Parliament Street News Business Bio – by Kathy Flaxman
When Joe Rozman thinks about Cabbagetown, he has lots to smile about. In every direction he’s surrounded by his firm’s work, from his own home, to landmarks like a prominent home on Carlton Street, the Weenen family home.
As beautiful and cared for as the neighbourhood now is, it wasn’t always this way — Cabbagetown, even with its wealth of beautiful architecture was down at the heels in the 1960’s. This is when David Weenen, opening his construction company, took note. Weenen General Contracting Limited became known for its quality work and David himself became a champion of the neighbourhood and the renovation and restoration of fine architecture.
Joe Rozman joined the firm later, bringing a full toolbox of trade knowledge and renovation experience and subsequently took on running site work. His style was the perfect yin to David Weenen’s yang and the pair enjoyed working together and taking the company’s success to other neighbourhoods including Rosedale, Forest Hill, Moore Park and Leaside. Business success was achieved by what Joe remembers as long workdays and attention to detail.
David Weenen passed away in 2011, and Joe took over the company. The process, a core group of Weenen employees working side by side with trusted architects, designers and all the building trades, is a Weenen General Contracting Limited feature, with every hand that touches a building vetted carefully. Restorations are still a focus, while more traditional homes are alongside, always outstanding in looks and quality.
Examples of the firm’s work are easy to spot, including the Company headquarters at 211 Carlton Street, a showpiece where clients can see first hand what cornice moldings and carefully restored brickwork can bring to a home. Throughout prominent Toronto neighbourhood’s countless buildings are examples of Weenen General Contracting Limited work. Inside the beautiful renovations and restorations are the very latest in modern technology. Many love a historical façade but sleek and functional mechanical systems, kitchens and baths are musts.
