City loses 'race against time' to save historic Mimico factory

A historic Mimico building was partially demolished Wednesday, despite a decision made that afternoon by the Toronto Preservation Board to recommendit be preserved under the Ontario Heritage Act.

• Stollerys demolition raises questions about city heritage rules

The former factory, built in 1917,is owned by Freed Development, and signs at the site indicate plans to build five residential apartment buildings.

The building, located at 1 AudleyStreet near Royal York Road and Newcastle Street in south Etobicoke, had been on the city's radar as ahistoric propertyfor at least a year, when Mimico historian Michael Harrison recommended it be earmarked for preservation.

"It's one of the earliest industrial buildings in Mimico that still exists," Harrison told CBC News. But he said historical value often doesn't stop buildings getting demolished.

"If they're not designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, they're not safe," he explained.

Not long after it was first built, the factory produced engineparts

But for much of its existence, the building was owned by theSchindler Company, which produced sporting good such as fishing line.

Chris Moore, president of the Mimico Residents Association, agrees with Harrison that the building should have been preserved.

"Everytime I walk through there I've always enjoyed walking by that building. It just has a certain character that not much else has in the area," Moore said.

Building was weeks away from heritage status

The building at 1 AudleyStreet did go before the Preservation Board, but it still had to be approved by Etobicoke community council and Toronto city councilbefore it could be designated an official heritage building.

"In cases where there is a potential imminent demolition it can become a race against time," said Mary MacDonald, senior manager in heritage preservation services for city planning.

In a statement to CBC News, Freed Development said it had received all the necessary permits for demolition.

"These activities were pursued with the full and complete permission of the City and in keeping with the permits that were granted," it read.

Harrison mourns the loss, and said he's already seen other historic Mimico buildings suffer the same fate.

"What they did was legally correct, and they had a demolition permit, but it was morally wrong," he said.

Commercial buildings especially vulnerable

In Toronto, it's commercial buildings that are more at risk for knee-jerk demolition.

Residential buildings that are considered to have possible historical value fall under a bylaw that protects them.

"You are required to post a notice, there's a period of time when objections can be raised, and if there are objections then the demolition of that building needs to be considered by community council," said MacDonald.

No equivalent process exists for commercial buildings, leading developers to rush to demolish before any designation is established.

For MacDonald, this conflict is part of larger struggle for communities in Toronto trying to preserve their past.

"When we see things disappearing, we understand what it means to the local community, and I feel really bad for the people in Mimico," she said.