Pressing pause

Planning committee defers decision on proposed York Developments tower

A CITY PLANNING committee’s decision on whether to grant heritage status to two houses on Ann Street that stand in the way of a proposed 22-storey residential tower by York Developments was deferred to a future meeting.

Politicians will review the heritage value of 183 and 197 Ann Street, just west of Richmond Row, at the end of November.

The committee will consider a recommendation from the London Advisory Committee on Heritage (LACH) to grant heritage status to two yellow brick buildings located at 183 and 197 Ann St.

One of the houses was home to the former Kent Brewery, which dates back to 1860. The other was the residence of the family who operated the brewery.

The LACH report says the buildings have heritage significance because they form an essential link to a time when that section of the North Talbot neighbourhood was hope to a handful of industries.

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York Developments has proposed a 274-unit tower aimed at students on the property, but no demolition permit has yet been applied for. The development application comes back to politicians at the end of November, when politicians will debate that proposal, as well as the heritage designation for the properties.

Ali Soufan, president of York Developments, appealed to the planning committee to address both issues at the same time.

“We’re not looking to defend or debate or deny the facts LACH has come to,” Soufan was quoted as saying in the London Free Press. “What we’re really looking for, since these two properties are part of an active application . . . (we) respectfully request deferral of these designations, or the proposed designations, to be dealt with at the right forum.”

Building can still happen on a heritage-designated property, but it would require a heritage alteration permit.

The luxury student rental building is part of a larger H-shaped project proposed by York, with residential and commercial towers of 12, 26 and 28 storeys at Ann and St. George streets.