On Friday October 18, the Ontario Land Tribunal green-lighted the redevelopment of the former Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, a heritage-designated building designed by the late Raymond Moriyama, at 123 Wynford Drive. The proposed new development is a pair of condo towers, one of which is a 48-storey tower to be located on top of the heritage building.Photo by James BrittainTo accommodate these proposed towers and below grade parking, the developer plans to completely demolish the old Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and later re-assemble portions of the original building at an elevated grade.The City of Toronto refused the development application, citing the propertys heritage designation. The proposal to demolish the building (with the exception of the north-west concrete pylon) and alter the property, would result in the permanent loss of this significant cultural heritage resource, wrote the Interim Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning. The proposal to demolish and re-attach select portions of the original building onto a new tower structure in its former location at a much highergrade would remove the buildings integrity as a whole building and all its interior and exterior heritage attributes as well as alter its placement on the site.Renderings of the proposed development, by Kirkor Architects.The introduction of two tall towers on the site to replace the existing building wouldadditionally result in the removal of a fundamental attribute of the property which is theinextricable relationship the building was designed to have with the landscape andnatural ravine, they added. This would have a considerable negative impact on the original vision for the property and the manner in which that vision is currently expressed.Additional renderings how the proposed re-attachment of a portion of the historic faades to the new buildings.The heritage building, designed by the late Raymond Moriyama and recently renovated by his firm, holds deep cultural, historical and architectural significance. This holds particularly true for Japanese Canadians, who have been advocating for the retention and restoration of the existing structure.Less than 20 years after Japanese Canadians were unjustly incarcerated during the Second World War, the Japanese Canadian community built the JCCC as a living monument to celebrate their ancestry, regain a sense of self-respect and promote friendship with all Canadians through culture, writes the National Association of Japanese Canadians Greater Toronto Chapter. Due to a funding shortfall at that time, 75 community members stepped forward and put second mortgages on their homes and businesses to finance the building.The developer contested City Councils refusal of their application by bringing the case to the Ontario Land Tribunal. In its decision to approve the development plans, the Tribunal wrote: The Tribunal acknowledges the cultural and architectural significance of the existing structure. However, in the absence of any firm alternative plans, it believes that the proposal preserves the importance of the Subject Site. The Tribunal encourages both parties to continue discussions with this goal in mind.It continues: The Tribunal is persuaded by the evidence that the proposal promotes efficient development of land, accommodates a range of appropriate mixed uses, intensifies uses within the settlement area, and contributes to the range of housing options, particularly with the increase in housing options supported by mass public transit as desired by the City.The post Ontario Land Tribunal decides against the preservation of Moriyama landmark appeared first on Canadian Architect.