海角社区官网

Another order to comply was issued to the homeowner of on April 17 after inspectors found construction occurring inside that didn鈥檛 match approved building plans, the city said in a statement.

This marks the 16th time Omre Taha has been fined in connection with the build.

All but one of those fines came between December 2023 and February 2024, when Taha began work on the property while his application for a permit was still under review.

At the time, the city said it was met with a 鈥渃ontinued lack of co-operation,鈥� leading staff to issue fines totalling $10,500 and, at some points, make twice-daily visits to the property to ensure compliance.

鈥�(O)ne of the most egregious acts of noncompliance that I鈥檝e come across in my 20 years as a building official,鈥� Bob Nuttall, manager of the city鈥檚 building inspections division, said in an interview in February 2024.

The city pursued charges against Taha in provincial offences court after exhausting traditional enforcement measures.

Those charges remain before the courts, according to Rob Lalli, director of the city鈥檚 building division. An anticipated trial date has been set for May 26.

That means the city鈥檚 legal challenge against the owner was still ongoing when staff granted him a building permit for a three-storey single-family dwelling with a secondary unit on the main floor and basement.

鈥淥ntario鈥檚 Building Code does not allow for a building permit to be withheld for pending enforcement,鈥� Lalli said when asked why the city granted a permit for a project that had repeatedly flouted prior municipal orders. He added the city鈥檚 chief building official can issue permits once 鈥渞egulations are met.鈥�

At three storeys, the home towers over a quiet neighbourhood consisting mainly of bungalows.

鈥淚t just looks out of place, like it鈥檚 going to fall over,鈥� Sue Alesi previously told The Spectator. 鈥淚鈥檝e lived here since 1961 and was one of the first on the street. There have been no other three-storey homes here.鈥�

Despite the recent compliance order, work at the property appears to have continued.

On April 25, part of the home’s front siding was covered in what looked like building wrap or insulation sheathing.

By May 5, that spot had been finished with dark black siding, matching the rest of the home鈥檚 upper portion. Additional upgrades include more detailed stonework around the entrance and balcony, trim around about a dozen windows, and site cleanup around the foundation.

鈥淏uilding staff continue to communicate the importance of compliance and the potential consequences should the order remain not complied by with the end of next week,鈥� Lalli said. 鈥淔ailure to meet the deadline by next week may result in the issuance of a stop-work order, which would remain active until a revised building permit is applied for and issued.鈥�

Taha couldn’t be reached for comment for this story.

The order to comply is the latest development in the property鈥檚 eventful recent history.

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 put the property up for sale as a pit of dirt in early 2023.

Then he was slapped with聽聽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, Taha took the razed site off the market and started building.

By June 2024, the home 鈥� half-finished and built without a permit 鈥� was duplex聽available for just under $850,000.

Property records show the property hasn鈥檛 changed hands since then.