Mimico Beach Estates: April 2010

Friday, April 23, 2010

Miles Park - Miles Road

Miles Park straddled both sides of present day Miles Road down to Lake Ontario. Miles Park was the creation of Arthur Miles. Miles was born in Toronto in 1873. He originally worked on a dairy farm before leaving for South Africa in 1894 to seek his fortune in the gold fields of South Africa. Within a few years he obtained a senior position with the Crown Deep Mine Company owned by Paul Kruger.

He returned to Toronto in 1900 and founded A.W. Miles Company, Undertakers, setting up the first funeral chapel in Toronto and modernizing the undertaking business in Canada. He introduced the first motorized hearse and handled the funeral of many of Canada's most notable statesmen and citizens including Prime Minister Mackenzie King, Sir William Mulock, Sir Joseph Flavelle, Sir Henry Pellatt and Sir William Hearst to name a few.

He established his 3 acre lakefront estate in Mimico in 1912 complete with a private zoo. The zoo was established on the north side of the street and included birds, monkeys, ostriches, horses, donkeys, camels and an elephant. On the south side of the street was the pleasure grounds including a dancing pavilion, picnic area, snack building and a baseball diamond. The Park was open to the public for use by all. Many community and church groups availed themselves of Mr. Miles' hospitality. At the foot of the street he built a large "U" shaped wooden pier into the lake which held a number of decorative swans.

At the foot on the street on the south side he built his large home at 11 Miles Road. Mr. Miles was generous with his good fortune, and the grounds were open to the public free of charge. Many organizations availed themselves of his warm hospitality over the years. However, as the Town of Mimico grew, complaints about the smell of the zoo grew in number. In the early 1930s Mimico Council asked him to consider leaving. Reluctantly, he left and purchased a large 200 acre estate in Erindale, to which he was able to move the zoo animals.

Hunter Estate - 10 Lake Cres.

Hunter Estate - 10 Lake Cres

One of largest estates in terms of acreage was the Hunter Estate at 10 Lake Crescent.

The Hunter Estate was built in 1899 by William Howard Hunter, a Toronto lawyer, in the "English Tudor" style. The large estate of a little over 4 acres extended along the Lake Shore Road from Lake Crescent down to the lake. A small boathouse was built on the lake. In 1912 Hunter sold the estate to Mr. McKelvie, a developer from St. Catherines for $30,000 who subdivided the property into 20 lots and introduced a new street "Island View Blvd." closer to the lake.

In 1915 Harry Hornell, a clothing manufacturer from Toronto purchased the main house . He was the father of David Hornell, who won the Victoria Cross in 1945. The house was later converted into four apartments.

Abel Estate - 2597 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The large home at 2597 Lake Shore Blvd. W. behind a low stone wall was the long time home of Charles Abel, a pioneer in the photography business.

Built in the late 1910s in the Arts and Craft style, it was originally owned by a Dr. Richardson, however, he only lived here a few years before selling it to Charles Abel in 1920.

Charles Abel was born in Turkey, the son of an English engineer and his wife. His father was in the country building a railway for the Turkish government. A plague struck the country and both of his parents died leaving him and his two brothers orphaned. One of the brothers died in Turkey. Charles and George were then sent to Dr. Barnardo's Orphanage in the UK. They eventually were sent to Canada, where they originally worked in garment factories before entering the photography business in 1909. In 1911 they are both found living in a rooming house at 240 Simcoe Street. During WWI they operated the photography service for the Canadian Armed Forces, and then went back into private business. They worked together until 1937 when they dissolved the partnership and went their separate ways. Charles Abel set up the Chas. Abel Photo Service, which was run through independent drug stores.

Abel Estate II - 2595 Lake Shore Blvd West

Upon the death of his wife in the mid 1960s he built the large bungalow next door to the east and sold the house with everything in it. He lived in the modern bungalow (it has always reminded me of the Brady home from the Brady Bunch in the 1970s) until 1979 when he died at the age of 90 years.

McGuinness Estate II - 2603 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The largest home built on the Mimico waterfront was that built by Lawrence J. McGuinness at 2603 Lake Shore Blvd West in 1927 set behind tall ornate gates.

The mansion was designed by architect John Wilson Siddall (1861-1941) and is built in limestone in the "English Tudor" style. It originally had 21 rooms including six marble bathrooms, four fireplaces, a panelled library, two solariums and formal gardens extending to the lake.

