Leaside’s oldest home, the Thomas G. Elgie farmhouse, might be moving.
Developer Matthew Garnett took possession of the property located at 262 Bessborough Dr. in 2013 and wants to divide the land into three lots.
He plans to use a hydraulic lifting system to move the Elgie House forward on the 105-foot-wide space to make room for two more luxury homes.
But the Leaside Property Owner’s Association (LPOA) has opposed the move, and the City of Toronto’s committee of adjustment rejected the application in January, shortly after Toronto City Council adopted the heritage designation.
“What he is proposing to do will drastically change the face of the property,” said Geoff Kettel, co-president of the LPOA. “The property was listed as a heritage property, and this development would break that criteria.”
The house was listed as a heritage property only recently and, much to the surprise of its new owner, that designation is not allowing him to move the house anywhere.
Part of its heritage attribute has come from the physical location on the land. The house was built on the crest of a rise and overlooked the land before it. The LPOA says that moving the house will change that.
“I don’t think anyone saw that coming,” said Coun. John Parker. “I believe that the developer has the best intentions for the property and this is really a unique situation for the city.”
Garnett is taking the case to the Ontario Municipal Board on May 12.
“I think it’s a case of resistance to change. I really think that’s what it is,” said Garnett, who is also vice-president of development with Renaissance Fine Homes.
“Older, mature established areas don’t like change. They will use whatever mechanism they can to stop change, but you can’t stop progress.”