Century-old Masonic Temple nears heritage status

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This article was published 17/01/2019 (2490 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The 123-year-old Masonic Temple building on Donald Street moved closer to formal heritage status Wednesday.

City hall’s historical buildings committee endorsed the recommendation from the planning department to give the vacant structure heritage status, over the written objections of its owner.

The committee supported the designations of two other properties — Knox United Church (400 Edmonton St.) and St. James Anglican church and cemetery (525 Tylehurst St.) — but postponed a decision on a fourth property (639 Portage Ave., known as Monte Cassino Court) to its Feb. 20 meeting.

The historical buildings committee consists of volunteers from the community’s engineering, architecture and planning fields, chaired by a city councillor (Coun. John Orlikow).

The committee’s decisions are forwarded to council’s property and development committee, which can make the designation official. If the building owner objects, the approval of council is required.

No in-person presentations are allowed at the historical buildings committee meetings; however, building owners can state their support or opposition to designation in writing.

Building owners are allowed to make in-person presentation at the property and development committee and, if necessary, at meetings of council.