A city councillor is questioning if a property owner in the SoHo neighbourhood should profit after not addressing safety concerns about a derelict heritage home that once stood on the site. Toronto-based Anmoor Homes has applied to rezone 514-520 South St. to permit 28 townhouses. According to public records, Anmoor Homes purchased the boarded-up heritage home at 520 South St. on March 21, 2022. “After multiple communications from the city about the unsafe nature of the property, and a fire as well, the city finally tore it down to make the area safe,” explains Downtown Councillor David Ferreira. Over a two-and-a-half period that Anmoor Homes owned the house, concerns about safety, trespassing and property standards were raised by neighbours and city hall. “I’m going to let my colleagues know of the very clear facts that we see here,” Ferreira tells CTV News. “I’m going to let them know that this change of zoning to permit more units, which will increase the property value, will also be used to pay for the demolition by the city.” The rezoning application includes a Heritage Impact Assessment report prepared for Anmoor Homes in September 2023, at a time when the house was still standing. Ferreira wants to know how long Anmoor Homes has been planning to redevelop the property, and why corrective actions to address the safety concerns were not taken earlier. “I would be very unsurprised if this property were to be flipped after it has new zoning (and) its new value,” he adds. “Maybe the proponent would see it as covering the cost on the title for the demolition.” The rezoning request is scheduled to be considered by the Planning and Environment Committee on August 12. The owner of the property has yet to respond to an interview request.
