The City of Toronto refused Larco's application to build condos on the Dominion Public Building property.

CITY OF TORONTO - REPORT FOR ACTION
1 Front Street West and 141 Bay Street Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Applications - Refusal Report.
Date: April 10, 2019.
To: Toronto and East York Community Council.
From: Director, Community Planning, Toronto and East York District.
Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York.
(Note: Councillor Mike Layton is a member of the Toronto and East York Community Council. And Toronto City Council authorized the City Solicitor and other appropriate staff to take any necessary steps to implement City Council's decision.)

Ownership
In early 2017, the property was sold by the Federal Government to Larco Investments Limited. Since acquiring the property, Larco has been meeting with City staff, neighbouring property owners and other stakeholders in the surrounding neighbourhood. (To see the entire report Google:" 1 Front Street West and 141 Bay Street-Official Plan Amendment Refusal")

The Dominion Public Building is located at 1 Front Street West, Toronto, which is right next to Union Station. Peter Clewes is the architect who designed the towers. The same Peter Clewes who designed a new addition to the Larco-owned Chateau Laurier Hotel in Ottawa.

1 Front Street West and 141 Bay are protected by provincial and municipal heritage laws:
Provincially, the landmark is protected by Part 1V, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act; and is part of the Union Station Heritage Conservation District which includes:
Union Station
The Dominion Public Building
The Royal York Hotel
The John Street Roundhouse

1 Front Street West is listed on the "City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties".

Reasons why Larco was denied permission to add condos to 1 Front Street West, Toronto.
"The proposal is inconsistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (2014); as it sets out inappropriate development standards including the absence of maximum building densities for the subject site; elimination of building setbacks from property lines and reduced tower setbacks between buildings; the inadequate mix of land uses to meet long term needs; and has not conserved the significant heritage values of the Dominion Public Building, Union Station and the Union Station Heritage Conservation District;" (The City of Toronto cited more reasons for rejecting Larco's bid to construct towers on 1 Front Street West-AC, creator of this blog.)
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Laws and guidelines that protect the Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa:

1.)  The nearby Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. On May 17, 2019 Heritage Ottawa sent a letter to UNESCO - subject -" Rideau Canal World Heritage Site and Proposed Addition to the Chateau Laurier Hotel."

2.)  The Chateau is a National Historic Site of Canada and the hotel was a Classified Federal Heritage Building.

3.)  There are guidelines pertaining to the architectural style of buildings located next to the Rideau Canal, see the document " Rideau Canal National Historic Site - Principles for Good Waterfront Development".

• New buildings should be designed to complement the landscape, character and architectural style of the surrounding area.  Buildings should be in proportion to the size and frontage of the property to fit in with the surroundings of the built environment.

4.)  The Chateau is part of Confederation Square in Ottawa.

5.)  The hotel is on a list of properties designated by the City of Ottawa under Part 1V of the Ontario Heritage Act.

6.)  Policy 2.6.1 of the Provincial Policy Statement (2014) directs that "Significant built heritage resources and significant cultural heritage landscapes shall be conserved".

The architectural style of buildings permitted on land next to the Rideau Canal:

The Rideau Canal Locks in downtown Merrickville, Ontario.

The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography was built in 1992, and is located between the Chateau Laurier Hotel and the Rideau Canal. The building is still federally owned and the address is 1 Wellington Street, Ottawa. (Wikipedia.com photo.)