Toronto's Building Division has been conducting an investigation into the demolition of a designated heritage building on Queen Street East in Toronto. The building was located at 267 Queen St. E.

The demolition of the building occurred without application for and without the consent of the municipality in writing for the demolition or removal, contrary to the Ontario Heritage Act, and without applying for and without receiving a demolition permit under the Building Code Act, 1992.

The City of Toronto has served the property owner and the demolition contractor with a summons to appear in court.

Under the Ontario Heritage Act and upon conviction, the court may impose a fine of up to and including $1 million or a term of imprisonment of not more than one year, or both a fine and a term of imprisonment. Further, the court may impose a fine of up to $100,000 for a corporation's first offence under the Building Code Act, 1992 and a fine of up to $200,000 for each subsequent offence under the act.

The property at 267 Queen St. E. was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in 1989 on architectural grounds. Built in 1886 for the grocer Robert V. Lauder, the three-storey, red brick, symmetrical building was designed in a simple Renaissance Revival style. Important features included the brickwork, the moulded-brick window heads, the wood storefront with decorated pilasters, and the ornate roof cornice.

Heritage preservation is recognized by the City of Toronto as an important part of a livable city - an essential element that provides people with a feeling of security, enhanced quality of life and a shared sense of belonging. The preservation of the city's cultural heritage contributes to other social, cultural, economic and environmental goals. The City of Toronto takes heritage preservation seriously and will take appropriate steps to enforce the Ontario Heritage Act.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Media contact: Bruce Hawkins, Senior Communications Coordinator, 416-392-3496, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.