WATCH ABOVE: Residents on Balliol Street in the Davisville neighbourhood are battling another property owner over a proposed home reno that could bring towering oak tree down. Mark McAllister reports.
TORONTO — Neighbours are banding together in a Toronto community to save a towering oak tree. The oak tree is 200-years-old, and it seems a source of pride for one Davisville neighbourhood.
While the tree has been around much longer than any of the homes surrounding it, the owner of the property where it sits wants to cut it down in order to build a new house.
About a dozen local residents attended a committee of adjustment meeting Wednesday to argue the variances proposed by the property owner. The owner wasn’t at the meeting; the builder, Roger Manochio, attended on the owner’s behalf.
He said he isn’t opposed to the new proposed construction, but doesn’t understand why the tree has to be a casualty of the plans.
“We’re happy to see turnover and renewal in the neighbourhood but we don’t think it should be at the expense of the existing nature.”
The builder declined to speak to Global News, and the owner of the home is believed to live outside of the city.
There is still hope for the beloved tree, as the matter was deferred at the committee for a maximum of three months.
Residents hope to meet with the architect and builder representing the owner to discuss changes in the meantime.
With files from Mark McAllister
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