Description: 

96 Isabella Street is a 4-storey plus basement apartment building — known as the Isabella Arms Apartments — located on the north side of Isabella Street approximately 70 meters west of Jarvis Street in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood of Toronto. 96 Isabella Street was designed in an Arts-and-Crafts and/or Revival style in 1924 by architect Henry John Chown. Construction of 96 Isabella Street was complete by 1925 with construction of the building costing approximately $52 000. Historical newspaper articles indicate that as of 1926, the building contained 56 residential suites; whereas recent rental advertisements indicate the building presently contains approximately 25 units. 


96 Isabella Street is part of a series of early 20th century, pre-World War 2 apartment buildings in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood. For more information, please see ERA Architects' Toronto Building Typology Study: Church-Wellesley Village, The Pre-War Apartment Building (2018). 


As early as 1913, there were proposals for an apartment building to be built at 96 Isabella Street. However, it is probable that the advent of World War I in July 1914 delayed and ultimately cancelled the construction of this earlier apartment building. 


A September 1939 rental advertisement in The Globe and Mail provides the following description of suites at 96 Isabella Street:  

"Two and three room apartments, newly decorated, large windows, bright rooms, full-size kitchen, ample cupboard space, latest and modern heating equipment, hot water at demand. Immediate occupancy from $25 [per month]." 


A later March 1971 rental advertisement in The Globe and Mail indicates that bachelor units at 96 Isabella Street rented for $125 monthly as of that point in time.


As of the early 2020s, rents at 96 Isabella Street are from approximately $1499 per month and up. 

Architect — Henry John Chown: 

The Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada: 1800-1950 provides the following biography of Henry John Chown: 


"Henry John Chown (1887-1974) was active in Toronto where he assisted John M. Lyle as a draftsman in 1909, then worked for James Thompson in 1910. Much of his practice was centered in the Beaches neighbourhood of east end Toronto where he opened an office in 1913. He may be related to Wilfred D. Chown, active in Toronto during the same period. Henry J. Chown was born in Northampton, England on 30 May 1887 and was the son of Abraham J. Chown, a successful builder and contractor who specialised in the construction of schools and large residences. His son Henry J. may have trained in the building trades under the supervision of his father. He emigrated to Canada in April 1907, and spent the next 40 years working as an architect in Toronto. After living and working there, he moved to Welland, Ont. in 1950 or 1951 and died there on 27 September 1974." 


At present, 96 Isabella Street is the only known building in the Church-Wellesley Village neighbourhood that was designed by Henry John Chown. 

 

Builder and Early Owners:

The 1924 building permit for 96 Isabella Street was issued to Francis E. Taylor — a builder based at 1824 Gerrard Street East, Toronto. Chown and Taylor likely knew each other through their business activities in the east end neighbourhoods of Toronto. Further research is required to determine whether Taylor was the initial owner of the apartment building. 

By 1926, the building was owned by David White.  In November 1926, David White's estate sold the building to William H. Bushell of Aurora for $88 750. Newspaper articles describing the sale note that it was a modern building with high class suites and few vacancies.



Adjacent Redevelopment: 


In April/May 2022, redevelopment applications were filed for neighbouring 88 Isabella Street and 90-94 Isabella Street. These applications propose a 62-storey mixed-use condominium building at 88 Isabella Street and a 69-storey mixed use condominium building at 90-94 Isabella Street. While not presently part of the redevelopment application, the intensity and proximity of these adjacent redevelopments are indicative that 96 Isabella Street may also be at increased risk of redevelopment and/or demolition. 

(Research by Adam Wynne)