Ugly Betty Stripped

118 Victor has undergone an angel stone removal and revealed why the angel stone was removed in the first place.  Seems they took some of the brick off.

1A and 1B Victor Avenue – New Houses Found

New House Found

For some reason a house fronting on Broadview has encroached on Victor Avenue and created 1A and 1B VIctor Avenue. These house numbers were born after 1 Victor was created sometime in the 1980’s. Houses with A’s aren’t new on Victor – see 56A and 49A.

But a B house is a new thing.

Painted Ladies of Victor Avenue

In Cabbagetown, a derisive term for upscale renovators who moved into the neighbourhood was White Painter. Generally that referred to interior colour but there was a movement to paint the outside something other than red. Later the term was replaced with Sandblaster as old paint was taken off to reveal the original brick.
Two of the Original Red Painted Ladies of Victor

This is Our Quartet of Painted Ladies. More Painted Ladies to Right.

Variations on Light Painted Ladies

The Painted Lady Duo

Here a Painted Lady before and after..as in losing the paint.

The Enclosed Porch

Ever notice the fully enclosed front porch? It is one of the signs of an unrenovated house.

This range on Victor porches shows three Porch Types: the Enclosed Porch, the No Porch and the Sitting Porch.

Fully Enclosed Porch

Why do people enclose the front porch? Isn’t the purpose of a front porch to shelter people while they knock on your door to solicit funds for a worthy cause or bring their religion closer to your home or guests asking where they can park their car.

Newly Enclosed Porch

Variations on the Enclosed Porch

The Standard Portico Porch

The New Portico Porch

Hey Dude where did the rest of my Porch go?

The Inside Porch. Not really a porch, not really a portico

The No Porch. Fend for yourself against the elements

Fire Hydrants

If I was a dog then I would know where this is but do you and how many do we have on the street? Check your home insurance policy to see how far you are from one of these.

Tree of Heaven

This tree found in our backyards is not worth saving. It is often called the weed tree and the following information gives more details.

DESCRIPTION
Tree-of-heaven, also known as ailanthus, Chinese sumac, and stinking shumac, is a rapidly growing, deciduous tree in the mostly tropical quassia family (Simaroubaceae). Mature trees can reach 80 feet or more in height. Ailanthus has smooth stems with pale gray bark, and twigs which are light chestnut brown, especially in the dormant season. Its large compound leaves, 1-4 feet in length, are composed of 11-25 smaller leaflets and alternate along the stems. Each leaflet has one to several glandular teeth near the base. In late spring, clusters of small, yellow-green flowers appear near the tips of branches. Seeds are produced on female trees in late summer to early fall, in flat, twisted, papery structures called samaras, which may remain on the trees for long periods of time. The wood of ailanthus is soft, weak, coarse-grained, and creamy white to light brown in color. All parts of the tree, especially the flowers, have a strong, offensive odor, which some have likened to peanuts or cashews.

ECOLOGICAL THREAT
Tree-of-heaven is a prolific seed producer, grows rapidly, and can overrun native vegetation. Once established, it can quickly take over a site and form an impenetrable thicket. Ailanthus trees also produces toxins that prevent the establishment of other plant species. The root system is aggressive enough to cause damage to sewers and foundations.

BACKGROUND
Tree-of-heaven was first introduced to America by a gardener in Philadelphia, PA, in 1784, and by 1840 was commonly available from nurseries. The species was also brought into California mainly by the Chinese who came to California during the goldrush in the mid-1800s. Today it is frequently found in abandoned mining sites there. The history of ailanthus in China is as old as the written language of the country.

http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/aial1.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ailanthus_altissima

Trees Gone

Missing Trees

Sorry to see the trees go at 92 Victor Avenue. These are the second and third trees to be cut down on Victor this month. A large tree was removed at the corner of Victor and Howland. It is sad to lose trees that create such an ambiance on the street unless they are the Tree of Heaven.

Types of Housing on Victor

There are several types of housing in Riverdale and it is interesting to look at American, Canadian and British terminology. The definitions come from Census Canada for census purposes.

Row house – One of three or more dwellings joined side by side (or occasionally side to back), such as a town house or garden home, but not having any other dwellings either above or below. We also use the term Townhouses but in England they are referred to as Terraced Housing (3.2% of housing in North Riverdale)

Semi-detached house – One of two dwellings attached side by side (or back to front) to each other, but not to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A semi-detached dwelling has no dwellings either above it or below it, and the two units together have open space on all sides. In the US this is called a Duplex. ( 33.9% of housing in North Riverdale)

Single-detached house – A single dwelling not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). A single-detached house has open space on all sides, and has no dwellings either above it or below it. In the US it is referred to as a house. ( 19.7 % of housing in North Riverdale)

Apartment or flat in a detached duplex – One of two dwellings, located one above the other, but not attached to any other dwelling or structure (except its own garage or shed). The two units together have no other dwellings attached to the back, front, or sides, and have open space on all sides. ( 3.2% of housing in North Riverdale)

Apartment with direct ground access in a building that has fewer than five storeys – A dwelling unit attached to other dwellings, commercial units or other non-residential space in a building that has fewer than five storeys. The dwelling’s private entrance is either at ground level, or it can be reached by a private or common outside stairway that leads directly to the ground, or raised terrace/patio.

Apartment without direct ground access in a building that has fewer than five storeys – A dwelling unit attached to other dwellings, commercial units or other non-residential space in a building that has fewer than five storeys. The dwelling’s private entrance is not at ground level, nor can it be reached by a private or common outside stairway that leads from the ground, or raised terrace/patio, to the dwelling’s private entrance.

Some of the rental Units on Victor must be like this.

Bye bye siding!

This is 23-25 Langley, which has been vacant for over a year. The owner died and the property has been recently sold. The siding was removed from the top storey and replaced with cedar shakes (or are they shingles?). I’ve seen more of this happening around the neighborhood. While this isn’t a gorgeous house architecturally, it’s much nicer now.

111 Victor Avenue

What’s going on here?

Linda McGill and her parents used to live in this house.  Linda’s mother said she was one of the oldest living resident on the street. Never saw a for sale sign but one day they were gone.

Workers have been on site for months now and no sign of a for sale sign.

112 Victor Avenue

120 Victor Avenue

No Details

122 Victor Avene

4, 6 and 8 Victor Avenue formerly known as only 8 Victor Avenue

The was once one beautiful house that was torn down to build these prison housing units.

When the houses were built we were shown drawings of lovely Victorian homes and this is what they allowed to go up. They are the ugliest homes on the street and I am surprised a city that dedicated to its heritage allowed them to be built.

48/50 used to be as unattractive until they were refaced a few years ago.

In 1911
These people lived in the house that was torn down in the early 1980’s

8 Victor Ave

44 40 Adie Edward 8 Victor Ave M Head M May 1845 66

45 40 Adie Katherine F Wife M Dec 1848 62

46 40 Ashton Ursla F Domestic S Mar 1870 41

5 Victor Avenue

Dorothy, Julia and Michael

This house is two apartments