Minutes
Development & Heritage Standing Committee
Tuesday, October 13, 2020

• Objects to the stated purpose of the demolition, which is to allow for the creation of a duplex on this site.

• The neighbourhood is mixed use with zoning ranging from institutional to commercial to mixed use residential comprised of a combination of families and students.

• The end result of this application, which is the construction of another building on the property, undermines the goal of heritage recognition and preservation.

• It is also out-of-sync with the goals of the Official Plan to develop safe, caring, and diverse neighbourhoods.

• Expresses concern that there is often a strong sewer smell on Askin coming from the sewer grates and wonders what the capacity of the sewers will be to handle the increase not only from this building but also from others that could follow before the city can do infrastructure improvements.

• The block has permit parking and with the number of cars, where will all of the extra tenants park their cars.

• Concerned with fire safety access to a building at the rear of a property as the alley has been closed and blocks access to emergency vehicles.

• On July 13, 2020, City Council passed an Interim Control By-law to prohibit all group homes, lodging houses, and any dwelling with five or more dwelling units to allow Council to review and if deemed appropriate to implement the findings of a study. (This was amended on August 24, 2020 to allow four or more units.)

• The building at 436 Askin could probably accommodate up to six persons. The new building would accommodate at least four for a total of ten.

• Requests that the city consider making Askin Avenue from Riverside to Wyandotte a Heritage Conservation District.

Helen Martin, Area Resident

Helen Martin, Area Resident, appears via video conference before the Development and Heritage Standing Committee regarding the administrative report “436 Askin Avenue - Partial Demolition of a Heritage Listed Property (Ward 2)” and indicates that she has been a resident of Askin Avenue for thirty years and lives next door to 436 Askin. Ms. Martin expresses concern that a lot of history in the neighbourhood was lost with the closure of Sunset and Patricia Streets and adds that Askin is one of the last areas with prestigious, historic properties in the neighbourhood. Ms. Martin adds that family homes are now lodging homes and the landlord does not reside in these homes. Ms.

Mike Cardinal, Area Resident

Mike Cardinal, appears via video conference before the Development and Heritage Standing Committee regarding the administrative report “436 Askin Avenue - Partial Demolition of a Heritage Listed Property (Ward 2)” and provides the following comments and concerns:

• He has been a resident on Askin for twenty years.

• This whole stretch of Askin has quality architecture and the homes have been well maintained.