Hiscox was taken aback by the idea that he was “trying to pull a fast one” on neighbours. In response, he bought the web domain savethecoachhouse.ca to rally supporters.
“(The plan) was to be very straightforward, upfront, and gain support of folks. It’s a little complicated what we’re doing and it’s a great thing for the neighbourhood,” he said.
While James Nadler understands his neighbours’ concerns about congesting Molson St., he says accusations of ugliness are unfounded.
“I think it is attractive,” said Nadler, a Ryerson radio and television arts professor who lives in the area. “Esthetically it would be better to have it there than what is there currently… I’d love to see the building saved.”
The final decision will come June 11, when the committee of adjustment gathers to address the case. If the application is denied, Hiscox insists that won’t spell the demise of the coach house.
“We’re not in the business of backing away meekly. We’ll evaluate our options,” he said. “We can look at storing the coach house if we have to.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/05/23/neighbours_balk_at_1m_plan_to_save_a_free_historic_toronto_coach_house.html
But there are complications. For one thing, the move would require the city to make all sorts of complicated exceptions to its by-laws; for another, neighbours say the introduction of the historic building would utterly decimate their way of life. “It’s just plain ugly,” Peter Rehak, one of several participants in a recent community meeting about the proposal, told the Star. “It would destroy how the neighbourhood is set up.” The site is currently occupied by a three-car garage, as God apparently intended.
http://www.torontolife.com/informer/random-stuff-informer/2014/05/23/yorkville-residents-say-heritage-coach-house-will-destroy-neighbourhood/#more-275275
Why are efforts to preserve architectural history so
difficult and almost always seem to bring out the worst in people?
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