Madison Avenue is one step closer to becoming a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). On Sept. 8, the Toronto and East York Community Council endorsed a motion to designate Madison Avenue from Bloor to Dupont streets an HCD under the Ontario Heritage Act. The designation allows a municipality to protect and enhance the special character of a property or group of properties. The City of Toronto currently has 20 HCDs, three of which are in the Gleaner’s coverage area: Harbord Village Residents’ Association (HVRA) I and II, and the East Annex. Two more studies are also underway for HVRA III and the West Annex.

HCDs “are an incredibly important tool under the heritage act”, said Joe Cressy (Trinity-Spadina, Ward 20) in a previously published May Gleaner article, “to not just design a property, but to preserve an entire area’s unique character.”

The Madison Avenue HDC must be approved by City Council before the designation is made official. That approval is expected to occur in November.

—Brian Burchell and Annemarie Brissenden