In its sales , the single-family duplex is billed as a promising investment opportunity, located in a desirable west Mountain neighbourhood close to shops, schools, parks and transportation routes.
The only catch?
It comes with no bedrooms, washrooms or enclosed windows.
And it was built without a permit.
The three-storey home at 279 Bonaventure Dr. 鈥 which, even half-constructed, already towers over a street mainly consisting of bungalows 鈥 hit the market for just under $850,000 in April despite its owner still facing a legal challenge from the city for failing to cease construction.
Building manager calls homeowner’s lack of co-operation ‘one of the most egregious acts of
Omre Taha, a contractor who was the subject of a recent聽, began work on the property late last year while his application for a building permit was still under review.
Over the following two months 鈥 in a case of repeated noncompliance a longtime city building official called 鈥 he was issued 15 provincial offence notices totalling around $10,500 in connection with the unsanctioned build.
No other enforcement measures have been taken against Taha since February, when the city opted to charge the homeowner in provincial offences court for allegedly failing to heed to their multiple comply orders.
Those charges still remain before the courts, the city said Friday.
Meanwhile, Taha鈥檚 half-built home 鈥 which sits atop the site of his former bungalow that was razed in a ghastly April 2021 explosion 鈥 is being offered to buyers 鈥渋n its current state.鈥
鈥淭his property has been framed and awaits the finishing touches to transform it into a lucrative income-generating asset,鈥 reads the property鈥檚 listing description. 鈥淲hether you鈥檙e an experienced investor looking to expand your portfolio or a savvy homeowner seeking a unique project, this duplex holds immense potential.鈥
There are no provisions in city bylaws that prohibit the sale of an unfinished home or an unfinished home that was built without a permit.
But the city says staff have registered the comply orders issued to Taha on the title of the property to 鈥渆nsure transparency on any potential real estate transaction.鈥
鈥淏y registering the orders to comply on the title of the property, a prospective buyer would have access to this information while undertaking their due diligence,鈥 Bob Nuttall, manager of city building inspections, said via email.
Nuttall noted city staff are reviewing 鈥渞esponding information鈥 Taha submitted for his yet-approved building application June 3.
It鈥檚 unclear if Taha plans to complete the duplex should he receive a permit. He couldn鈥檛 be reached for comment Friday.
The west Mountain duplex going up for sale marks the latest development in the property鈥檚 eventful recent history.
Hamilton contractor sits down with The Spectator to offer explanation for more than a dozen
Taha first bought the former bungalow in October 2016 for $355,800 before selling it less than a year later in August 2017 for $549,000, according to property records. In March 2021, he re-bought it for $655,000.
The latter purchase came about a month before 279 Bonaventure was reduced to rubble in a massive, late-night explosion Ontario鈥檚 Fire Marshal attributed to a buildup of natural gas and said was not considered suspicious.
Taha again put the property up for sale as a pit of dirt in early 2023.
Then he was slapped with who alleged the explosion could鈥檝e been avoided if not for his negligence, claims that remain active and have yet to be tested in court.
A few months later, he took the razed site off the market and started building on it without the necessary permit 鈥 much to the dismay of at least one neighbour.
鈥淎lthough they did not give him permission, he still went ahead and built it without the approval. But he has no right; he feels he is above the law,鈥 Mary Sue Alessi, a longtime Bonaventure resident, previously told The Spectator.
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