Members of Toronto's Japanese community are striving to save a cultural center originally designed by renowned architect Raymond Moriyama from being redeveloped into a condominium complex.

In the 1960s, around 75 Japanese-Canadians from B.C., who were displaced, funded the establishment of the original Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre to preserve their heritage and foster community ties in their new Toronto home.

However, the cultural center was closed in 2021 and sold to the developers 123 Wynford Inc. The Japanese cultural center subsequently relocated to 6 Sakura Way, merely a ten-minute walk from its former location.

The developer now plans to dismantle and redevelop the site into a 48-story condominium tower.

Lynn Kobayashi, whose grandmother was among the financiers of the center, expresses deep concerns that the developers are underestimating the building's cultural importance and fears that the center will not be preserved adequately. "As a Japanese-Canadian, I find that totally offensive," stated the Toronto Chapter president of the National Association of Japanese Canadians (NAJC) during an interview with CBC Toronto.

"This would grossly misrepresent the building's legacy and destroy its architectural heritage. The building must be kept intact," Kobayashi added.

She is not the only one in opposition. The city council also opposed the developer's proposal to modify the structure.

In May, 123 Wynford Inc. applied to demolish and modify the heritage site for its project, which also proposed an adjacent 55-story tower. While Toronto endeavors to maintain historic buildings such as those designed by Moriyama, there's a concurrent need to boost development to mitigate housing shortages.

Developer's plan to 'retain' as much of the center as possible

123 Wynford Inc. is contesting the council's decision at the Ontario Land Tribunal, with hearings that began on Tuesday and are expected to continue until mid-month.

The developers have refrained from commenting during the ongoing legal proceedings but stated, "It is our intention and our plan to retain as much of the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre as possible. We approach this project with a vision of reinvention and respect for the original structure."

Lawyers representing the city and NAJC also opted not to comment amidst ongoing hearings. Last month, the NAJC initiated a GoFundMe campaign to fund its legal expenses during the trial, surpassing its initial goal of $20,000.

Moriyama-Teshima Architects, though not directly involved in these efforts, said they are somewhat involved with the condo plans, according to statements from 123 Wynford Inc. which also noted collaboration with the firm during the design stage.

According to online records, the 123 Wynford Drive property was first sold in 2001 to the Noor Cultural Centre, an Islamic learning and cultural hub. At the time of the deal, it was believed the building would remain intact—an ideal scenario then.

The Noor centre closed in 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions, which is when the current developers took over the site.

Neighbourhood concerns

Local residents have expressed their concerns about their densely populated area with limited ingress and egress options.

"If there's a major disaster, even a minor one, despite reassurances by emergency services that they could manage, the reality of evacuating approximately 25,000 people from the area could pose significant risks," mentioned John Cockerill, a former local residents' association leader.

Cockerill suggested incorporating a public space within the building since the locale lacks community spaces, noting that currently, "There are very few places to gather other than a Tim Hortons."

The development proposal includes several outdoor amenities like public space and walkways. However, for Kobayashi, the idea of a condominium over a cherished heritage site is unacceptable since dismantling the building might compromise its structural integrity. "It's unique. You can't just dismiss that," she remarked.