700k bordello in London

From the outside, the three-storey mansion on London’s Commissioners Rd. E. looks a lot like the other posh homes on the strip west of Wortley Rd.
There’s a neatly landscaped front yard, a two-car garage and a backyard pool.
At quick glance, the only feature that makes the six-bedroom place stand out is a large sign near the sidewalk displaying the house number.,Fantasy World Escorts bills itself as a “world of adult entertainment and erotic services with beautiful, sophisticated and enticing escorts lying in wait for gentlemen in need of companionship for both intimate and social engagements.”
Escort services aren’t unusual in London — but finding one plopped down in a tony residential area, filled with $1-million homes, is another thing.
“I’d be really upset if that was true, because it’s certainly going to bring down the value of the houses in the neighbourhood,” said one upset resident, who didn’t want to be identified.
Neighbours in the upscale Old South pocket learned about the escort agency’s presence after a flyer, falsely claiming to be from Neighbourhood Watch, was distributed to area homes Monday.
“We were shocked when we found (the flyer) on the door,” said the neighbour.
The agency provides both in-house and outcall services, charging as much as $360 an hour, The Free Press has learned.
According to city records, Jason MacQueen owns the house.
In a statement Friday addressed to Mayor Joe Fontana and city councillors, MacQueen said he leased the property out about two months ago. MacQueen said legislation prevents him from naming the tenant, but that he learned Tuesday “the home could possibly be being used as an escort service . . . ”
“I am not at all pleased with the possibility that this could be going on in my house,” he wrote.
The house was built in 2008, with the lot bought for $150,000.
MacQueen listed the property for sale for $1.2 million in May, but took it off the market in October.
At city hall, the assessed value of the property for taxation is just less than $700,000.
MacQueen said he contacted police and immediately sent his property manager to the house.
“It was conveyed that nothing illegal was occurring at the home,” the letter said. “My assistant has been to the property on several occasions the last two months and always found the home to be very clean and unsuspicious.”
A number of concerned neighbours have phoned about the house, London police say.
“There is an investigation currently,” said Const. Dennis Rivest.
The property is zoned only for residential use, said city bylaw enforcement manager Orest Katolyk. Using the property for anything other than that would be a violation, he said.
“We don’t have any complaints on that property, and if we did, we would refer it to the police because the Criminal Code trumps any bylaws,” he said.
While brothels are illegal, body rub parlours are allowed in London.
“A body rub has to be licensed by the city and inspected by the health unit, fire department and city officials,” said Katolyk, adding London has nine registered body rub parlours.
In his letter, MacQueen said he’s concerned about his house, his neighbourhood — and his reputation. “This is a high-profile site, and my name is tied to it, as I built it. This whole situation weighs heavily on me . . .”
MacQueen’s letter didn’t say if he plans to evict the tenant.
“I am somewhat bound to the leasing agreement I have made with this individual, as there appears to be no property damage, the grounds are maintained, the tenant allows access at all times, and the lease payments have all been made as scheduled.”