February 25, 2019

Toronto moves to protect key waterfront heritage sites from demolition

As reported by CBC News, the Toronto Preservation Board will be looking at two major historical sites near the city’s waterfront this week — the Hearn generating station in the east, and Exhibition Place in the west — with the hopes of protecting them from the wrecking ball.

At a meeting this Wednesday, the board will consider designating 440 Unwin Avenue a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Designer Alex Josephson, co-founder of Partisan Design, helped transform the old Hearn power plant into a cultural venue for the 10th annual Luminato Arts Festival two years ago.

“This is one of those places that we can’t allow to be squandered,” Josephson told CBC Toronto.

“You can’t squander that building and putting that building into a demolition track can’t be an option for the city.”

The city says a demolition permit for the generating station was issued in 2010, but it expired in 2017. Still there’s nothing preventing the owner from seeking another one.

Officially opened on Oct. 26, 1951, the massive 650-thousand cubic metre building began its life as a coal-fired power plant. It was converted to burn natural gas in the 1970s.

It was decommissioned in 1983 and sat empty until Ontario Power Generation began leasing it out in 2002 mainly for film and television productions.

The Hearn also played host to a number of large public events such as Luminato in 2014 and 2016, but Toronto Fire did not allow organizers of a night market to use it in 2017.

While the smokestack — which is twice the height of the Statue of Liberty — is a distinguishable landmark, Josephson says the Hearn’s cavernous interior makes it one of the most extraordinary spaces in the city.

Keep reading on CBC News

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