From here he continued his profitable distilling and distribution activities until Prohibition was revoked in the United States in 1933. McGuinness was well known in Toronto, and was a personal friend of Ontario Premier Mitch Hepburn. In 1938 he built a distillery and bottling plant in Mimico. He died in 1951.

Upon his death his son Larry McGuinness Jr. took over the family business. Educated at Upper Canada College, Larry Jr., competed as an equestrian in the 1952 and 1956 Olympics for Canada. In 1973 he sold the distillery operation for $4 million, bringing his net worth to a total of $7 million. Following the death of his mother he sold the mansion to the Polish Government in 1976. A year later he declared bankruptcy after a series of bad investments in mining. He later moved to Florida to live with his brother and son.

The house still remains in the ownership of the government of Poland and is their consulate in Toronto.

Manning/Gentles Estate - 2067 Lake Shore Blvd. West

Manning/Gentles Estate - 2607 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The large house at 2607 Lake Shore Blvd. W. was built for Edward Manning in 1922 in the "Arts & Craft" style. Edward B. Manning was President of E.B. Manning & Company, which sold stocks, bonds and unlimited securities from their offices in the Dominion Bank Building at 68 Yonge Street.

Later it was purchased by Charles Gentles in 1928. Gentles was President of Chas. Gentles Investments with offices across the street from Manning at 69 Yonge Street. The Gentles family remained in the home until the early 1950s.

Ring Estate - 2609 Lake Shore Blvd. West - DEMOLISHED

Ring Estate - 2609 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The former residence at 2609 Lake Shore Blvd. W. was built in 1915 for Charles and Daisy Ring in the "Arts and Craft" style. Ring was the son of Robert Ring and Ella Aldridge and was born in Cornwall, New York in 1877, however later his family moved to New Jersey where his father worked as a House Painter.

In 1898 Charles enlisted in the 71^st Regiment of the Volunteers of New York and fought in the Spanish-American War. While serving in

Cuba

he contracted malaria. The disease would continue to plague him throughout the rest of his life

courtesy of The Mimico Story

After the war he moved to New Jersey and married Daisy Rhodes in 1905. They came to Toronto in 1909 when Charles accepted a position with an insurance company. They originally lived in the Kingscourt Apartments in Parkdale on King Street West at Close Avenue before moving to Mimico in 1915 when their house was completed. Charles soon opened his own business – Charles E. Ring and Company – with offices at 12 Richmond Street East in the now historic Confederation Life Building. Later he became a mining financier, and was involved with a number of mines in northern Ontario such as the Potterdoal Mine, northeast of Matheson, and the Planet Gold Mines that Ring leased for a two year period beginning in 1941. He seemed to be at the top of his game professionally and financially but in December 1941 his beloved wife Daisy died at their home. She was laid to rest in Park Lawn Cemetery. Charles remained a widower for the rest of his life.

From the very beginning of his life in Canada Charles was involved in many sports organizations as well as the Lion’s Club. However his major efforts were on behalf of amateur boxing. He was a good friend of Lou Marsh, the pioneer sport’s writer for the Toronto Star. Upon Marsh's death in 1936 Ring created the Marsh Trophy. He commissioned Canadian sculptor Emanuel Hahn to design the trophy. The end result was a three foot high pylon of black and gold marble on a marble base. The trophy is awarded annually to the top Canadian athlete as selected by the Marsh Trophy committee. In 1949 New Toronto’s own Cliff Lumsden received the Marsh Trophy and Charles Ring presented it him at a reception in the auditorium of Second Street School in New Toronto.

Locally the Rings were active members of the Mimico Horticultural Society providing the Kunderd Cup which was awarded to the member of the Junior Horticultural Society who exhibited the best spike of gladioli grown from the bulbs which he personally distributed to the society the previous spring.

Ring served on the Town of Mimico Council numerous times from the late 1910s to the 1950s. During WWII he was President of the West York Service League, an organization which sent food bundles to families bombed out of their homes in

England

. After the war, in commemoration of his efforts, the British Government presented him with a piece of stonework from the bomb-damaged Westminster Abbey. In 1944 he was elected chairman of the Mimico Postwar Planning Committee, which was tasked with producing a rehabilitation plan for integration of Mimico soliders back into civilian life after the war, and planning for the post war period. The recommendations were submitted to council for approval before being sent to the provincial government.

