AKELIUS CANADA LTD. - UPDATE: Parkdale building work paused after disturbing tenants in isolation
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UPDATE: Parkdale building work paused after disturbing tenants in isolation
Residents at home due to COVID-19 said construction noise was 'unbearable'
Editor's Note: As of 3:17 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, toronto.com was notified Akelius Real Estate Management Ltd., would halt construction at the building until further notice. Here is our original story.
While residents of one building in Parkdale are trying to self-isolate amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they are experiencing other health concerns due to the racket caused by the sounds of jackhammering outside their units.
Construction work to the balconies at 99 Tyndall Ave. has been occurring on and off for two years now, but residents said it is especially unbearable these days for the dozens of people in the building who are currently required to stay at home and self-isolate, or practice social distancing, due to the COVID-19 virus.
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Angela Cookson and her wife Sylvie Gagne have both been staying at home in the building. They said some days they can't even hear each other speak.
"It's deafening. You can feel the floors vibrating," Cookson said.
Isaac Daniel, who also lives in the building, said he and other residents have measured the sounds coming from outside as being over 100 decibels.
Daniel recorded a video of the noise heard from outside the building and posted it to Facebook, but says it does not do justice to how loud it actually sounds from inside.
"Your ears ring for a day after being in there for an hour," he said.
Resident Mikal Gonzales, who has a nine-month old baby at home, agrees.
"Besides being inconvenient, it's a little inhumane," he said. "It's unbearable. They can delay it for a week or two while we are forced to stay home."
He said despite complaints made by those residing in the building, the property management company, Akelius Real Estate Management Ltd., informed residents, in an email statement this morning, that balcony work will not be halted as a result of the pandemic.
"We're following all protocols and contractors have been informed to be mindful of noise since tenants will be home," the statement reads. "We're consulting health experts and monitoring Canadian Agency's expert recommendations, including guidance from the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health officials."
In a later email sent to only specific residents who inquired, property manager Shanice Pottinger said the company has reduced the contractor's hours and that there will only be noise from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
Cookson said that is still not a sufficient response to the issue.
"I realize that by asking the construction to stop the men who are doing the work, and others, will be affected. As a self-employed person who suddenly finds herself without an income, I am very cognizant of the effect that shutting down construction here might have," she added. "But living through this constant barrage of noise, while already dealing with considerable stressors is too much."
In an email response to toronto.com, Björn Endruweit, head of Akelius's Toronto division, said: "as per today there is no direction from the City of Toronto nor government agencies to shutdown construction sites."
"In our efforts to reduce the impact of construction on tenants we have advised our staff to reduce the working hours and be mindful of the noise, since more tenants are staying home," he added.
Parkdale-High Park MPP Bhutila Karpoche told toronto.com she is advocating for the tenants of the building and has reached out to the property manager as well, regarding the noise.
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