Looking to see historical photos of the site, I stumbled on this, which isn't a very good view of China Lily...........but caught my attention because of the Loblaws across the street: (1981)

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Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.1

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.1
app.toronto.ca


1233-1235 Queen Street East - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act


Summary​
This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value.

The property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East comprises a factory complex located at the southeast corner of Queen Street East and Leslie Street. Constructed in 1920-1921, the earliest structure on the property is a two-storey main street mixed-use/commercial building that originally housed a billiards room and barber with apartments at the second storey. After Yeat Lum Lee purchased the property in 1947 the principle structure was converted for use as the headquarters and factory of Lee Food Products Ltd. The food product manufacturing company operated at its Leslieville location for more than 70 years.

Additions from 1948, 1950, and c.1956, as well as a steel tank from 1960, reflect the expansion of this significant Canadian company. Known especially for their widely distributed China Lily brand of soy sauce, Lee's company helped to popularize Chinese ingredients among Canadian households, beginning at a time when Chinese residents continued to face systemic barriers in many aspects of Canadian society.

Staff have completed the Research and Evaluation Report for the property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East and determined that the property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, on the basis of its design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual values. As such, the property is a significant built heritage resource.

In March 2022, the City of Toronto received Site Plan Approval, Official Plan Amendment, and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to facilitate the redevelopment of 1233-1243 Queen Street East and 77 Leslie Street for an 8-storey mixed-use building. The proposed development would include the demolition of all structures at 1233-1235 Queen Street East.

In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act. The Bill 108 Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act came into force on July 1, 2021, which included a shift in Part IV designations related to certain Planning Act applications. Section 29(1.2) of the Ontario Heritage Act now restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the Act to within 90 days after the City Clerk gives notice of a complete application.

The property owner provided a waiver to extend the 90-day timeline to September 30, 2022 so this Notice of Intention to Designate report must be considered by City Council before that date. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.​
 
AlbertC said:

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.1

Agenda Item History 2022.PB38.1
app.toronto.ca


1233-1235 Queen Street East - Notice of Intention to Designate a Property under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act


Summary​
This report recommends that City Council state its intention to designate the property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act for its cultural heritage value.

The property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East comprises a factory complex located at the southeast corner of Queen Street East and Leslie Street. Constructed in 1920-1921, the earliest structure on the property is a two-storey main street mixed-use/commercial building that originally housed a billiards room and barber with apartments at the second storey. After Yeat Lum Lee purchased the property in 1947 the principle structure was converted for use as the headquarters and factory of Lee Food Products Ltd. The food product manufacturing company operated at its Leslieville location for more than 70 years.

Additions from 1948, 1950, and c.1956, as well as a steel tank from 1960, reflect the expansion of this significant Canadian company. Known especially for their widely distributed China Lily brand of soy sauce, Lee's company helped to popularize Chinese ingredients among Canadian households, beginning at a time when Chinese residents continued to face systemic barriers in many aspects of Canadian society.

Staff have completed the Research and Evaluation Report for the property at 1233-1235 Queen Street East and determined that the property meets Ontario Regulation 9/06, the criteria prescribed for municipal designation under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act, on the basis of its design/physical, historical/associative, and contextual values. As such, the property is a significant built heritage resource.

In March 2022, the City of Toronto received Site Plan Approval, Official Plan Amendment, and Zoning By-law Amendment applications to facilitate the redevelopment of 1233-1243 Queen Street East and 77 Leslie Street for an 8-storey mixed-use building. The proposed development would include the demolition of all structures at 1233-1235 Queen Street East.

In June 2019, the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019 (Bill 108) received Royal Assent. Schedule 11 of this Act included amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act. The Bill 108 Amendments to the Ontario Heritage Act came into force on July 1, 2021, which included a shift in Part IV designations related to certain Planning Act applications. Section 29(1.2) of the Ontario Heritage Act now restricts City Council's ability to give notice of its intention to designate a property under the Act to within 90 days after the City Clerk gives notice of a complete application.

The property owner provided a waiver to extend the 90-day timeline to September 30, 2022 so this Notice of Intention to Designate report must be considered by City Council before that date. Designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the property and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.​
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Looking at the current structure today I find it hard to fathom this is worth protecting. The brand and business is a wonderful cultural story for all the reasons noted in the report but is that worth holding this co-living rental project up while this site sits dormant for 3 years trying to figure this out? I'm surprised and frustrated at the City's stance here.
 
It's just bad lighting, it's actually red. Someone must have seen this because the hole was covered with a pylon today. If someone on this project is reading this, please document the interior before teardown!
 
HousingNowTO said:
Going to be speaking at Toronto Preservation Board on Tuesday morning - asking the usual Heritage questions = "Seriously..? WTF..???"

https://twitter.com/x/status/1571917375963791361
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While we both champion more and more affordable housing, @HousingNowTO and I have been known to differ on where the balance lies, in protecting heritage, in working to please/assuage a local community, or in consideration of the environment.

Not this time.

This is a bad take (by the City) on the use of heritage powers. The building is not beloved for its architectural merit; or its place-making ability and its partial retention, if anything, detracts from the initial proposal here.
 
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I totally agree that this building is not heritage worthy. Normally I'n all for saving what heritage structures we sit have. I thought that perhaps the original frontage with the bay widow may be considered. However this is a dilapidated former factory with very little interest IMHO. in addition and some very nefarious people have been in and about this place for awhile and it is becoming a creepy place. I live very close by and was exited by this proposal until now.
 
Even I find myself against preservation here. Perhaps as suggested the two storey Edwardian facade with its bays could be worth incorporating, but even then there are still a lot of similar surviving buildings in the city. To me the most important part is that the new building maintained a brick with red accent look and I thought they did a great job with the design. A rare instance where the new is actually an improvement.
 
We have posted the completed Agenda item to our YouTube in 3-parts. Worth a watch on 1.5x speed if you have 30-minutes to kill.

Board voted in favour of the “Heritage Designation” - and it goes to a special meeting of City Council next week.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1572581757341540353
 
Turned down for heritage designation just now by City Council. Thank goodness!

Instead of designating the building, they're essentially looking for the building to be researched and have something like a plaque applied to the exterior of the redevelopment:

1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council on listing the property on the Heritage Register, including preparing Reasons for Listing, and to secure the incorporation of a commemorative strategy for acknowledgement of the contribution of the Lee family, the significance of this industry for the east Toronto Chinese Community as well as any culturally significant architectural features based on the listing should the Official Plan, Zoning By-law and Site Plan applications be approved.​

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interchange42 said:
Turned down for heritage designation just now by City Council. Thank goodness!

Instead of designating the building, they're essentially looking for the building to be researched and have something like a plaque applied to the exterior of the redevelopment:

1. City Council direct the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning to report back to the Toronto and East York Community Council on listing the property on the Heritage Register, including preparing Reasons for Listing, and to secure the incorporation of a commemorative strategy for acknowledgement of the contribution of the Lee family, the significance of this industry for the east Toronto Chinese Community as well as any culturally significant architectural features based on the listing should the Official Plan, Zoning By-law and Site Plan applications be approved.​

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Having an entire 2+ Hour meeting of Toronto City Council that had no other agenda items, just "Heritage Planning" processes and priorities was a pretty useful exercise. Usually these things just pass on a quick voice-vote in the middle of a big Council agenda with nobody paying attention to the "sausage making"...

WATCH -
 
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