a nice job in Sandy Hill

 353-355 Stewart Street in Sandy Hill was built as a double during the 19-aughts. Many larger homes in Sandy and Centretown were eventually divided into apartments by floor, sometimes with external staircases to access the upper units. Sometimes these add-ons worked, too often they were eyesores. I'm not sure how many units this address comprises, but this audaciously upfront (sorry) stairwell (added in 2007) works, beautifully. The scale and style respect the neighbourhood's design history while the faux-quoins and simple lintel keystones tie the old facade to the new. The angled entrance offers a modernist nudge-and-wink, while the retaining wall and wrought iron fence remind us that Sandy Hill was a neighbourhood of distinction — and still is.