The city is considering applying the HCD designation to the West Annex as part of its Phase II Heritage Conservation District Study. By Damola Omole On Oct. 21, 2025, City of Toronto planning staff hosted an open house at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT), where individuals from the Annex neighbourhood provided feedback on […]

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If the West Annex Heritage Project follows in the footsteps of the East Annex, the area between Bedford Road and Bathurst Street could become a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) as early as 2024. In September and October, consultants connected with local residents at two virtual meetings to discuss the project and the changes it might bring.

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The Annex is facing intense pressure, with 25 major development projects currently underway. Can the neighbourhood grow without losing its unique character? Heritage consultants will be defining that character over the next seven months as they scour the neighbourhood to document 1,007 properties within the boundaries of Dupont, Bloor, Bedford and Bathurst streets.  The goal is for the city to declare the “West Annex”—defined as the area west of Bedford— a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) so that future development takes heritage into consideration.

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Demolition freeze for Kensington Market By Temi Dada In mid July, Toronto City Council voted to prevent the demolition of commercial and mixed-use buildings for one year in Kensington Market. This gives the city time to complete work on designating the market a Heritage Conservation District (HCD), and makes sure that developers don’t tear down […]

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Planning has officially begun on the Kensington Market Heritage Conservation District, after city staff and Taylor Hazell Architects spent more than a year studying how best to preserve the area’s unique character. It comes shortly after the National Film Board of Canada released a Heritage Minute about the history of the market’s cultural diversity. This […]

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Finding a place to live an urgent need By Marielle Torrefranca When Maureen Gustafson was searching for a place to live near the University of Toronto, she quickly hit a wall. “I did think about graduate school housing for U of T,” said Gustafson, who just started a masters program in health promotion this year. […]

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Process to designate Kensington Market underway By Geremy Bordonaro After a year of study and consultation, the city is going ahead with the process to designate Kensington Market a Heritage Conservation District (HCD). The decision was announced at a community consultation meeting last month. “It’s a two-year process,” said Joe Cressy (Ward 20, Trinity-Spadina). “By […]

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Protecting heritage doesn’t mean freezing areas in time By Joe Cressy As is often said, Rome wasn’t built in a day. In comparison, Toronto may be a relatively young city, but that doesn’t mean we have no history to speak of — far from it. Preserving our city’s heritage is critical. It tells us something […]

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Supporters aim to protect neighbourhood’s unique character By Geremy Bordonaro Even in a city known for its distinctive neighbourhoods, it remains unique. In this bustling centre, small shops, from grocery and thrift stores to restaurants, line the streets alongside hip boutiques that cater to the savviest of customers. Nary a car drives down the street, […]

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