Last Thursday, the Toronto Preservation Board voted unanimously to recommend that 7 Austin Terrace (the Maclean House) be included on the City's Inventory of Heritage Properties, and also that the City designate the property under the Ontario Heritage Act.

After a number of speakers, including local MPP Dr. Eric Hoskins and Councillor Joe Mihevc, had spoken strongly in favour of the motion, the lawyer for the owner of 7 Austin Terrace asked for an adjournment. He argued that the process had been "flawed, unfair and prejudicial" to his client. He said that the owner had not had the opportunity to speak at the Toronto and East York Community Council, nor had he received adequate notice of the intent to designate.

TPB members asked whether, if an adjournment were granted, the owner would agree not to recommence demolition until City Council had considered the issue properly. When it became clear that it was not possible to get such a commitment, the TPB voted unanimously to recommend that the property be designated.

At this week's City Council meeting both recommendations were accepted, and it is now hoped that discussions with the developer will result in a proposal which respects the heritage of the building while allowing for reuse. However, the property owner has the ability to appeal the City's decision, so the story is not yet over.