However, having no children of his own, many of his charitable works were directed at children. He was actively involved with the Newsboys Welfare Fund, raising money for the organization through annual amateur boxing events. He also established the Charles E. Ring Foundation to provide for the welfare of mentally challenged children.

In the late 1960s he became legally blind and increasingly infirm but was determined to remain in his home with the help of a full time housekeeper and a part time secretary. He succeeded and continued to live in his home until his death on December 9, 1971 at that age of 94 years. He left various legacies to his existing relatives, his housekeeper and secretary, but left the bulk of his estate to the Charles E. Ring Foundation.

The house has been vacant for a few years and in 2010 I saw a large "For Sale" sign on the property.

In March 2011 the city received an application to demolish the house in conjunction with plans for a new two storey residence.

It was demolished in May 2011.

William Ingram Estate - 2613 Lake Shore Blvd. West - DEMOLISHED

Ingram Estate - 2613 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The home at 2613 Lake Shore Blvd. W. was built in the Arts and Craft style in 1920 for William Calder Ingram, a Customs Official.

William Calder Ingram was the son of Charles and Penelope Ingram and born in Toronto in 1887. His parents were born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada in 1882.

William married his first wife Annie Honan in 1907. She died and he married his second wife Rosalie Collins in Niagara Falls, New York in 1912. Rosalie's mother Elizabeth purchased the lot in 1919 for her daughter. It was formally conveyed to her upon her mother's death in 1923.

William and Rosalie moved to their Mimico Beach home in 1920. Rosalie died of cancer in late 1925 and William sold the house in 1926.

In September 2012 the property was up for sale with an asking price of $2,588,000.

September 19, 2014 - Update

I have been told by a local resident that the building is now demolished. It has stood vacant for some time. Another loss of one of the original Mimico Beach Estates.

Moyer Estate - 2615 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The Moyer estate is located at 2615 Lake Shore Blvd. W. Designed by architects Ellis, Ellis and Richardson, this home, costing $10,000 was built in 1923 in the classical revival style. It was the home of Harry (Hal) Moyer, President of the E.N. Moyer Company, a school furnishing company with offices and warehouses at 100 Front Street W. in Toronto, just to the west of the Queen's Hotel.

E.N. Moyer Co. Ltd Display, 1924

courtesy Glenbow Archives

McGuinness Estate I - 2619 Lake Shore Blvd West

At 2619 Lake Shore Blvd West is a home that was the original McGuinness Residence.

Larry McGuinness began in the distillery business in 1905, but made his money as a bootlegger and rumrunner who exported liquor into the United States during Prohibition. At the height of Prohibition, he and his partner Harry Hatch, controlled all traffic in liquor along the west end of Lake Ontario. By the time Prohibition was over McGuinness was a very wealthy man. He would use the profits to build a much larger estate a few lots to the east in 1927.

John Parker Estate - 2637 Lake Shore Blvd. West

The John Parker House at 2637 Lake Shore Blvd. W. was built circa 1912. It is one of the earliest homes built on this portion of the Mimico Beach waterfront which was re-divided for development in 1910. It was designed in the Arts and Craft style popular at the time.

John T. Parker was the son of Joseph Parker and Jane Henderson, born in Ontario in 1862. In the 1891 census his father is listed as a shoe cutter and John as a wholesale boot salesman. By 1909 he was President of the John A. Walker-Parker Company, which manufactured footwear at their factory located at 152 Wellington Street W. in Toronto. He married his wife Mary Moore in 1903. They never had any children but they later adopted a daughter Helene Harrington.

He and his family used the house as a summer home until they sold it in 1919. Their main residence was on Lowther Avenue in Toronto. He died in 1936 at his summer cottage on Lakeland Crescent in Burlington (Port Nelson).

Hayhoe Estate - 2639 Lake Shore Blvd. West

As you walk east along Lake Shore Blvd. West from Royal York Road, the first estate you come to is the large home built by the Hayhoe family at 2639 Lake Shore Blvd. W.

Built in the French chateaux style, it wouldn't look out of place nestled in a vineyard in France. This is actually the third house built on the lot. The first was built by James Swift in 1913. It burned down in 1922 and was replaced by another house which also burned in 1928.

