History of Huron-Sussex
Huron-Sussex had its beginnings in 1798 when park lots were granted by the Crown to
the original settlers of York. Most of the present houses were built between 1875 and
1910. The area was an oasis of stability and peaceful urban living in the midst of a busy
city.
Over the past century , the neighbourhood has been involved in many of Canada's
cultural and political trends. It provided housing for many writers — Mazo de la Roche,
Michael Ondaatje, Katherine Hale, Ross MacDonald, and Earle Birney — to name just a
few. Anansi Press was in business in 1967 and was called the most exciting press in the
country. The Coach House Press and Childe Thursday Press still function. In addition,
famous artists and musicians have had their homes here, including painter Lawren Harris
and violinist Kathleen Parlow.
In 1968, the offices of the left-of-centre organization, Praxis, which were located in a
house on Huron St, were destroyed, allegedly by the RCMP. The Campus Co-op,
Canada's oldest housing co-operative, began its life here and continues to flourish. In
1969, Rochdale College, Canada's first open university, opened its high-rise building at
Bloor and St. George, the north-east corner of Huron-Sussex . It is now the David A.
Croll Apartments.
The University of Toronto never expected to be a residential landlord. The university
bought most of the neighbourhood in the late 1960s with the original intent of razing
them to make room for a new supply of academic buildings. The acquisition of the
neighbourhood, at times accompanied by threats of expropriation, was carried on over
the protests of many of the homeowners, HSRO began during this period.
In 1968 an entire block containing 50 houses was demolished to build the Robarts
Library. On other sites, the university demolished houses and simply left the vacant lots.
In response, residents formed the Huron-Sussex Residents' Organization and by 1970
pressure from residents and municipal politicians stopped the razing of houses. In
addition, the university's capital funding was sharply curtailed at this time and largescale
plans for this part of the campus were shelved. |
Huron Sussex residents
fight University of Toronto development plans:
"We're here to stay!"
The university's actions are opposed by all three local residents' organizations: the Huron Sussex Residents Organization, Harbord Village Residents' Association and the Annex Residents' Association. The following is extracted from information published by the Huron Sussex Residents Organization.
Huron-Sussex is an intact, Victorian neighbourhood bounded by Harbord, Spadina, Bloor and St. George. Eleven houses are privately-owned. Over 120 residential units house approximately 200 tenants of the University of Toronto — a mix of long-term rental residents, most of whom have lived in the neighbourhood for over 20 years, and new faculty members who are part of the university's own faculty "co-op".
Huron-Sussex has a long rental history. Most of the units were already rented when they were acquired by the university in the 1960's. Individual tenants have done research and found that their houses were rented even prior to 1900.
In the City of Toronto Official Plan, Huron-Sussex is designated as an Area of Special Identity: a low-rise residential enclave which houses both students, faculty and staff of the University and other homeowners and tenants. This designation was agreed to by the university, the City of Toronto, the Huron-Sussex Residents' Organization, other resident and university organizations. This designation is a part of the City's new Official Plan.
Who lives in Huron-Sussex?
The close to 200 tenants of the University of Toronto living in Huron-Sussex are a mix of long-term residents, most of whom have lived in the neighbourhood for over 20 years and new faculty members who are part of the university's faculty "co-op". Eleven houses are privately-owned.
The majority of the long-term tenants are over 55 years old with a significant number who are 60 or over. Most have an income of $30,000 per year or less; many have an income of under $20,000 per year. Of the close to 50 households who responded to a recent neighbourhood survey (91 individuals), 20 are single person, female households. Most of this particular group is over 60. Over many years, writers, artists and musicians have lived in Huron-Sussex.
What does Huron-Sussex contribute to downtown Toronto and the university precinct?
The long-term residents provide a community anchor in a neighbourhood that, due to students and the time-limited nature of the new faculty tenancies, has a transient population. It is a stable and safe community that contributes to the residential vibrancy of the downtown.
What is the issue?
The University of Toronto has proposed the sale of Huron-Sussex as a part of a revenue strategy to fund its ambitious capital expansion.
Why is this an issue?
The University is landlord to approximately 200 tenants in the neighbourhood. Approximately one-half are new faculty and the rest are long-term residents, most of whom have lived in Huron-Sussex for over 20 years.
What is the neighbourhood's response to the proposed sale?
Residents say: We're here to stay. With the two linked goals of tenant protection and neighbourhood preservation, Huron-Sussex Residents' Organization is strategizing with its "sister" residents' organizations, the ward Councillor and the City. The university has not provided any details regarding the proposed sale of the neighbourhood.
The university must assure Huron-Sussex, the broader community and the City that none of the long-term residents will have to leave their houses before they are ready. The new faculty tenancies are limited to three years.
It must also sit down with Huron-Sussex, the City and the broader community and work out a stable future for Huron-Sussex.
Does the university subsidize Huron-Sussex?
The financial information gathered by HSRO shows that the university does not subsidize Huron-Sussex. In fact, it appears that it obtains surplus revenue from the long-term rental units in the neighbourhood.
The University of Toronto owns most of the property in the neighbourhood — doesn't it have the right to sell it to raise funds?
In our society, there is a recognition that rights are accompanied by obligations. The question then becomes, as a large institution in downtown Toronto and a participant in civil society, what obligation does the university have to sit down with the City and Huron-Sussex to work out a solution the protects tenants and preserves the neighbourhood?
More broadly, the university did not consult any of the sectors in the large downtown community (e.g. other residents' organizations, institutions, business) when planning its proposed capital expansion. Such a consultation is necessary to assess the impacts of and strengthen the plan.
Have the current planning and tenant protection provisions in the Official Plan prevented the U of T from pursuing development in and around campus?
There are four development sites available to the university in Huron-Sussex identified in the Official Plan and agreed to by all parties. To date, the university has built on only one of those.
In addition, HSRO supported an additional development site in the community for the construction of the university's Early Learning Centre (child care centre and parent-child drop-in).
HSRO has attempted, without success, to engage the university in long-term planning in Huron-Sussex. In 2001, at the university's request, the residents' organization developed a plan, titled Huron-Sussex 2020, to establish a permanent, sustainable community in the neighbourhood. The university has chosen not to engage in further discussion.
The university's actions are opposed by all three local residents' organizations.
Julie Mathien, a university tenant for over 30 years and Vice-President of the Huron Sussex Residents Organization stated, "The university wants the ability to demolish housing in Huron-Sussex with no regard for the shelter needs of its tenants who live in the community and depend on affordable housing. This goes against community-building."
Susan Dexter of the Harbord Village Residents' Association expressed concern about the potential loss of a downtown residential community. "Huron-Sussex is a small, complete collection of Victorian houses in the downtown. An exemption from tenant protection provisions will remove a barrier to demolition. The university's actions are in direct contradiction to their announcement in July of a university centre to study and support city-building" she said.
Nellie Bannyan, Chair of the Annex Residents' Association stated: "We are in support of the City of Toronto's tenant protection policies, and the City's Official Plan housing policies, and we are in opposition to the efforts of the University of Toronto in seeking exemption from the City's tenant protection policies; we are deeply concerned about the implications of an exemption in the Huron-Sussex area, but also in any lands that the University owns in our area and might wish to redevelop."
The above is based on documents published by the Huron Sussex Residents Organization, including: "Huron-Sussex: Q and A", "Huron-Sussex 20/20", and "University of Toronto Stands Alone in Seeking Exemption from Toronto's Tenant Protection Policies". Information is from reliable sources but
subject to errors and omissions. |
