Toronto Star

A Toronto city councillor and the city's heritage preservation board are trying to protect an unusual Yorkville penthouse apartment designed by the late U.S. architect Philip Johnson. The board gave approval earlier this month to add to the city's list of heritage properties the luxurious apartment, built in 1960 for Noah Torno and his wife Rose. The Tornos hired Johnson — considered among the greats of U.S. architecture — in the late 1950s to design their home on top of the CIL Building at 130 Bloor St. W., near Avenue Rd. The two-storey apartment is reached by a private elevator entrance off Cumberland Ave. Councillor Kyle Rae, (Ward 27, Toronto Centre-Rosedale) who sits on the board and represents the area, said he's concerned that the building's owner, Oxford Properties, may divide the apartment — reportedly between 6,000 and 8,000 square feet — into smaller units.