Ralph Hayhoe purchased the vacant property in 1931 and built the present structure. The Hayhoe family were devoted members of the Plymouth Brethern, a conservative evangelical movement that left the Anglican Church in 1820. In the early 20th century, the Ontario branch of the family founded Flowerdale Tea, Hayhoe Tea and Hayhoe Flour Mills. The home remained in the family until 1969 when it was sold following the death of R.J. Hayhoe

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Ormscliffe/Myrtle Villa Estate - SAVED

It is a little known secret that Mimico Beach’s greatest waterfront estate is still largely intact, hidden in a mid 20th century apartment complex along Lake Shore Blvd West. Early parts of the estate have sat there for over 100 years with significant additions made in the mid 1920s. Today however it is vulnerable, and potentially threatened, by the redevelopment contemplated as part of the Mimico 2020 planning initiative unless its architectural and historical significance is recognized by the city, and protected and preserved for the future through designation of the buildings under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Located on the grounds of Amedeo Garden Court apartment complex, the estate was founded in 1906 by Albert Benjamin Ormsby, owner of the AB Ormbsy Co. which manufactured metal work . In 1909 the architect Frederick Henry Herbert was retained to build a new residence on the property. Frederick Henry Herbert (1865-1914), was an English architect who established a solo practice in Toronto in the late 1800s. Many examples of his work are recognized on the City of Toronto’s heritage inventory.

When the new house was completed Ormsby made the estate his permanent residence (now 2523 Lake Shore Blvd W.). Ormsby was a significant landowner in the Town of Mimico and a prominent business person and industrialist in the city of Toronto. He was a generous man and opened his estate to many community events.

Mrs. Ormsby was also a prominent person in her own right, involved in the forefront of women’s issues in the early 20th century. She was a leader in the temperance and suffrage movements for women in Canada and many critical meetings were held at Ormscliffe. Many famous women visited Ormscliffe. Nellie McClung spoke at Ormscliffe on September 14, 1915 , and in 1918 while in Toronto for a speaking engagement Mrs. Emmeline Pankhurst dined at Ormscliffe before her speech at Massey Hall the following day. After women received the vote in Ontario in 1917 Mrs. Ormsby would move on to other women’s issues as chair of the Ontario Women’s Citizens Association.

Ormsby had a love for horticulture and engaged Dunnington Grubb, one of Ontario's foremost landscape gardening and design firms, to undertake a master plan for the estate which was executed in 1917. The master plan included streams, ponds, bridges, a tea pavilion, garden furniture, and both formal and less formal gardens. A sign was posted at the gates of the estate welcoming all to walk in the gardens. Part of the garden has survived to the present day.

In addition to being a major Toronto industrialist Ormsby was also an entrepreneur in other fields. In 1920 he turned his hand to filmmaking when he began the Ormsby Film Corporation in California. The first film produced was the silent film "Neptune's Bride" which had its premiere at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles on July 19, 1920 . However, this venture does not appear to have been successful as the company never made another film. He retired permanently to California in 1925. At first he was involved in real estate but later ventured into agriculture, purchasing thousands of acres to establish plantations of avocados and other sub-tropical fruits. He became a major packer and shipper of such products to the rest of the United States and Canada. He died in California in 1943 at the age of 81.

The second owner of the estate was James Franceschini, a prominent industrialist and member of Toronto society. Franceschini, purchased the estate in 1925 for $68,000. Franceschini was born in Pescara Italy in 1890 and came to Canada in 1906 as a poor immigrant. After working as a labourer for a number of years he became a contractor, founded Dufferin Construction and prospered. Upon taking possession of Ormscliffe, Franceschini would undertake a wholesale rebuilding of the estate adding many buildings and renovating the main house. These new structures included a multi-car garage with staff quarters above (present day 2539A and 2539B Lake Shore Blvd W.); a home for this brother Leonard (present day 2541 and 2541A Lake Shore Blvd W.); stables for his horses, show rings (both indoor and outdoor), housing for his staff as well as a central heating plant at a cost of $150,000 (now 5, 7 and 9 Douglas Blvd. + 2533 and 2535 Lake Shore Blvd. W.). The estate was renamed Myrtle Villa in honour of Franceschini’s only child. The initials “MV” were added to the wrought iron gates along the Lake Shore Road (now Lake Shore Blvd West). By 1939 he had one of the largest private horse stables and training facilities in the country. He bred winning hackney horses and ponies which won many awards from shows in Canada and the United States. (Many of his horses and ponies have been inducted into the Canadian Hackney Hall of Fame)

