Residents concerned about condo development vibrations
Posted August 20, 2014 7:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Residents of a west-end neighbourhood are concerned vibrations produced by construction equipment could be damaging their homes.
Work on a townhouse complex at Harbord and Crawford streets — southwest of Bloor Street West and Ossington Avenue — was put on hold for one week after homeowners complained to the city.
“It felt like I was in an earthquake,” said Mary Culiari.
“I had a clock fall off the wall in my daughter’s bedroom that’s broken. My chandeliers were shaking.”
The machinery used to compact the earth was causing what felt like strong vibrations, and at least one resident said there was damage to his home.
“My two locks don’t work right now and the door doesn’t close properly since they started,” said Tony De Olivera.
The city put a stop to the work by contractor Geopac last week and, after reviewing information from the company’s engineer and about the method of compaction, found the range of frequency was within the limits in Toronto’s vibration control bylaw.
The work was cleared to resume on Wednesday and should take between one and two days.
The city says an engineer has been assigned to the site full time to make sure vibrations don’t exceed the limits, and Toronto Building is making sure monitoring is being done properly.
