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.