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From The Globe and Mail
Protection sought for Black's old perch
By JENNIFER LEWINGTON
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 Page A12
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
A downtown Toronto landmark -- the headquarters of Conrad Black's embattled Hollinger Inc. -- would receive beefed-up heritage protection under a city proposal to be debated today.
The property at 10 Toronto St., built in 1853, served as a post office, a government building and later the headquarters of Argus Corp. before becoming home to Hollinger.
The Toronto and East York Community Council will vote on whether to designate the building under the Ontario Heritage Act, which offers stepped-up protection from future demolition.
The push to designate the building, located just east of Yonge Street between King and Adelaide Streets, came after city officials received informal word that developers were interested in turning the former post office into a high-rise tower.
"I say to Conrad Black and his successors: Forget it, leave it alone," Kyle Rae, a member of the community council, said yesterday.
The building's current heritage status -- it was named a national historic site in 1958 and listed on the former City of Toronto's inventory of heritage properties in 1973 -- offers no real protection against redevelopment or demolition.
It is one of the city's early surviving limestone buildings and is considered architecturally significant for its Greek Revival design.
"It's a stunning piece of architecture in downtown Toronto," said Denise Gendron, the city's manager of heritage-preservation services. "With the amount of development pressure that is going on, we felt it was critical to safeguard that piece of city history."
The building was originally constructed as the Seventh Post Office.
In 1937, it became a branch of the Bank of Canada before Toronto industrialist E. P. Taylor acquired the site in 1959 as the headquarters of Argus Corp.
Lord Black took control of Argus in 1978. Since then 10 Toronto St. has served as headquarters for Hollinger Inc.
On May 31, Lord Black was barred by court order from entering the building.
Protection sought for Black's old perch
By JENNIFER LEWINGTON
Tuesday, October 18, 2005 Page A12
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
A downtown Toronto landmark -- the headquarters of Conrad Black's embattled Hollinger Inc. -- would receive beefed-up heritage protection under a city proposal to be debated today.
The property at 10 Toronto St., built in 1853, served as a post office, a government building and later the headquarters of Argus Corp. before becoming home to Hollinger.
The Toronto and East York Community Council will vote on whether to designate the building under the Ontario Heritage Act, which offers stepped-up protection from future demolition.
The push to designate the building, located just east of Yonge Street between King and Adelaide Streets, came after city officials received informal word that developers were interested in turning the former post office into a high-rise tower.
"I say to Conrad Black and his successors: Forget it, leave it alone," Kyle Rae, a member of the community council, said yesterday.
The building's current heritage status -- it was named a national historic site in 1958 and listed on the former City of Toronto's inventory of heritage properties in 1973 -- offers no real protection against redevelopment or demolition.
It is one of the city's early surviving limestone buildings and is considered architecturally significant for its Greek Revival design.
"It's a stunning piece of architecture in downtown Toronto," said Denise Gendron, the city's manager of heritage-preservation services. "With the amount of development pressure that is going on, we felt it was critical to safeguard that piece of city history."
The building was originally constructed as the Seventh Post Office.
In 1937, it became a branch of the Bank of Canada before Toronto industrialist E. P. Taylor acquired the site in 1959 as the headquarters of Argus Corp.
Lord Black took control of Argus in 1978. Since then 10 Toronto St. has served as headquarters for Hollinger Inc.
On May 31, Lord Black was barred by court order from entering the building.