The District of West Vancouver has found an innovative way to preserve a large residential lot that contains a piece of the community’s history.
The Toby House, built in 1962 by late local architect Ray L. Toby and considered a pioneering example of West Coast modernism, has been threatened by redevelopment in recent years.
Located amongst mature cedars, rhododendrons and weeping willows with a creek running through the property, the Toby abode blends into the natural environment — a hallmark of the West Coast style.
The building’s roofline and clerestory give the glass-and-stucco exterior a light and floating look. Inside the home, an open layout concept features another design hallmark — exposed wood beams — as well as abundant natural daylight that streams in through large floor-to-ceiling windows, blurring the line between interior and exterior space.
The Toby House contains heritage value in the fact the site is well maintained and largely in its original condition, according to a Statement of Significance prepared for the district by architectural firm Donald Luxton & Associates.
While prominently included in the West Van heritage registry the Toby House lacked legal heritage protection, rendering the “under-built” site vulnerable to development.
In fact when the venerable residence — located high on the hill above Ambleside, at 2055 Queens Avenue near 21st Street — was put on the market in 2008, prospective buyers saw it as just that — an ideal site for a large replacement home.
Under current zoning bylaws, not including a basement option, the Toby House property could have legally accommodated a new 13,204-square-foot house, which would have been glaringly incompatible with the residential character of Queens Avenue.
Instead, West Van has entered into a heritage revitalization agreement that supersedes the zoning of the property, preserves the Toby House and prevents a “monster house” from inhabiting the area.
The project is being heralded a success by council members and heritage stakeholders alike.
“This (Toby) house is going to be stunning in years to come,” said Coun. Bill Soprovich.
A survey of West Van’s heritage stock found the community’s modern heritage buildings are often at risk, due to rapidly increasing land value, lack of recognition and maintenance, as well as inappropriate alterations.
Carolanne Reynolds, chair of Heritage West Vancouver, is happy district staff have found a new avenue to preserve the community’s historical properties.
“So I am really excited and pleased that this is one of the first times that we’ve done it, and it’s really, really great that you’re doing it. And just keep going,” Reynolds told council during the Toby House public hearing.
The new plan for the sweeping site — approved by council on April 13 — is to subdivide the property into two lots: the 17,000-square-foot eastern portion will be retained for the three-storey Toby residence, while a 4,894-square-foot infill house will occupy a new western lot comprising close to 21,000 square feet.
Queens Avenue resident John Novak, whose property borders the western edge of the Toby House site, was the lone opposition to the project at the public hearing.
Novak said there are a number of issues relating to the proposal that he believes have not been thoroughly addressed — including his assumption that what the developer is receiving in relationship to the community is disproportionate.
“This sets a dangerous precedent in using the heritage revitalization process as another tool for speculative real estate development in our community,” said Novak.
Coun. Craig Cameron, who is not convinced the project is going to generate a great economic windfall, said considering the alternative — a new humongous home built on the site — this plan actually protects the neighbours with tree retention and scale of development. He praised the architects’ work.
“This project is really well designed and very sensitive and does the twin jobs of protecting the heritage building and building something that does keep with the community and neighbourhood character,” said Cameron.
Under the heritage agreement, Toby House will receive minor alterations to the interior room layouts, a rear addition and a new accessory building — for a total floor area measuring 4,373 square feet.
The onus of preserving and maintaining the Toby House and surrounding pristine property is now on the new owners, Vlahos Holdings Ltd., who are not allowed to change the character of the heritage building and the site it sits on without approval of council.
