This century old home at 78 Mimico Avenue along with numbers 80 and 86 may soon be rescued for their heritage value.
Three historic homes that are around 100-years-old and were once part of Mimico’s main street are being considered for heritage designations.
The homes at 78, 80 and 86 Mimico Avenue will be considered for their historic value at a January 18 meeting by the Toronto Preservation Board.
The dwellings, of which two were former dairies and one a bank, were referred for consideration by the City’s Heritage Planning, Urban Design and City Planning.
The Heritage Planning department said the homes have ‘cultural heritage value,” and should be preserved by the City forever.
Number 80 Mimico Avenue was once a dairy located on main street Mimico.
Their report said the properties were constructed between 1920 and 1929 as part of Mimico’s main street commercial structures with residential-office uses above.
“These three buildings display a remarkable level of visual cohesion, sharing architectural elements including two storey profile, cornices, parapets, storefronts, and second storey apartments/offices,” according to the report.
It states the commercial buildings were typical of Mimico’s streetcar period from 1918 to 1939 following the First World War, when Mimico experienced significant growth on the north side of Mimico Avenue.
Then the commercial structures were grouped together at the intersections of Lake Shore Blvd. W., Queens Avenue and Station Road.
Number 86 Mimico Avenue was a main street bank for decades and one of few in the area.
The report said the 80 Mimico Avenue property was built in 1920 by John and Percy MacKenzie for their business, John MacKenzie and Son Dairy.
The family sold the property in 1928 and a year later John, Percy and Clarence MacKenzie constructed the building at 78 Mimico Avenue to house their expanded dairy, which operated as Hillside Dairy from 1932 to 1943, and then Silverwoods dairy from 1944 to 1955. The property operated as a dairy for 35 years on then Mimico’s main street.
The property at 80 Mimico Avenue was purchased by Anthony Joseph in 1928, whose family would operate a grocery store there from 1929 until 1969.
The Mimico post office was also on the main drag about a century ago.
Constructed between 1923 and 1924 for the Union Bank of Canada, 86 Mimico Avenue served as the branch of the Royal Bank of Canada from 1925-1935. It was purchased and occupied by Florence Weber in 1953, who would reside there for the next five decades.
“The subject properties anchor the northeast corner of Mimico Avenue and Station Road and are important in defining, maintaining, and supporting the predominantly early-twentieth century main street character of Mimico Avenue,” the report stated.
Demolition permits were submitted in May 15, 2023, for the properties at 78 and 80 Mimico Avenue but someone realized their historic value. Those applications are still under review.
The heritage designation enables City Council to review proposed alterations or demolitions to the properties and enforce heritage property standards and maintenance.
The report said staff completed research on the properties at 78, 80 and 86 Mimico Avenue and determined they met designation under the Ontario Heritage Act and have significant heritage value.