In 1940 however, James Franceschini was arrested by the RCMP as an enemy alien and transported to an internment camp in northern Ontario. All of his property was seized by the Custodian of Enemy Property, an office of the federal government, which began to sell off his assets for a fraction of their worth. In what can only be considered as a personal attack on Franceschini the Custodian of Enemy Property struck at Myrtle Villa selling his beloved show horses and the entire contents of his greenhouses. Suffering from cancer he was released in 1941 due to his poor health. After undergoing surgery in Toronto he began the process of rebuilding his business empire. A judicial inquiry would later lead to his complete exoneration. Franceschini retired to his country estate in Mont Tremblant in Quebec where he died on September 16, 1960 at the age of 70.

The Myrtle Villa estate was sold to Longo Construction for $125,000 in 1950 and developed into the Amedeo Garden Court Apartment complex retaining many of the historical features of the estate.

The significant heritage components of this estate however may be in danger if they are not given proper planning protection as part of the Mimico 2020 planning exercise currently being undertaken by the city of Toronto. In April 2009 the consulting firm Urban Strategies undertook a design charette over a 4 day period to examine ways to revitalize Mimico. In September 2009 the consultants presented their final report to city staff.

In the final report the former estate is included in “zone F” of the study which has been identified for “significant redevelopment and/or replacement potential”. What this means for the future of the significant heritage components of the estate is unknown. The Mimico 2020 report was considered at the Etobicoke-York Community Council meeting of October 13, 2009 and approved. The next step is to undertake the planning study to implement the changes recommended in the report.

In early 2010 I requested that the City of Toronto designate all remaining components of the estate under the Ontario Heritage Act.

On March 24, 2011, the April 1, 2011 Toronto Preservation Board agenda was posted and I am pleased to say that Heritage Preservation staff have recommended that all the historic buildings and landscaping features of the estate be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

You can find the agenda posted here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/decisionBodyProfile.do?function=doPrepare&decisionBodyId=372#Meeting-2011.PB2

The item is: PB2.5 Lake Shore Boulevard West and Douglas Boulevard (Mimico Estates) ? Intention to Designate under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act (Ward 6)

The specific report is here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.PB2.5

The background report is here: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2011/pb/bgrd/backgroundfile-36799.pdf

Letters of support for the designation under the Ontario Heritage Act will be crucial as the recommendations travel from the Toronto Preservation Panel to Toronto City Council.

Please send your letters of support (emails are fine) addressed to Robert Saunders, Chair Toronto Preservation Board and email them to Margaret Sexton the Board Secretary at msexton@toronto.ca.

Please also copy Councillor Mark Grimes so he is aware. councillor_grimes@toronto.ca.

Recommendation of Toronto Preservation Board - April 1, 2011

At its meeting of April 1, 2011 the local councillor Mark Grimes and the lawyer for Longo Properties Limited (the owner) requested that the Toronto Preservation Board defer consideration of the recommendation that the city declare its intent to designate the historic buildings and landscaping features under the Ontario Heritage Act until the Mimico 2020 planning exercise had concluded. Councillor Grimes' submission is below:

In total there were 19 written submissions to the Board as well as several deputations.

You can read my written submission below:

The Toronto Preservation Board's decision was to approve the recommendation from Heritage Preservation Services staff that the city declare its intent to designate the historic buildings and landscaping features under the Ontario Heritage Act.

You can view the discussion of the item below. It is posted in four parts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybc-59Ro8_o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPvoktMGn_E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHEct536nJk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qlz_JZ7twlI

This recommendation will now proceed to full Toronto City Council on May 17, 2011 for consideration but only if it is adopted by Etobicoke-York Community Council on April 21, 2011.

Etobicoke-York Community Council - April 21, 2011

The report from Heritage Preservation Services and the recommendation from the Toronto Preservation Board tracked to Etobicoke-York Community Council on April 21, 2011 for consideration.

