244 High Park Avenue - Committee of Adjustment Hearing

Junction Residents Assoiciation



A position post from the Junction Resident Association

The stately home located at 244 High Park Avenue was built in 1910.  It has large principal rooms, and retains many of its original interior features, as well as sunny bay windows, solid bricks, and even a slate roof.

Recently this home was purchased by a developer, and last November they asked the city for permission to demolish it, divide the lot and squeeze in two, three-story houses, each with a garage next to the front door.

Depending on your point of view, this development could be an opportunity to rejuvenate the neighbourhood or represent potential loss of our heritage.

The large lots which drew many of us to the Junction are ideal for this type of intensification. As the Junction gentrifies, prices will rise and the equation for profitable intensification will draw many more developers, with bulldozers not far behind.

The Etobicoke York Committee of Adjustment will review this proposal on Thursday, February 18th.

I  (Martin Lennox JRA co-chair) plan to attend the hearing to make my case to reinforce the existing physical character of the Junction and ask the Committee to reject this proposal.

The loss of one house is not going to change Junction life any more than new condos or railways will, but I view this project not as one step but possibly the first of many such steps.

The Committee equates silence with acceptance, so every email counts.

The association has produced a form letter to start that makes it simple to register your views

Subject line: 244 High Park Avenue - Committee of Adjustment Hearing

To Whom It May Concern:

I respectfully request that the Committee of Adjustment does not consent to sever 244 High Park Ave.

The proposed development does not comply with the City of Toronto Official Plan for established neighbourhoods in that it does not respect the existing physical character of the Junction neighbourhood.

The proposed design does not match the prevailing building type, or the size and configuration of existing lots.  The prevailing rear and side yard setback patterns are also not respected.



In particular, the proposed architectural design (including the addition of a front-yard garage) does not complement the built form features that contribute to the unique physical character of the Junction and the many heritage listed buildings in the area.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

[Your Address Here]

...next JRA members meeting will be held on Thursday, March 11th at 7pm at the West Toronto Baptist Church, 3049 Dundas Street West.