The story of our city is often told through our buildings. Design, function and form reveal the trends of an era and the priorities of its citizens, architects and city planners. Preserving this heritage strengthens our community ties, provides a point of interest for our neighbourhoods and improves our property values.
Through my position on the planning and growth management committee, I have requested staff to provide a report on enabling legislation and implementing conditions on demolition building permits for buildings located on institutional sites, such as churches and schools. The City of Toronto protects its housing stock by requiring individuals demolishing homes to submit replacement building plans prior to the issuance of any demolition permit, but no such requirement exists for buildings located on institutional lands.
With the increasing trend by school boards to sell off school lands in the city of Toronto, the city and its residents are vulnerable to the negative impacts associated with demolishing buildings located on these lands. This includes the loss of buildings with heritage and cultural significance and the loss of community spaces and hubs.
With no requirements for building replacement, lands can also remain vacant for an extended period of time once a building is demolished. These vacant and often unmaintained lands bring uncertainty to neighbourhoods and can become eyesores in our community.
Our city buildings provide a legacy of our shared history, and it is the role of Toronto City Council to protect that history.