A copy of my written submission to the meeting is below:

Councillor Mark Grimes made the following referral motion at the Etobicoke-York Community Council meeting of April 21, 2011 which was adopted:

At the same time - Etobicoke-York Community Council also adopted the following item that was added to the agenda:

Mimico 20/20 Community - Formation of an Implementation Team:

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.EY6.32

I also wish to note that Councillor Peter Milczyn spoke on the historical and architectural importance of the site and did put forward a motion to adopt the recommendation from the Toronto Preservation Board. However it became redundant once the referral motion by Councillor Mark Grimes was adopted.

Video of the meeting has been posted in 10 parts and can be viewed below:

Part 1 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6aLyjasFGc

Part 2 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGJ3d5zzxz8

Part 3 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZ2yHmIUsww

Part 4 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmufKmbshRA

Part 5 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fG67MVNmtE

Part 6 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CwtZgM_8vI

Part 7 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47icPZtZf-s

Part 8 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKg6X6a_Ltg

Part 9 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPjG5d99Hz4

Part 10 of 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvCLOkLIYjw

Development Application:

The Longo Corporation that owns the Amedeo Garden Court Apartment Complex has made a development application to the City of Toronto. The initial application was sent on April 1, 2011, most likely triggered by the consideration of the staff report recommending designation of the Ormsby/Franceschini estate buildings and landscaping elements under the Ontario Heritage Act which proceeded to the Toronto Preservation Panel that day.

The preliminary Toronto Planning Department Report on the application proceeded to the Etobicoke-York Community Council meeting of September 12, 2011 and was adopted. It provides a preliminary look at the application and projected next steps. The item can be found here:

http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2011.EY9.8

The attached Planning Staff report provides a summary of the development application as follows:

full replacement of all existing 396 rental housing units within 2 new 8 to 10-storey buildings;
1,579 new condominium units over 3 to 5-storey base buildings and 6 new 20 to 44 storey buildings with a proposed Gross Floor Area of 165,412 square metres (i.e. amount of floor space they can build on the site);
extensive underground parking facilities for 1845 spaces;
a new public roadway system;
extension of public parkland and waterfront access; and,
devising an appropriate approach to the site’s identified heritage features (though none of the features appear on the site plan they submitted with their application).

This application will now work its way through the development review process and be reviewed concurrently with the overall Mimico 2020 plan.

What you can do

As the designation of the heritage buildings and landscaping features (Dunington-Grubb Garden, stone walls etc..) was referred, it is expected that the report will return to Etobicoke-York Community Council in early 2012 for consideration. Letters of support for the designation of the buildings and landscaping features under the Ontario Heritage Act - helping to ensure their incorporation into the proposed development - can be sent to Etobicoke-York Community Council at any time.

They will be held by the secretary of the committee until the item returns for consideration. Letters/emails should be addressed to "Councillor Mark Grimes, Chair, and Members of Etobicoke-York Community Council" and emailed to the committee secretary at etcc@toronto.ca.

Please also send an email copy to Councillor Mark Grimes' office at councillor_grimes@toronto.ca, so he is aware, and to me at mimicohistory at hotmail.com.

March 29 2012 Update

NOW Magazine has listed the estate as one of 15 architectural gems under threat in Toronto. The list can be found here.

September 15, 2012 Update

The Longos are presenting a revised application to the Mimico Residents Association tonight. From what I can gather from attendees the Longos are proposing to preserve the main house and garden in their current location but demolish everything else. They have indicated that they intend to resubmit a revised development application soon.

March 21, 2013 Update

The Longos have put the Amedeo Garden Court Apartment Complex up for sale. An ad appeared in the Globe and Mail today. Potential purchasers have a deadline of Thursday March 8th to submit their offers.

March 26, 2013 Update

After two years the city staff report declaring the city's intent to desginate the Ormsby/Franceschini estate (Mimico Estates) under the Ontario Heritage Act, is returning to Etobicoke York Community Council on April 6, 2013 for consideration.

The report was originally adopted by the Toronto Preservation Board on April 1, 2011 but then referred back to planning staff by Etobicoke York Community Council on April 21, 2011 pending completion of the Mimico By The Lake Secondary Plan.

Now, two years later the Mimico By the Lake Secondary Plan is complete and both it, and the report declaring the intent of the city to designation the Ormsby Franceschini estate under the Ontario Heritage Act is set for discussion at the Etobicoke York Community Council meeting of April 9, 2013.

