November 14, 2010
The final chapter in the desecration of an historic neighbourhood has commenced. Note the markings on the lawn outlining the position of water & electricity service locations!
Seven months has passed since Mr. & Mrs. Lorne Bozinoff were granted site plan approval by City Council to demolish a 90 year old home at 66 Baby Point Road and erect in its place a 7,000 sq ft. three story home.
The majority of the neighbourhood registered their opposition to this project at every level available to them. All to no effect. Over the last 2-1/2 years since the Property was purchased by the Bozinoffs' they have awaited in vain for communication from the principals that they would modify or adapt there plans in order to integrate them with the existing built culture and heritage of this historic neighbourhood.
This neighbourhood was created by the forethought and vision of the late Robert Home Smith, and his design associates in the Toronto Land Corporation and the Humber Valley Estates. A responsible land development company that brought in to existence the Kingsway,the Old Mill, Riverside Drive among others.
The establishment of fully treed and wide street scapes, with judicious placement of the homes and the creation of spacious apertures between individual houses achieved an eye pleasing vista throughout the Baby Point Region. A built culture that rivals any other residential area in the City of Toronto for aesthetics and sensitivity to the geography of the area, that on the north or Baby Point Road side, includes the slope lands of the Humber River ravine.
The Community Council got it wrong, The City Council got it wrong. Councillor Bill Saundercook got it wrong as the recent election demonstrated, and those residents of the area that support this undertaking have also got it wrong.
The present home at 66 Baby Point Road is a central feature of the street scape that limits the Baby Point Circle on the north side of that area. It has what is called by Toronto Preservation Services, "contributory value" to the integrity of the area. It not only has that distinction, but in point of fact, it contributes more to the integrity of the area than any single other home in that group.
Several individuals who support the project, have commented that the available drawings of the new edifice look "nice". Mr. Bozinoff has publicly stated "you will like my new house".
However, they have all missed the point. The oversized new home cannot take on the role of being the "lynch pin" that integrates the architectural diversity of the north side of "Baby Point Circle". In fact, it will destroy it.
The contributory role played by 66 Baby Point Road in forming the aesthetics of the present streetscape did not happen by accident. It is the result of careful architectural design and land use planning. The placement of the present house on the curvature of the street creates a focal point that leads the eye in a gentle sweep around the curve of the north side of Baby Point Rd. It is the centrepiece of the seven homes that form the northern residential boundary of "The "Circle".
The relatively smaller size of this house assures that it does not dominate the streetscape but passively embraces it and melds quietly into it. The wide space between the adjacent homes is the design feature that achieves a sense of spaciousness for the neighbourhood.
Finally, the "Arts and Craft" design is sufficiently varied from the adjacent six homes that it creates a sense of individual identity to each of them while seamlessly integrating all of them into a visual tapestry that embraces the open spaces of "The Circle" to the south.
The demolition of this house cannot be viewed in isolation. The adverse effect on the remaining homes and the Baby Point Circle street scape is incalculable. However, let there be no doubt, the effect will be profoundly negative and irreversible.
The size of the new home, at twice the size on average of the adjacent homes, insures that it will dominate the street. Its placement will not be on the previous footprint, but on a new setback line. As a consequence, this will disrupt the visual rythym of the "en echelon" placement of the remaining houses as designed by Home Smith's architects and land use planners.
In addition, the lot line to lot line occupation of the property will significantly diminish the sense of spaciousness that is the hallmark of the neighbourhood by eliminating the wide visual apertures and associated sightlines to the north.
It has been said that money has no ethics, it also has no sense of aesthetic values. In all cases these attributes derive from the individual in whose pockets the money rests.
Over the century that has passed since Home Smith acquired the Baby Point lands (once the historic home lands of Sir James Baby) it has been the unspoken commitment that those who came to live in this historic neighbourhood, or aspire to live here recognizing the areas unique character and heritage, would respect the original design covenants established by Home Smith.
It is a large responsibility, but one which is easy to transgress if one is not mindful of the above maxim.
It is now universally recognized ,with the benefit of hindsight, that the only protection that historic enclaves such as Baby Point have, in the face of the onslaught of expressions of wealth and personal ambition, is the protection offered by designation as a Heritage Conservation District.
However, the barriers to achieving this distinction are many, including significant financial considerations. Consequently, an HCD may be beyond reach in the immediate future! It will require a major commitment by the community at large and major support at both the governmental level of the city and at the provincial level to achieve this goal.
