Neighbours want ‘beautiful’ terracotta-tiled home preserved in west-end Toronto

New owners began renovations this week after discovering heritage property was “structurally unsound to be lived in.”

Thestar.com
April 10, 2018
Vjosa Isai

On a small west-end Toronto street lined by cookie-cutter houses, there’s a neighbourhood jewel — or stone, rather.

The terracotta-tiled home near Dundas St. W. and Dupont St. is covered in large reddish-brown tiles and lintels with elaborate engravings: rows of leaves, flowers and cherub heads nestled over pairs of wings.

All of this is now behind a tall metal fence with “No trespassing” and “Danger” signs. New owners took possession earlier this week and began renovations, causing neighbours to fear they may damage the historical property.

“So far, it seems whoever bought it, it’s been quick and dirty,” said Carol Sampson of the construction. She’s lived on Jerome St. for 14 years and said she’s seen people come from all over the city to look at the unique house. “The state of the property, it’s not contemporary any longer, but it is very beautiful. Everyone would like to see some attempt at even partial preservation.”

The home was erected in 1905 by west-end builder J. Turner and is listed as a heritage site. Catherine Nasmith, president of the Architectural Conservancy Ontario, said the “unusual approach” to the design is part of its heritage listing.

The property changed hands earlier this month, selling for $700,000, according to land registry documents.

Mike Marino, who said he co-owns the home with Sergio Melo, said the tiles are what attracted him to the property and that he had originally wanted to move in after doing work to plumbing, drywall and electrical.

“Lo and behold, the house was structurally unsound to be lived in,” said Marino, who works in construction. “Going forward, now we’re just waiting for direction from the building inspector for where we go from here.”

Marino said he wants to save the tiles but can make no promises and is working closely with the city’s heritage and building departments.

“I’m going to try — like I said to everybody — my best to preserve, but it all depends on what happens when we start touching the brick. I can’t guarantee anything because everything’s so fragile,” he said.

In a letter to their neighbours, the new homeowners claim a windstorm caused portions of the west wall tiles to separate from the wood and fall to the ground on the day their engineer came to inspect it.

“While he was here, high winds caused a section of the brick cladding on the West wall to collapse into the sideyard (sic),” the letter said.

But Terry Alexis, who has lived four doors down from 20 Jerome St. for almost two decades, said he worries it may be a first step to them taking down the home. He said if bulldozers were to come out, he is ready to stand in front of them in protest.

“It’s part of the neighbourhood. To see something else built in its place, I’m not that happy about (that),” Alexis said.

For others, the home has more than just historic value.

The previous owners were Carole and Clarence Vaters. A few neighbours recounted how the couple spent their whole lives, from marriage to their deaths in 2009 and 2016, respectively, in that unique house.

“They met on this street when they were kids because they lived next door to each other. And then they got married, and grew old together in that house,” said Caileigh Suline, recounting how the couple would give out the best Halloween treats, let her sit on their porch, and mistook her name for “Kayla” as their ability to remember wore.

“They were the most adorable, lovely people,” she said. “We’ve got to protect their memory.”