wyliepoon
Senior Member
http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/570614
Metro store nominated as heritage property
Suburban supermarket reflects Scarborough community's history, future, councillor says
Jan 14, 2009 04:30 AM
John Spears
CITY HALL BUREAU
Toronto's newest nominee as a heritage property is a Scarborough supermarket.
The Metro store, built in 1958 with a distinctive curved roofline, sits in the Parkway Mall at Victoria Park Ave. and Ellesmere Rd.
Scarborough community council voted without dissent yesterday to ask that it be added to the city's list of heritage properties.
Some might wonder why a 1950s suburban supermarket should be considered a heritage building. Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37, Scarborough Centre) is not one of them.
"Anyone who has ever been in this area knows about that landmark that identifies this particular community," Thompson said, adding he was asked about the building recently in British Columbia by someone who had seen it on a visit to Toronto.
City heritage staff agree, calling it a "rare example of a late 20th century commercial building."
The store, designed by Toronto architects Bregman and Hamman, "demonstrates a high degree of technical achievement," a staff report says. "The arched roof that is the most distinctive feature of the design contains what was described as the largest wood arch assembled in Canada at that time."
It has operated under the banners of Grand Union, Steinberg's, Miracle Food Mart, Dominion and Metro.
Parkway Mall may have been the first shopping centre commissioned by the Bronfman family of Montreal through Fairview Corp., later to become Cadillac Fairview, the report adds.
While a 50-year-old building isn't old by most standards, Thompson said it reflects the community's heritage.
"It's not about age," he said. "It's about the development that has taken place in the community and how we foster and continue to maintain our connection between the past and the future."
Flagging the store as an important building has taken on more importance because the mall may be redeveloped, meaning the supermarket could be demolished.
The plaza's owners, Credit Suisse Real Estate Asset Management, have held informal meetings with city staff outlining possible plans to construct nine residential buildings at the site. In addition to 2,200 units, the development would house office space, stores and community facilities.
Lawyers for Credit Suisse have stressed that the plans are preliminary and no formal development application has been submitted.
Listing the store as a heritage property doesn't confer any protection, but it would mean that heritage staff would have to be notified of any plans to redevelop the site.
That would provide time to consider designating all or part of the building under the Ontario Heritage Act, which gives the city some leverage to protect it from demolition, or to preserve certain features.
City council must endorse heritage listings.
Metro store nominated as heritage property
Suburban supermarket reflects Scarborough community's history, future, councillor says
Jan 14, 2009 04:30 AM
John Spears
CITY HALL BUREAU
Toronto's newest nominee as a heritage property is a Scarborough supermarket.
The Metro store, built in 1958 with a distinctive curved roofline, sits in the Parkway Mall at Victoria Park Ave. and Ellesmere Rd.
Scarborough community council voted without dissent yesterday to ask that it be added to the city's list of heritage properties.
Some might wonder why a 1950s suburban supermarket should be considered a heritage building. Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37, Scarborough Centre) is not one of them.
"Anyone who has ever been in this area knows about that landmark that identifies this particular community," Thompson said, adding he was asked about the building recently in British Columbia by someone who had seen it on a visit to Toronto.
City heritage staff agree, calling it a "rare example of a late 20th century commercial building."
The store, designed by Toronto architects Bregman and Hamman, "demonstrates a high degree of technical achievement," a staff report says. "The arched roof that is the most distinctive feature of the design contains what was described as the largest wood arch assembled in Canada at that time."
It has operated under the banners of Grand Union, Steinberg's, Miracle Food Mart, Dominion and Metro.
Parkway Mall may have been the first shopping centre commissioned by the Bronfman family of Montreal through Fairview Corp., later to become Cadillac Fairview, the report adds.
While a 50-year-old building isn't old by most standards, Thompson said it reflects the community's heritage.
"It's not about age," he said. "It's about the development that has taken place in the community and how we foster and continue to maintain our connection between the past and the future."
Flagging the store as an important building has taken on more importance because the mall may be redeveloped, meaning the supermarket could be demolished.
The plaza's owners, Credit Suisse Real Estate Asset Management, have held informal meetings with city staff outlining possible plans to construct nine residential buildings at the site. In addition to 2,200 units, the development would house office space, stores and community facilities.
Lawyers for Credit Suisse have stressed that the plans are preliminary and no formal development application has been submitted.
Listing the store as a heritage property doesn't confer any protection, but it would mean that heritage staff would have to be notified of any plans to redevelop the site.
That would provide time to consider designating all or part of the building under the Ontario Heritage Act, which gives the city some leverage to protect it from demolition, or to preserve certain features.
City council must endorse heritage listings.