Raise the Hammer

Some very good news. A small but very valuable victory for society as a whole.

While it is good news that an OMB battle over how this land's proper use has been avoided, this has little to do with neighbourhood opposition to the proposal. Trinity has dropped the OMB case because they are losing the land due to a power of sale. Credit for its demise has to be given to the effects of this recession. Kind of a default victory, but it does present a new opportunity for a fresh approach to its redevelopment.

That was the final action. But there were a series of actions that led to that point. If there hadn't been opposition in the first place, council would have had to decide right away and I don't recall them ever seeing a big box store they didn't like. Maybe this would have been different, but if that was the case, they could have just quashed the proposal from the get go. I for one would like to see council state definitively that the zoning is to stay as is, so that the next purchaser of the site will be planning to abide by the regulations. Past waffling will only invite other developers to try their luck.

If only we could get our councillors to take a strong consistent stand on the other employment lands across the city. Maybe Trinity's real problem was they didn't have enough back channel friendships around the Council table.

I have to disagree with the idea that council was waffling on this proposal and would have allowed it to go through had it not been for community opposition. Council and staff have been pretty firmly behind the WHID zoning for this land from the get go, and I'm quite certain they would have taken this fight to the OMB even without community support.

Maybe Canadian Tire will concentrate on Downtown now rather than looking to escape to this Site.

Come Onnnnn EcDev! Do Your Jobs! Oh Wait.. denying brownfields in the lower-city IS their job!

Really? wrote: "Maybe Canadian Tire will concentrate on Downtown now rather than looking to escape to this Site"

I so hope so. That CT on Main really needs some work, (For example just a few weeks ago I was there and an older man in a powered wheelchair had gotten himself wedged in the narrow doorway coming out.) but I'd still rather it be there than in the MIP. How exactly does a Canadian Tire or Best Buy promote innovation?

You can't do much without a well-stocked tool box!

UrbanRenaissance>> "That CT on Main really needs some work"

Agreed. I had to stop using it as it rarely had what I'm looking for, and ends up being a waste of a trip.

What is happening with the CT @ Barton & Ferguson plans? Is CT still hessitant because of Transient Lane? (For thos of you who don't know what I mean, Google Streetview Ferguson between Cannon & Barton and you'll see all the homeless folks lounging around outside the Wesley Ctr 24/7... can be quite scary, I have to admit, and can understand CT's hesitations --> http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...

This area of Barton is started to look a lot better, especially with the new Ferguson St Bridge, the two new modern General Hospital Bldgs, Mark Priece Family House... a new, modern, Urban-Friendly CT would fit in GREAT down here!

CTC backing out of a site at Ferguson and Barton because of too many transients is an urban myth. Heresay really shouldn't be perpetuated.

So what is the reason for backing out of Ferguson & Barton? I'm seriously really curious? Was it parking restrictions? Who was at fault? The City? Developper?

excellent news!