Toronto 1889 Coach House Move Blocked by Committee

Toronto’s committee of adjustment decided Wednesday [June 11 2014] it would not permit a coach house built in 1889 to move uptown. 

From the Toronto Star Newspaper - http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/06/11/committee_rejects_application_to_move_coach_house.html

A coach house built in 1889 will not be making a historic trip across Toronto, after a city committee rejected an application to move it from downtown to midtown.

The 3,000-square-foot building at 19 Isabella St. is part of Casey House, an HIV/AIDS hospital, and is slated to be demolished this fall to make way for a new facility. It was offered up for free, provided someone could move the building by Labour Day.

Toronto entrepreneur Robert Hiscox offered to spend $1 million to move the coach house to one of his properties, 92 Roxborough St. in Summerhill.

Two dozen area residents turned out to Wednesday night’s committee of adjustment meeting and more than 70 sent letters opposing the move.

Hiscox had asked to sever the property, creating a second lot for the coach house, and had applied for 19 variances from city planning rules. Committee members were not persuaded the proposed two large houses on small lots would fit in with the neighbourhood.

“In terms of the heritage aspects, I would rely on what heritage staff have said. . . . Its heritage value is locational and once you’ve moved it, its heritage value is diminished dramatically,” said committee member Barbara Leonhardt.

Hiscox, who was not at the meeting, did not rule out an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

“It’s sad news. We always knew it was a challenging application, but we believe it’s the right thing to do for the city, for the neighbourhood and our shared history,” Hiscox said after learning of the decision.

He said more than 700 people signed his online petition to “Save the Coach House.”

Problems cited by several speakers included the removal of mature trees; loss of privacy, light, views and space; loss of neighbourhood character and setting a precedent for building on Molson St., which has never been an address for houses, only garages.

Many also worried the coach house would prove impossible to move in its entirety and that just a handful of bricks would make it to the new site.

“People are very concerned about the neighbourhood. We love our neighbourhood and we are trying to preserve it the way it is,” said Lianne Miller, who has lived on Macpherson Ave. in a home adjacent to the proposed lot for 22 years.

Eileen Costello, the lawyer representing Hiscox and his real estate company, Constantine Enterprises Inc., said her client’s intention was to leave the house intact but could not guarantee the final design.

Edward S. Rogers, deputy chair of the Rogers Communications board of directors, and Suzanne Rogers are listed as directors of Constantine Enterprises on corporate documents which state its corporate headquarters as the Rogers building on Bloor St. E.

But the coach house project is not affiliated with Rogers Communications, Hiscox said.

Neighbours’ concerns that moving the coach house was motivated by profits on future developments are unfounded, he said. “It’s not a business endeavour we’re going through. We’re trying to do something nice.”

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, who initially floated the idea of moving the coach house, had said it “remained to be seen” whether Roxborough St. was the right place for the building and that others had expressed interest as well.

Toronto Star reader Comment:

What I find comical is the self righteousness of some of these area residents. It was mentioned during the hearing that the 2 houses on MacPherson, north of Mr Hiscox property, complained about the view they would lose if the Coah House is placed at 92 Roxborough. What view? The one they each clearly have looking into Mr. Hiscox backyard from their second floor balconies? This hearing only showed the demeanor of the area and the fact that they feel everybody's business is their business. Don't forget the individual that writes the blog about Yonge and Roxborough. Reporting on who's doing what in the neighbourhood from people walking their dogs, to what they're driving, and even who's fixing their roof. Seriously? I'd hate to live in this area.