City Council has voted to protect 303 potentially significant buildings downtown. Demolition of designated buildings within the King-Spadina neighbourhood can now be rejected by city staff.

Councillor Joe Cressy who tabled the motion said “we’re at risk of losing the city’s heritage. (This motion) stops the wild-west practice of demolishing buildings that have heritage value which we have not yet designated.”

In 1996, only 945 people lived in this then-industrial area. Today 19,000 live here, and with new development that number of residents and employees is expected to rise to 50,000.  Developers can appeal to the quasi-judicial, non-elected Ontario Municipal Board.

<Left Councillor Mammoliti & right Mayor John Tory>

The final council vote was 30 to 1 in favour. Who cast the one dissenting vote? Councillor GIORGIO MAMMOLIT1 (Ward 7 – York West), still smarting after a dressing-down by Mayor JOHN TORY two days earlier.

To see the smackdown the usually cool Mayor Tory delivered to Mammoliti go to http://torontoist.com/2016/12/watch-john-tory-deliver-a-satisfying-smackdown-to-giorgio-mammoliti/