{"id":29626,"date":"2021-07-08T23:44:58","date_gmt":"2021-07-09T03:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=29626"},"modified":"2021-07-08T23:57:25","modified_gmt":"2021-07-09T03:57:25","slug":"residents-oppose-redevelopment-of-centre-street-home-into-four-plex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/residents-oppose-redevelopment-of-centre-street-home-into-four-plex\/","title":{"rendered":"Residents oppose redevelopment of Centre Street home into four-plex"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Residents in Aurora\u2019s Downtown Core have come together to oppose a redevelopment application which, if ultimately approved, would transform a single-family home on Centre Street into a four-plex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next-door neighbours Steve Armes and Rebekah Murdoch have started a petition on Change.org to underscore their concerns about the redevelopment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile we support the redevelopment of the property, this proposed redevelopment does not reflect the nature and the history of the historic Aurora North East Quadrant, nor does it reflect the \u2018stable community\/neighbourhood\u2019 initiatives,\u201d said proponents of the petition, asking for the Town\u2019s Committee of Adjustment to deny the variances and also for further public engagement on \u201ca more suitable option which better reflects the style and nature of the community and street.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking to The Auroran, Mr. Armes added they hope to highlight their issues to Council this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere has to be a happy medium,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone in this neighbourhood we\u2019ve talked to and responded to the petition [said] \u2018How about a nice, appropriate duplex? Something that fits in?\u2019 It needs to be appropriate in the amount of space it takes up, it needs to be appropriate to the environmental concerns around it \u2013 to heritage and historical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The present proposal, however, received the support of the Town\u2019s Heritage Advisory Committee, with the property owner\/developer answering questions and concerns raised by members, and Council this week is facing a recommendation to approve the heritage application to make way for the double duplex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is an existing 1.5 storey arts and crafts bungalow on the property constructed circa 1873,\u201d said heritage planner Carlson Tsang in his report to Council. \u201cThe building has been subject to extensive renovations over the years, including a front addition and the replacement of siding. The original elements of the style may have been either removed or covered due to alterations. There is a significant tree located at the front of the existing building that is considered significant for the historical streetscape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The future of the property has been in question since 2014 when the then-owner applied to demolish the building, an application which was approved by Council the following year. The property, however, was sold and another demolition and redevelopment application came, was approved, and went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The present owner has applied to build a two-storey double duplex and four parking spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe proposed double duplex represents a homestead-style building which is considered compatible with the character of the host neighbourhood,\u201d said Mr. Tsang. \u201c[It is] characterized by a steep gable roof, simple details, square-headed openings, sash windows and clapboard finishes. This type of architectural style is common on Centre Street and is considered compatible with the character of the host neighbourhood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The proposed building originally had a height of 10.5 metres, but following staff\u2019s request, the plan has been reduced by 1.5 metres and \u201cstaff are satisfied\u201d with the massing. Additional changes to the plan include an additional verandah feature to be more in the style of the surrounding neighbourhood and the total depth of the proposal has been reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe application was presented to HAC [which] echoed staff\u2019s initial concerns with the proposed development respecting building depth and the number of windows on the front fa\u00e7ade,\u201d said Mr. Tsang. \u201cHAC also suggested to the applicant that the front verandah, which initially was only present on the west half of the building, be extended across the entire fa\u00e7ade to achieve a more compatible front elevation. The applicant was also asked to consider appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of the parking spaces on the adjacent property to the north. HAC requested the applicant to address all the concerns before bringing the heritage application to Council for a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe applicant reduced the overall depth of the building and the number of windows on the front elevation. The verandah has been extended across the entire front fa\u00e7ade. The parking area has been adjusted to accommodate a landscape buffer with pyramidal cedars along the rear property line to help lessen the impact on the adjacent property to the north.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Brock Weir<\/strong>
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter<\/em><\/p>\n\r\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Residents in Aurora\u2019s Downtown Core have come together to oppose a redevelopment application which, if ultimately approved, would transform a single-family home on Centre Street into a four-plex. Next-door neighbours Steve Armes and Rebekah Murdoch have started a petition on Change.org to underscore their concerns about the redevelopment. \u201cWhile we support the redevelopment of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general_news","category-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3D2k4-7HQ","publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-17 15:57:47","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29626\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}