What is a heritage conservation district, and why does the Union Station need one?
A heritage conservation district is an area designated by a municipality under the Ontario Heritage Act. The designation allows the municipality to define its unique cultural, heritage or architectural character and to protect that character through its approval processes. The City of Toronto has developed a series of heritage conservation districts in residential areas like Rosedale and Cabbagetown and in institutional areas like Fort York and has found them to be a successful tool for managing change in culturally significant areas of the city. How will implementing a Heritage Conservation District affect property owners’ ability to reconstruct or alter their buildings and associated property? The heritage conservation district study will set design guidelines for the district. Proposed alterations to buildings within the heritage conservation district that require municipal approval (building permits, planning submissions, etc) will be reviewed by Toronto’s Heritage Preservation Ser
