[TOR] The problems of Wychwood Park's paradise

[rfmcdonald]

When I first visited the Toronto neighbourhood of Wychwood Park at a friend's instigation, I was amazed by the beauty of Wychwood Park, with the decidedly creatively-shaped houses all surrounded by verdant greenery stretching high into the sky, obscuring the noise and sight of the rest of Toronto. It was designed to be that way. Founded as an artist's colony, "[t]he land was divided into irregularly shaped lots, and careful restrictions were placed upon what could be built in the community. Most of the houses were built in the Arts and Crafts style. Many were designed by prominent architect Eden Smith, who also lived in the neighbourhood. One of Toronto's ravines ran through the heart of the neighbourhood, and this was preserved as parkland. Taddle Creek ran through the ravine, and it was dammed to create a large pond in the middle of the park. This is now one of the only parts of the city where Taddle Creek is still visible above ground."

Like the Toronto Islands, then, Wychwood Park is an artificially maintained paradise. If the Toironto Islands were no longer maintained, I suspect that they would drift away. Similarly, if this former gated community succumbed to the pressures of developers, all that green beauty could disappear overnight. That might be why, as reported by Robin Doolittle in The Toronto Star, someone was willing to act in a rather disturbing way to try to preserve this paradise.

Since the fall of 2006, the Shuttleworth [family] have awakened more than a dozen times to discover that the tires of their white SUV had been slashed. Threatening notes--"don't park on the street"--were occasionally left on the vehicle. Sometimes it happened twice in a week. Then there'd be nothing for months.

While the majority of homes in the area have lot parking, the Shuttleworths don't. An old garage in the backyard is inaccessible, so they park out front. Visitors, families with multiple cars and hilltop homeowners also park on the street.

Others vehicles through the years, mostly in the south end of the park were vandalized, but the Shuttleworths remained the main target.

On May 22, long-time Wychwood resident and neighbourhood watch head Albert Fulton, a retired math teacher and the unofficial archivist of the Toronto Islands, was arrested and charged in connection with the attacks.

The 70-year-old has been charged with criminal harassment, 10 counts of mischief, and one charge of wearing a disguise with intent in connection to incidents from November 2006 to May 2008, said Const. Wendy Drummond.

[. . .]

Wychwood, a designated heritage site, is a neighbourhood unlike any other in the country.

It's located in the leafy hills southwest of St. Clair Ave. W. and Bathurst St., but the roads and lighting are owned by the community, which is run by a small group of trustees. A fence and large trees obscure the entrance. It's easy to miss. Once inside, modest million dollar homes, verdant yards and even a pond make it hard to believe you're in Toronto.

"They envisioned it as sort of a utopian artistic community where artists could live together in a co-operative environment," Lofft said. The close-knit roots of the neighbourhood have made the last two years even more difficult. "It was urban terrorism," Lofft said. "That's the only thing to call it."

The story has gotten grimmer, thanks to Albert Fulton's disappearance on the 19th. In addition to being a resident of Wychwood Park, he and his wife also own another home in the Toronto Islands. CBC Radio 1 claimied this afternoon that his empty boat was found on the Islands, explaining why the police is now searching Toronto harbour for his body.