artyboy123
Senior Member
Saw these posts...i wonder if "iceberg homes" will ever become a trend in Toronto. It became an out-of-control issue in London, UK, where historical zoning laws won't allow higher density. Instead, wealthy residents of London began digging downward to create multi-storey luxury basement enclaves.
Thoughts? @Northern Light @AlbertC @Johnny Au @GenerationLee @Mihairokov
www.thestar.com
"A City of Toronto spokesperson said there have been about 12 applications to the committee of adjustment for iceberg homes since March 2024.
“Concerns have been raised within the surrounding communities regarding potential impacts, including to the tree canopy and soil permeability, drainage, groundwater, and stormwater management,” they said. There have also been concerns about damage to mature trees, limitations on new planting, construction impacts to neighbouring properties, and the amount of concrete required for these basements, which have a high carbon footprint."
www.blogto.com
"In the report, City staff flagged several issues with the properties, including the loss of mature trees, impacts on neighbourhood properties during excavation, and the amount of concrete required. The committee deferred the report to its January meeting after a councillor requested more information from staff."
a neighbourhood has submitted an opposition for obvious reasons (https://fontra.com/iceberg-homes/)
"In Hoggs Hollow, an upscale Toronto neighbourhood, people love their trees. In November, many lawns bore a sign reading, “Stop the Chop,” a campaign to save a 250-year-old sugar maple. The signs remain, but the plea failed. The massive tree had stood behind a house that a family bought with plans to demolish it and build a new home. The buyers ignored a city forestry report and cut down the maple to accommodate a two-level basement whose area is nearly twice the above-ground footprint of their planned new house. Drawings show the basement will feature a karaoke lounge, a card table, a billiard room, a golf simulator, a stage, a basketball court, a spa featuring a steam room and sauna, an exercise room, a five-car garage, a kids’ lounge, a mud room, two bathrooms and a nannys’ lounge, plus “Nanny Room #1” and “Nanny Room #2.”
Below-grade mansions are not new. In the mid-2000s, very wealthy residents of the London boroughs of Chelsea, Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Westminster pioneered deep basements to make houses much bigger than rules permitted. Locals dubbed them “iceberg houses,” but after hundreds of approvals, London councils restricted the size of these subterranean pleasure dens. So far, big Canadian cities have no rules governing iceberg houses, and several of these huge caves already exist under homes in Vancouver and Toronto. Unless building departments draw up some rules, they may come soon to a street near you."
these are illustration what it looks like!
Thoughts? @Northern Light @AlbertC @Johnny Au @GenerationLee @Mihairokov
Toronto city staff want to put new limits on 'iceberg homes'
Since spring 2024, Toronto has received 12 proposals for the homes, which have larger, sometimes multi-storey basements.
www.thestar.com
"A City of Toronto spokesperson said there have been about 12 applications to the committee of adjustment for iceberg homes since March 2024.
“Concerns have been raised within the surrounding communities regarding potential impacts, including to the tree canopy and soil permeability, drainage, groundwater, and stormwater management,” they said. There have also been concerns about damage to mature trees, limitations on new planting, construction impacts to neighbouring properties, and the amount of concrete required for these basements, which have a high carbon footprint."
Toronto wants to crack down on controversial 'iceberg homes'
Toronto city staff are moving to crack down on a controversial style of luxury housing with vast underground square footage, known as "iceberg h…
www.blogto.com
"In the report, City staff flagged several issues with the properties, including the loss of mature trees, impacts on neighbourhood properties during excavation, and the amount of concrete required. The committee deferred the report to its January meeting after a councillor requested more information from staff."
a neighbourhood has submitted an opposition for obvious reasons (https://fontra.com/iceberg-homes/)
"In Hoggs Hollow, an upscale Toronto neighbourhood, people love their trees. In November, many lawns bore a sign reading, “Stop the Chop,” a campaign to save a 250-year-old sugar maple. The signs remain, but the plea failed. The massive tree had stood behind a house that a family bought with plans to demolish it and build a new home. The buyers ignored a city forestry report and cut down the maple to accommodate a two-level basement whose area is nearly twice the above-ground footprint of their planned new house. Drawings show the basement will feature a karaoke lounge, a card table, a billiard room, a golf simulator, a stage, a basketball court, a spa featuring a steam room and sauna, an exercise room, a five-car garage, a kids’ lounge, a mud room, two bathrooms and a nannys’ lounge, plus “Nanny Room #1” and “Nanny Room #2.”
Below-grade mansions are not new. In the mid-2000s, very wealthy residents of the London boroughs of Chelsea, Mayfair, Knightsbridge and Westminster pioneered deep basements to make houses much bigger than rules permitted. Locals dubbed them “iceberg houses,” but after hundreds of approvals, London councils restricted the size of these subterranean pleasure dens. So far, big Canadian cities have no rules governing iceberg houses, and several of these huge caves already exist under homes in Vancouver and Toronto. Unless building departments draw up some rules, they may come soon to a street near you."
these are illustration what it looks like!