Infill Housing # 19

Why do I care about this particular infill project;  #77 Kenora? You would think I'd be used to this by now. What's another house lost? Here's why I care:

We've already got enough construction going on, in our area right now.
It's very close to our house, so the resulting chaos will really affect us.
This is the fifth house to go down, across the street from us in the past few years. We've seen this movie before. We already know the ending.
It's a pretty house! Do you think the new doubles will have these interesting features - the stone, brick, bay window, leaded windows, various peaks, a curved archway over the front door? It's highly doubtful.

For a bit of background on this place, have a look at Infill Housing # 7 of November 2018,  when the place went up for sale. And then, Infill Housing # 14 of June 6th, 2019, after it was sold.

Since the place was sold, I have had numerous conversations with city officials about the city tree out front. While I am not entirely surprised that we have lost it, I had held onto some hope that it might be spared. If it had survived, it would have softened the look of these new doubles, as well as the others already built at 79 and 81. Alas, it was not to be. Although just last April a city arborist determined that the tree was in good condition for its age and size, the "consulting arborist" stated that it was in poor condition. Was it in perfect shape? No, it was an old tree. However, maybe it might have lasted another fifteen or twenty years. The city assessed the value of the tree and the builder paid that fee. Down it goes. Game over.

April 7th. One last look.

All those buds, all those leaves, that lovely canopy, lost.

"Essential" services in action

Last Tuesday, in the midst of  various construction noises, I suddenly recognized the buzz of a chain saw and rushed to the street. Sure enough, the two Japanese lilacs in front of # 77 were being cut down. When asked,  workers confirmed that the amur maple would be next. They assured me that they had the necessary permits to remove the trees.

The owner came along and agreed that it was a shame the tree had to go but that if left, it would interfere with the foundation of the new house. Yes, depending on the size and placement of the new dwelling on the lot,  that could happen.

Around the corner, on Java, there's another new house going up. A friend remarked that it was good to see a builder who respected trees. Here's how that building site looks. The owners here, are erecting a house that will be situated on their lot so that their tree survives. The tree out front has protective fencing around it. Existing trees and new houses can co-exist, it there's a will to do so.

Even this small tree is protected

Protective fencing around front yard tree

You wouldn't know we're in an emergency situation here in Ottawa, to watch those trees on our street be destroyed. Somehow tree destruction and house demolition are essential services! When Premier Ford declared that no new construction could take place now, we thought we might be spared for a while. However, any work that was " in progress" is allowed to go ahead. It turns out that "in progress" means that if your demolition and building permits were issued by April 5th. (And yet we recently learned that the work on our local library branch, has been halted. Go figure!)

So, we will be subject to yet more noise, truck traffic, blocked driveways, and general commotion for the foreseeable future, as we pass our isolation period at home. We have a fairly quiet street and there is even less traffic now, so a number of families have been using the street to play with their young children. That will all change, once the endless trucks take over our block, once again.

Welcome to the spring of our discontent.

Infill Housing #18

Nothing says good morning like the sound of heavy construction equipment. Or, more heartbreaking; the buzz of a chain saw. However, before I relate the sad tale of the trees at # 77 Kenora, let me update you on the general state of Kenora Street. It may take your mind off Covid 19 for a few minutes.

My last infill housing post was in October, back in the days when kids travelled in packs on Halloween and took candy from strangers. By January, the doubles, or "linked singles",  as they were advertised, were more or less finished. The builder moved into the one on the right and kept up his efforts to sell the other side.

The black (left) side was selling for $1.2 million

Meanwhile #77 continued to sit, awaiting its fate, still shielded by the huge maple.

                             
                                 Down the street at #65, work continued on the doubles there.

Of course, there are always a variety of vehicles out front.

I must admit that I have no objection to the size of these doubles. They are two stories, not three, with a sloped roof.  Here's hoping that they might be covered in something other than grey, black or beige and that at some point some greenery, any greenery, might be planted. 

At least they won't overpower their neighbours, like this new place that was recently built on Java, one street over.

By the end of February the left side, #81 was sold.

So it's sold. I wonder when the new owner takes possession. Who will be responsible for the repair work to be done between that new house and the existing house on it's left. Here is the "pathway" between those two houses, now, as of April. The people in the house on the left have not had outdoor access to their back yard since the construction started at # 79 (November 2018).  It started with the gaping, crumbling  hole. Now the house is completed but this ongoing problem is still not resolved. Such is the nature of living next to some infill projects.

On March the 4th we were awakened by construction noise that seemed closer than usual. I looked out our bedroom window to see this project starting at a house on the other side of our block. I guess it's some sort of addition. Although it's more noise, I'm always happy to see someone adding onto an existing house, rather than tearing down a perfectly fine dwelling.

Meanwhile, they were hooking up the gas at #65 Kenora.

However, it wasn't usually the residential projects that woke us up. No, that role went to the construction at Elmdale Public School. In the winter they usually started right at seven every day. I'm not sure if they were still working  this past week.

And here we sit, in our "isolation" area, which is really a construction zone. On Java, behind us, we have the Elmdale School project and the house addition.  Out front, # 79 is more or less finished except for the mess between #81and its neighbour. The doubles at # 65 are progressing. You might think that was enough commotion for one block, but oh no. Next time I will continue with the sad saga of #77.