A designated heritage building at 24 Mercer Street in Toronto's Entertainment District sits, literally, at the centre of a controversial proposal by the building's owner to demolish the structure and build a boutique condominium. Located between the 10-storey Hotel Le Germain and the construction site of what will be the podium of the 33-storey 8 Mercer condo tower, the 1857 structure known as the Alexander Johnson House is one of the oldest surviving buildings in the city.

24 Mercer Street, Toronto, image courtesy of Heritage Services 2011

Originally a two-storey structure with a third floor added later, it was designed by Toronto architect John Tully and is described as an 'Adams Style' terrace house.  Owner and architect Deborah Scott's original proposal, which would have seen a 21-storey tower squeezed into an area only about 26 feet wide by 80 feet deep, was rejected by the city in 2012.

24 Mercer Street Zoning, image courtesy of City of Toronto

In a report issued in August of that year, the Community Planning department called the proposal “inappropriate and unsupportable”, citing issues such as over-development of the site; insufficient setback from the side lot lines, building height, no provision for parking and concern about setting a negative precedent which could encourage demolition or significant changes to heritage buildings on small sites. The report described the site as “too small to accommodate a tower” but acknowledged that the proposed height was well below that of other nearby developments. The report concluded that the proposal “is not in the public interest and does not represent good planning.” The report never went to Toronto City Council for a vote.

24 Mercer Street Site Plan, Toronto, image courtesy of City of Toronto

Scott Morris Architects appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board when the City failed to make a decision within the 120 days required by law. Negotiations continued between the owners and the City prior to the OMB hearing however, and the parties came to an agreement, supported by Toronto City Council in July of last year.

The motion included reducing the height of the tower to 15 storeys and approval for the demolition of the heritage building while incorporating the first two storeys of the historic facade in the redevelopment. The new building would project to the property line beginning at the fifth floor, creating a cantilevered effect. Notably, the settlement would now allow for the building to be built without on-site parking. The first three floors would be reserved for commercial purposes, maintaining employment space on the property.

24 Mercer Street North South Elevations, Toronto, image courtesy of City of Toronto

In October 2013 the OMB found that the settlement and zoning by-law amendment represented "good planning consistent with Provincial Policy and the Official Plan policies of the City", and approved it.  

24 Mercer Street East West Elevations, Toronto, image courtesy of City of Toronto

Scott Morris Architects have since set up a webpage for the upscale project, describing the suites in the proposed building as "authentic loft living". Suites would be customized on a per-purchaser basis.

24 Mercer Street Lofts, image by Scott Morris Architects