PROTECTING THE VIEW OF THE ONTARIO LEGISLATURE

The Legislative Assembly and its surrounding precinct is an extremely important cultural heritage landscape in the Province of Ontario. Looking up University Avenue, one can see a magnificent vista with the Legislative Assembly at its centre. This view of Queen's Park is now threatened by proposed developments north of the legislature, in particular of the proposed development at 21 Avenue Road, the site of the Four Seasons Hotel at Avenue Road and Yorkville.

 

In other jurisdictions, views of the important symbols of our democracy are protected. In Ottawa, for example, height restrictions protect views of the Parliament buildings. But there is no protection for views of the Legislature.

 

A new study, prepared by Archaeological Services Inc. for the City of Toronto’s Planning Division makes a strong case for designating the Queen’s Park cultural heritage landscape to ensure that the building and its contributing surrounding setting are fully protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. The study can be viewed here as a pdf.

 

21 Avenue Road is now before the Ontario Municipal Board. For more on this issue, see Built Heritage News http://www.builtheritagenews.ca/newsletter_archive/90.html#3