A three-alarm fire cut through a pair of heritage homes downtown on Monday morning, sending billowing smoke into the sky and leaving the site with significant damage.

The McLeish-Powell Houses, built in 1888 and located at Wellington Street and Spadina Avenue, were abandoned and in the midst of an appeal regarding the site’s redevelopment, according to the City of Toronto’s Senior Heritage Planner Alex Corey.

The homes were being looked at by Lamb Development Corporation, who ebranded the site Wellington House. On the project’s website, the proposed redevelopment is described as an example of “spectacular modern architecture… that will make the building a standout in the area.”

Brad J. Lamb, president of Lamb Development Corp., is quoted on the project’s website saying the project will be “an icon, smack dab in the centre of the Entertainment District.”

Earlier this month, plans for redevelopment were rejected and “as a result, the developer cancelled the existing sales and plans to relaunch after approvals are achieved,” according to the company.

Reports of the fire, initially a two-alarm blaze, came in at 11:39 a.m., Capt. David Eckerman told the Star.

“There was an initial report that there may have been someone working inside but primary and secondary searches found the building to be clear,” Eckerman said.

No injuries were reported.