The report can be found here:

Comments can be sent by clicking on "Submit Comments" on the top of the page.

The detailed staff report can be downloaded by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

The proposed Mimico By The Lake Secondary Plan can by found here:

It contains important heritage policies including those that deal specifically with the Ormsby/Franceschini estate.

April 9, 2013

Tonight Etobicoke-York Community Council deferred the item - along with the Mimico By The Lake Secondary Plan to the meeting of June 18, 2013.

May 17, 2013

The Longo family has sold the Amedeo Garden Court Apartment complex to CAPREIT. In a news release from May 15, 2013 CAPREIT stated that they purchased the property for $56.2 million. The news release goes on further to describe the potential redevelopment of the site.

May 29, 2013

I noticed last night that the new owners have put up a new sign for the apartment complex. They are now calling it "The Mimico Estates" which is the same name that the city is calling it on the report seeking designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. It seems encouraging that they are emulating the name that the city has used in the report (although they mistakenly indicate that it was the original name of the estate). Only time will tell if they truly recognize the heritage assets and potential of the property by preserving the original estate buildings in their entirety and incorporating them into the redevelopment of the estate.

June 18, 2013

Today Etobicoke-York Community Council unanimously adopted the recommendation from Toronto Planning Staff that the city declare its intent to designate the estate buildings and heritage landscaping features (Dunington-Grubb designed garden and stone wall along Lake Shore Blvd. West) under the Ontario Heritage Act. This decision will now go to Toronto City Council for confirmation on July 16, 2013.

July 16, 2013

Today, Toronto City Council adopted the recommendation from Etobicoke-York Community Council to designate the "Mimico Estates" - Ormsby/Franceschini Estate under the Ontario Heritage Act. The recommendation is that the city declare its intent to designate the property under the Act. The next step is for the city to notify the owner, and issue a notice of the intent to designate the property under the Act. If there are no appeals against the intent to designate the property during the appeal period (30 days) the City will bring forward the bylaw designating the property under the Ontario Heritage Act at a later date (usually a few months). If there is an appeal then there will be a hearing before the Conservation Review Board. The Board will hear evidence and issue a decision. The decision is final.

December 2, 2013

Today I received notification that the bylaw designating the Ormsby-Franceschini Estate under the Ontario Heritage Act was passed by Toronto City Council on November 15, 2013. This means that any work or alterations involving any of the elements described in the "Statement of Significance" require approval from the City of Toronto. This is a great day for Mimico heritage, and the culmination of over two years of hard work and support from many individuals and organizations. Well done everyone!

April 30, 2015

I was going by the property a few days ago and noticed that one of the historic gates, protected under the Ontario Heritage Act, had been removed and replaced in the stone wall along Lake Shore Blvd. West. This troubling situation, was all the more surprising because there was another similar situation last year where CAPREIT, the new owners, began replacing the roof of the main house with inappropriate materials not in keeping with the designation of the building under the Ontario Heritage Act. I was informed about that incident by a resident of the apartment complex and let Heritage Preservation Services at the City of Toronto know about it. They told the owners to stop all work, and informed CAPREIT staff on site that any work on the components of the historic estate designated under the Ontario Heritage Act required approval from the city before any work was done. You can therefore imagine my surprise that they appear to have done this again. It also makes me wonder what else they may have done without permission from the City of Toronto to damage this historically significant property? I immediately asked City of Toronto staff to investigate this apparent contravention of the respective city by-law, and wrote to Thomas Schwartz, President and CEO of CAPREIT to remind him of CAPREIT's obligations under the city by-law designating the historical estate under the Ontario Heritage Act, and CAPREIT's responsibility to protect and maintain the heritage features on the property. I also requested that they let me know when they will be reinstalling the historic gate back into the wall along Lake Shore Blvd. West in order to be in compliance with the City of Toronto by-law and the Ontario Heritage Act. I will provide more updates as they become available.

May 4, 2015

I received the following response from CAPREIT today:

Please note that it is CAPREIT's intention to comply with the required by-laws under the Ontario Heritage Act. Management is in contact with the by law officer to ensure that the replacement gate is in compliance with Act.

Staff of the City of Toronto's Heritage Preservation Services are on the case and I have full confidence that they will ensure proper compliance with the city by-law and the Ontario Heritage Act, including, I believe, reinstallation of the original gate back in its rightful place.