Published: Thursday, May 25th, 2006
Barrie hasn’t been protecting its heritage buildings, said the chairman of the city’s Committee of Adjustment.
In discussing a severance application for the Woodlawn property, located at 96 Sunnidale Rd., Barry Vickers urged caution in allowing the splitting of the lot into three, before certain controls and assurances were in place.
“This is a marquis (sic) corner, a marquis (sic) building and a marquis (sic) lot,” said Vickers. “Barrie’s been woefull in protecting some of its historical heritage. We’ve lost so much of it already. It’s very much concerning me there’s a possible threat.”
A numbered company represented by Shawn Bubel has applied to the committee to split the parcel into three lots, so the Victorian home could become affordable to someone wanting to restore it.
“Most of the feedback I received (from the real estate agent) is that most people felt it was a lovely home, but they couldn’t afford to buy it and do it justice,” he said. “The family (that owns it until June 15, when the deal closes) had 10 children and did not do a lot of work to it.”
As a result, the home is dated inside, with old wallpaper covering the plaster walls. A virtual tour is still available online, by following links at www.savewoodlawn.wordpress.com.
Various city departments have called the severance application – which proposes carving off a lot on either side of the old home – premature. They’re looking for more detail on preserving historically significant trees, as well as designating the house itself.
But Jones Planning consultant Tim Cane said his client can’t provide all the information needed, until he knows he can sever the lots and sell them for custom homes – the design and footprint of which would determine how they would fit on the site and what trees would be affected.
Neighbours urged the committee of adjustment to deny the application, which would not only disturb the trees, but put create a precedent that would risk the large-lot atmosphere in the neighbourhood. Bubel said his ultimate goal is to see the house remain as a single-family home, rather than it be sold to someone who would open a rooming house. Making it affordable to a buyer who would fix it up means the site must be severed and lots sold, he said.
The committee of adjustment will deal with the issue once Bubel comes back with more details about the environmental and social impacts of his proposal.
