We Have Won a Battle, But Not the War, re 95 St Joseph Street

Thanks to all who wrote to the Toronto Preservation Board this week. Their meeting discussed the proposed development at 95 St Joseph Street, that would replace the Cormier-designed Basilian Seminary with a 39 storey, mixed-use high-rise building.  

The Toronto Preservation Board refused to approve the Amendments Report that supported the developer’s plan for retention of just the façade, moving the chapel, and demolishing everything else. The meeting was a vindication of all that the community has been saying now for three years.

Member of the Heritage Board, Robert Allsopp, put it well:

“I prefer to say this is a fragile place. It has some very special architectural pieces in it…  it’s a totality. How do we insert development into that without destroying what we have got?  I’m not going to support this recommendation because it doesn’t start from that point.”

Sadly, the Heritage Board decision does not prevent the planning application from going forward. City Planning are in favour of the development application, and it will go forward to the East York Community Council Meeting on June 29, 2022. The Council must, however, also take the Heritage Board decision into account.

We may need to call upon you to raise your voices one last time. Thank you for your continuing support.