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 Brittain
To 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 property’s 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 higher
grade would remove the building’s 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 would

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